About me

Saxophonist and composer Phil Scarff began his study of Hindustani music in 1985 under the guidance of vocalist Kalpana Mazumdar of Boston. He received extensive training in Pune from eminent vocalist and teacher Pt. Shreeram Devasthali as well as leading sundri player Suryakant Khaladkar and shehnai master Shyamrao Lonkar. Phil also studied with sitarist Dr. Peter Row and most recently with vocalist Warren Senders. His interest in world musics has also led him to study the intricate polyrhythms of West Africa and perform as a member of the Agbekor Drum and Dance Society. He studied jazz theory and improvisation with noted saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi and percussion great Bob Gullotti. Phil Scarff performs Indian classical music and jazz, and leads the acclaimed world-jazz ensemble, Natraj. Phil is featured on 25 internationally acclaimed CDs, including four as leader of Natraj.

He has performed with Indian classical musicians like saxophone great Kadri Gopalnath, percussion legends Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman and Trichy Sankaran, Sangeet Samrat Chitravina N. Ravikiran, bamboo flute maestros Ronu Majumdar and Shashank, shehnai master Pandit Shailesh Bhagwat, African master drummers Godwin Agbeli, Abubakari Lunna, Lamine Toure, Jazz ensembles, Natraj, Aardvark Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Composers Alliance, Filmprov, Sandy Prager and many more...

 

 

Prestigious Performances

 

 

• JazzYatra, Mumbai, India
• Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA, USA
• Performed at Basant Bahar, USA
• Gayan Samaj Deval Club, Kolhapur, India
• Lake George Jazz Weekend, Lake George, NY, USA
• Prayojana International Music Festival, Bangalore and Chennai, India
• University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA
• New England Hindu Temple, Ashland, MA, USA
• Hindu Society of NorthEast Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
• PANAFEST, Accra and Cape Coast, Ghana

 

 

Notable Press Reviews

 

 

• "Phil Scarff's Indian classical performance on soprano saxophone amazed the audience... He played with a sweet, sonorous tone, soulfulness, and focus equal to those of a great Indian classical musician... The spellbound listeners were moved and touched... Scarff won the hearts of the connoisseurs." - Tarun Bharat, Kolhapur, India.
• "Phil Scarff mesmerized the audience with his Indian classical performance on saxophone." - Pudhari, Kolhapur, India
• "A cerebral improviser who develops a solo logically, deliberately, and passionately." - Jazz Now
• "Indian classical music on the saxophone! Phil Scarff... played different ragas with finesse... enthralled the audience... subtle and appealing." - Times of India
• "Phil Scarff: a scintillating performance...His beautiful display of the intricacies of Indian classical music...thrilled the audience...touched the hearts of the listeners." - Sakal, Kolhapur, India
• "Highlighted by Phil Scarff's scorching tenor [saxophone] solo." - All About Jazz
• "Scarff's virtuosity was in no doubt... superb." - Afternoon on Sunday, Mumbai, India
• "Performance by saxophonist Phil Scarff left the audience spellbound... Virtuosic performance... a true rendition of Indian music... He drew thunderous applause from the connoisseurs... An exceptional presentation of Raga Rageshri." - Sakal, Solapur, India