Philip Rex

Double Bass, Tuba

photo credit: Matthew Stanton

Philip Rex is one of the most brilliant Double Bassist’s to come out of Australia, and is fast gaining a reputation as one of the true original stylists of this instrument. He is also a bandleader and internationally regarded producer with his Electronic Dance Music group Decoy and Rex'n'Chappo, as well as being a sought after mix and mastering engineer for many Australian acts.

Having been firmly established in the Australian Jazz scene since he was seventeen, Philip has become a member of many of the country’s finest groups, and has toured extensively throughout Australia and around the world. He has studied with jazz legends Ray Brown and Eddie Gomez in the United States, and has performed or recorded in small group settings with international touring artists such as Joe Lovano, George Garzone, Johnny Griffin, Jimmy Cobb (Drummer from Miles Davis’“Kind Of Blue” album), Steve Lacy, Andrew Hill, Arthur Blythe, Vincent Herring, Louie Bellson, Joe Williams, Eddie Henderson, Cindy Blackman, John Stubblefield and Horace Tapscott.

Philip has a natural instinct for improvisation and melody, and is particularly known for his strength of groove and sound on the instrument. He has made an impression as one of the truly versatile players of his instrument and, aside from his experience in the jazz field, plays regularly in Funk/Soul Reggae, Tango, Pop/Rock, Brazilian, Cuban, and Electronic Dance acts. He is remarkable for his ability to adapt the seemingly cumbersome Double Bass into almost any style of music.

He created, together with Ian Chaplin the Live Electronic Dance Music groups “Decoy” and more recently “Rex'n'Chappo”, which combine contemporary dance grooves, such as Techno and Psychedelic Trance, with elements of instrumental jazz and world music. Both acts have received international success and acclaim and have performed at some of the biggest and most prestigious outdoor dance parties in Europe, such as Glade, Vuuv and Wonderland, and are regulars at all the major Australian outdoor dance parties such as Earthcore, Rainbow Serpent, Maitreya and many others. They have tracks released on many European record labels, and two full albums released to date in Europe. Their debut Decoy album “Not Responding To Light”, released on “Dance N Dust” (Israel), was awarded album of the month in the international magazine “Mushroom”, and their Second Album “Push Button Pony” has made excellent sales and been acclaimed by Dj’s, Producers and aficionados alike. Decoy are currently releasing tracks on the Plusquam (Germany) and Iboga (Denmark) labels, and their reputation within the European dance music scene is steadily growing, with support from DJ’s such as Laurent Garnier and Rich Jones.

Philip plays regularly with local legends Ian Chaplin, Bernie McGann, Dale Barlow, Scott Tinkler, Mark Fitzgibbon, Joe Chindamo and Doug DeVries and Katie Noonan amongst others, and has spent time in Mark Simmons’ Freeboppers, many of Barney McAll’s groups, and in the Vince Jones band. Philip is also a founding and current member of the Australian Art Orchestra, and is a member of two of the finest piano trios in the country today; the Paul Grabowsky and Joe Chindamo trios. He is also a regular member of the Renee Geyer band.

In 1998 Philip shared an Aria (Australian Recording Industry Association) win with musical colleague Ian Chaplin for Best jazz Album, as well as in 2005 with the Grabowsky/Noonan quintet for Before Time Could Change Us.