Philip Lassiter Brings High-Voltage Funk & Soul to Liverpool’s Philharmonic Music Room – 3 February 2026

Review & photos by Gary Dougherty 

If you look back over the last decade or so,  you may notice that Liverpool can have an issue attracting big name musicians. Tours regularly stop in the big cities, but can often avoid Liverpool. Slow ticket sales, a last minute ‘pay-on-the-door’ approach and perhaps a sense of entitlement lead to artists passing us by as too big a risk. 

Despite this Parrjazz have consistently brought us some of the biggest names in the jazz and funk world. Tonight it was the turn for multiple Grammy award winning trumpeter, composer and arranger Philip Lassiter. 

Philip has been a key player in the funk scene since his days as horn arranger & section leader in Prince’s New Power Generation. He is the third Paisley Park alumni Geni Lamb and the team at Parrjazz have secured having previously brought us MonoNeon and Liv Warfield. I feel sure that had Prince still been with us, Geni could have persuaded him to play at one of Liverpool’s intimate venues. 

Philip’s roots are in Texas funk, Alabama gospel, New Orleans jazz and Nashville soul All of which were on display for us tonight; sometimes simultaneous. Opening with Repent it was immediately apparent that we were in for a display of superlative musical talent. Philip performed as a stripped back 5 piece band and they regaled us with a virtuoso performance that included crowd favourites Simmer Down, Soul of the World and Sunday Threads. The composer in him was evident when giving subtle hand gestures to direct the band (I later discovered that this was their first performance together). 

Between songs Philip’s  gregarious nature was on show as he talked of his love of The Beatles; being mostly unable to understand Scousers; his musical roots; and of course several shameless plugs for his latest album. 

For me the highlight of the night was the funky, gospel rendition of Soul Music. After some encouragement, this had the crowd on their feet, dancing and singing. For a moment we were transported so a Southern Baptist church. But not just any church, no this was the church from The Blues Brothers with Philip Lassiter filling James Brown’s shoes. I may have seen the light!

Support was provided by local bad Bite. A traditional guitar-based rock band with touch of psychedelic and a soupçon of funk to their sound. A political edge may have been present with inclusion of the lyric ‘from the river to the sea’ in one of their numbers. A refreshing slant on the usual local lads that suitably warmed up the audience. Some promise but perhaps a little too ‘samey’. Their comfort performing was displayed when they ended the set with an improvised acoustic jam as an old amp gave up the ghost and they were rescued by the able bodied sound engineer. 

Parrjazz return later in February with The Liverpool International Jazz Festival: Jazz Festival Fringe on 26th February 

All photos copyright Gary Dougherty Photography.