Piano/vocal powerhouse Philippa Healey is bringing her high energy, funk-as-hell original music to London this March. With a stellar line-up of musicians, including legendary bassist Paul Turner and drummer Derrick McKenzie, these shows are a must see!
Philippa has had an extraordinary musical career spanning more than three decades. Trained as a classical pianist, vocalist and composer at Chetham’s School of Music, Philippa went on to study a degree in music at Oxford University and was steering towards a career as a film and television composer when she “fell into” singing on the West end. Her pristine classical voice and powerful musical theatre belt ensured Philippa was in high demand as a leading lady. She starred in a number of high-profile roles, including Cosette in Cameron Macintosh’s ‘Les Miserables.’ All of this came to an abrupt end at the age of 27, when Philippa was told that she was “too old to sing on the West End.”
“If you don’t look 18, they’re not interested.”
This feels worlds away from the UK jazz scene, when Norma Winstone is still regularly touring in the UK and Europe at 83 years old, but the reality of musical theatre is there is a diminishing repertoire of roles for woman as they age. Philippa nonetheless faced what must have been a deeply unsettling and destabilizing time with grace and ingenuity, and sidestepped into a career headlining shows on major cruise ship stages. Her audiences were full of praise for her renditions of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Stephen Schwartz, but as someone who had always wanted to write, after so many years performing other people’s songs it felt like “something was missing.” It wasn’t until Philippa was researching royalties for the purpose of releasing an album of musical theatre covers in February 2023 that she realised it would be much more cost efficient to release her own music.
This was the catalyst that Philippa needed. Finally, after nearly 30 years as a successful vocalist and musical theatre performer, the call to write grew too loud to ignore any longer and Philippa penned a number of infectious funk singles, including the hit ‘Funk My Life’. She hit the studio with a carefully curated band of world class musicians, including legends Paul Turner (bass) and Derrick McKenzie (drums). Finally, her obsession for jazz and funk was given the chance to take center stage.
“I’m having so much fun, it probably should be illegal!”
It is worth pausing to remember the Philippa is not solely a vocalist and composer, but also a very fine pianist. Walking in the footsteps of Carol King, Nina Simone and our own Liane Carroll, Philippa’s skill as a pianist might fly under the radar at first due to her impressive vocal fireworks, but actually, she has some serious funk chops!
“It’s just my addiction, I guess. It’s always a work in progress. I want to be learning until my fingers seize up and I can’t play anymore!”
Musical theatre singers are notorious for trying their hand at singing jazz and falling short of the mark, yet Philippa manages to bring an authenticity to her vocal performance that is refreshingly on point. One can certainly hear 70’s funk and acid jazz influences, but Philippa Healey sings like Philippa Healey and no one else. The evolution of an artist – by embracing all of her musical DNA, from Sondheim to Stevie Wonder, Philippa has landed on a sound that is joyously, defiantly all her own.
“At the end of the day, we all have something unique to offer. I have to be myself on stage.”
Fans in London will have the opportunity to see Philippa with her original project live on March 12th at Crazy Coqs Cabaret in London. She is joined by a band of heavyweights, with Nick Costley-White on guitar, Liam Dunachie on keys, Derrick McKenzie on drums and Paul Turner on bass.
