Biography:

Lady Laranah Phipps

SEXY SASSY FUNKY CLASSY BLUESY JAZZY

Laranah Phipps is a jazz soul-stress with a touch of world music influence. She is one of the hottest
jewels in the American Jazz Crown.

Laranah comes to the jazz arena naturally, as she is the proud product of Newark, NJ's illustrious jazz scene and works hard to continue the legacy of “Phipps Family”, Newark, New Jersey's First Family of Jazz.

The Phipps Family has enjoyed a long, prosperous and well documented jazz legacy both in the USA and abroad. Ernie Phipps, Gene Phipps, Sr. (her father), NatvPhipps Angela Phipps, Harold Phipps, Billy Phipps, and Gene Phipps, Jr. have all helped to pave the way for Laranah to step out onto the jazz stage with confidence and competence.

Laranah brings to the table, her own distinctive sound, sense of phasing, timing, story telling, and her volcanic grasp of groove, which she sometimes tends to color with humor, sensuousness, heart wrenching pain or soul stirring joy. Her straight-ahead approach combines tried and tested jazz improvisation with new and innovative ideas.
Lady Laranah's voice is laced with a certain ancient African richness, which allows her instrument to soar with a distinct yet familiar soul and power. A charismatic personality and a regal stage presence makes Ms. Phipps an authentic jazz vocalist and an inspiring entertainer.

Discography
1995 Raising the Standards (Wayne Hughley & Todd Wilson)
1998 Wild Eyes Crying (Live Jamesburg Home for Boys)
2001 The Woman In Me
2010 Phipps and Friends (Bill Phipps)
2012 The Lioness Awakes (Unreleased)
2015 I Rule the Night (Single)

Performance Credits (USA & Abroad)
Duke Ellington's Sacred Concerts©
Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill©
Jazz Night Clubs, Festivals, Private Events, Corporate Functions, Disaster Relief Fund-Raising Events.

Co-Appearance Credits
Emory B. Tinley, Joe Scott, Arts High Concert Chorus, NJ All State Chorus, Showtime at the Apollo, Phipps Family, Tiny Grimes, B.B. King, Take 6, Alfonso Blackwell, Baba Olatunji, Slide Hampton,
Russell Malone, Bootsie Barns, Jack Bicknell, Jerald Veasley, Big John Patton, Corkey Caldwell, Amiri Baraka, Yoron Israel, Max Lucas, Frank Bey, Spiro Jiro, Vel Johnson, Jamilla Joseph, Tiffini Davis, James Stewart, George Grey, Daryl Robinson, Nathan Lucas, Radam Schwarts, Geary Moore, Eric
Johnson, Matt Barnello, G. Earl Grice, Gloria Coleman, Joel Joyner and many other
amazing artists.

Production Credits
Production Stage Manager| Dunbar Repertory Company,
Production Assistant| Count Bassie Theater| Red Bank NJ| Paramount Theater| Asbury Park NJ
Artistic Director| Sentaj Productions Newark NJ
CEO/Director of Operations| Phipps Entertainment Group:
*Natty Goddess Music Publishing
*Flat 5 Records
*Contemporary Vocal Academy
(Private Instruction, Asbury Voices, Very Special Voices),
*theSINGmethod ©
Jazz Radio Talk show Host: Real Jazz Talk| on Blogtalkradio.com

Booking and press
Laranahphipps@yahoo.com
609-401-9759

The Phipps Family History

In the late 1930's the Phipps Family emerged on Newark's jazz scene and began to position itself as a Newark jazz entity.

Pianist Ernie Phipps co-led the big band "The Marnarks of Rhythm" with his brother
Eugene Phipps, age 15, at the Savoy Ball Room and "The Sultans of Swing" with Poncho Diggs, as well as other big bands.

Eugene Phipps took over the big band, which included George Auld and Laurel Gardens. Ernie Phipps was a sought after pianist on the USA jazz scene until 1960. At age 17, Eugene Phipps, Sr. traveled with Billie Holiday, Joe Guy, Max Roach and Ike Quebec on a national tour. During the 1950's Eugene Phipps co-led the house band at the legendary Washington Bar, which also featured Babbs Gonzolas, Lew-Rew Jordan, and Ike Quebec.
Many of Newark's jazz musicians honed their skills sitting in with the Washington Bar house
band.

Pianist Nat Phipps along with twin brother Bill Phipps formed the Nat Phipps big band with Wayne
Shorter, Grachon Moncur, Chris White, Charlie Mason, Harold Phipps and Robert Thomas. Wayne
Shorter left to travel with Maynard Ferguson and later Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. In 1960 Nat Phipps broke the big band down to form the Mega Tones. The Mega Tones worked all of the major jazz clubs the East Coast Scene. Nat Phipps, Chicho Mendoza, and Joe Thomas were among the top groups working the scene. Nat Phipps was the original leader of the Peppermint Ballroom's Tuesday night jam session, located in East Orange, NJ. Bill Phipps left the Mega Tones Big Band to tour with Dizzy Gillespie's Big Band in 1967 Playing Baritone sax, then on to Ray Charles' band and Jack Mcduff's Band.

Harold Phipps later formed a jazz and Latin jazz sextet which included the top local musicians and the Phipps.

Eugene Phipps Jr. monopolized the Newark Jazz scene in the late 1960's playing all of the clubs. The musicians lovingly exclaimed "You couldn't get a gig cause Gene Phipps Jr. got it" In the early 1970's Eugene Phipps, Jr. worked with the Lamama Theatre under the direction of Ellen Steward. Debbie Allen was also one of the members of Lamama. Eugene Phipps, Jr. played the Newark & New York Jazz scene with the likes of Max Roach, Abbey Lincoln, Jack McDuff, Jimmy McGriff, Carter Jefferson, Woody Shaw, Tito Puente and Ray Barretto. He also embarked on a successful European Jazz tour. In 1985 Eugene Phipps, Jr. was one of the pioneers of the Priory Jazz Club, playing every Thursday night for the first three years. In addition to the jazz scene, Angela Phipps taught music in the Newark school district from the 1950's until she retired in 1990.

Laranah Phipps began to study jazz at age 6, under the tutelage of Emory B. Tinley and Tiney Grimes. After winning Showtime at the apollo in1980, she proudly pranced on to the jazz scene. Laranah Phipps continues to hone her craft and follow in the footsteps of her family, she is beloved in the eyes of the jazz community.

THE PHIPPS FAMILY JAZZ LEGACY ENDURES FOREV