/ Chris Phillips /

Classical Guitarist

Listen to a SampleR

Romantic Composers — Classical, Spanish, Brazilian, Jazz, Show Tunes, Celtic, Soft Rock, and Blues.

Sample Song List

Lagrima by F. Tarrega, Spanish
West Side Story Themes by L. Bernstein, Show Tunes
Classical Gas by M. Williams, Classical Pop
Malaguena by Anonymous, Flamenco
Soleres by Anonymous, Flamenco
Etude #3 by M. Carcassi, Classical
God Bless the Child by B. Holiday & A. Herzog, Jazz
Somewhere My Love by M. Jarre, Movie Theme
Light My Fire by R. Krieger, Classical Pop
Faire by A. York, Classical Nouveau
Prelude from Cello Suite #1 by J.S. Bach, Classical
Somewhere Over the Rainbow by H. Arlen/E.Y. Harburg, Movie Theme
Valse Venezolano #3 by A. Lauro, Venezuelan
Recuerdos de la Alhambra by F. Tarrega, Spanish
Greensleeves by Anonymous, Traditional
Cannon in D by J. Pachabel, Classical
Afro-Cuban Lullaby by L. Brower, Classical Nouveau
Sarabande from Partita #1 for Solo Violin by J.S. Bach, Classical
Capricho Arabe by F. Tarrega, Spanish
Blackbird by J. Lennon/P. McCartney, Classical Pop
Calliope House by D. Richardson, Irish
Theme from Cinema Paradiso by E. Morricone, Movie Theme
Theme from Black Orpheus by L. Bonfa, Jazz
Rose Room by B. Goodman, Jazz
Carora by A. Lauro, Venezuelan
Valse Venezolano by A. Lauro, Venezuelan
Yesterday by J. Lennon/P. McCartney, Classical Pop
Canarios by G. Sanz, Spanish
Chant by B. Head, Classical Nouveau
Sevillanas by Anonymous, Flamenco
Prelude Suite #4 for Lute by J.S. Bach, Classical
Gavotte II by J.S. Bach, Classical
Prelude for Lute by J.S. Bach, Classical
Courante for Lute by J.S. Bach, Classical
Menuett for Lute by J.S. Bach, Classical
Air on the G String by J.S. Bach, Classical
Bouree for Lute by J.S. Bach, Classical
Vincent by D. Mclean, Classical Pop
My Funny Valentine by R.Rogers/L. Hart, Jazz
El Negrito by A. Lauro, Venezuelan
Adelita by F. Tarrega, Spanish
Retrato Basileiro by B. Powell, Brazilian
Sherry’s Waltz by A. York, Classical Nouveau
Chant by A. York, Classical Nouveau
Hejira by A. York, Classical Nouveau
Sunday Morning Overcast by A. York, Classical Nouveau
Six Lute Pieces of the Renaissance by Anonymous, Classical
Danza Pompous by A. Tansman, Classical Nouveau
Kolysanka #2 by A. Tansman, Classical Nouveau
Kujawiak by A. Tansman, Classical Nouveau
Gaillarde by A. Tansman, Classical Nouveau
Ballet by E. Mertel, Classical Nouveau
Suite del Recuerdo by J.L. Merlin, Classical Nouveau
Tempo de Crianca by D. Reis, Classical Nouveau
Prelude by S.L. Weiss, Classical Nouveau
Etude #6 by L. Brouwer, Classical Nouveau
One Day in November by L. Brouwer, Classical Nouveau
Preludes 1,7,8,11,24 by M. Ponce, Classical Nouveau
Estudio #6 by F. Sor, Classical
Prelude-Fugu-Allegro by J.S. Bach, Classical
Prelude Suite #1 for Lute by J.S. Bach, Classical
Bourree #1 for Cello by J.S. Bach, Classical
Courante by J.S. Bach, Classical
Menuett #1 by J.S. Bach, Classical
Julia Florida by A.B. Mangore, Spanish
Danza Brasilera by J. Morel, Brazilian
English Suite by J. Duarte, Classical Nouveau
Granada by i. Albeniz, Spanish

Weddings

Chris has played dozens of weddings, ceremonies and receptions.

Parties

His sound is unusual, soothing, gentle, relaxing, and moving. Fully insured too!

Events

Chris' music is an elegant, eclectic,
and mellow mix of styles.

Restaurants

Sit back and relax to a buttery sound of acoustic guitar styling. ​

Chris Phillips' Bio

Chris Phillips is an award-winning guitarist who has recorded and played live with such notables as John Denver, Jeff Bridges and Danny Elfman. A journeyman who has lived everywhere from Paris to LA, Chris has played and taught music in the Aspen, Colorado area for decades.

Chris specializes in playing solo Spanish and Classical guitar for parties, weddings and corporate events. The sound of his custom electric flamenco guitar is unique, warm and inviting. His repertoire spans a variety of guitar styles, including Spanish, Italian, Brazilian, Classical, Jazz, Blues, Bluegrass, and Celtic. He is also known for his striking arrangements of standards and show tunes from The Great American Songbook.

Chris Phillips was raised in the music-rich ski town of Aspen. Born into a musical family spanning five generations, it was hardly surprising that music became his passion from an early age.

Chris received intensive coaching in Bluegrass music as a teenager, and won three awards in Bluegrass guitar before graduating from Aspen High School. After stints touring with John Denver and writing and recording with renowned film composer and Oingo Boingo founder Danny Elfman in LA, Chris studied guitar for five years at the USC School of Music. He went on to become a successful session guitarist, and scored a string of television commercials before leaving LA for Aspen in 1988.  For the past 25 years, Chris has played with several favorite local bands, including:

Scratch and Biff, Sommers and Biff, the Strange Rangers, the Zen Ramblers, and the Three Blind Rats. In 1999, he co-founded the Basalt Battle of the Bands, an annual contest for regional High School and Middle School musicians that Chris produced for ten years.

Chris’s passion for fostering young talent led him to become a sought-after musical instructor, and he has been teaching his patented “Biff Method” for guitar and piano in the Aspen area for over two decades.

Recent years have seen Chris focus on mastering the standard Classical Guitar catalog. This includes works for Spanish Guitar by Tarrega, Albeniz, Sor, and Rodrigo, as well as Classical pieces by Bach, Mozart, Debussy, and Ravel. South American works from: Lauro, Villa-Lobos, Jobim, and Bonfa.American classics from: Gershwin, Bernstein, Herzog, and more.

Included in Chris’ set are unique works from outside of the classical guitar box. These include: Flamenco, Irish, Cajun and Bluegrass pieces, Blues and Jazz standards, Movie themes, Traditional and Anonymous tunes, Show tunes, Rock n roll tunes, and Pop arrangements.

All together this music is an elegant, eclectic, mellow, mix of styles and textures. Over the last several years, Chris has perfected the buttery sound of the Spanish acoustic guitar, through a small amplification system, and a custom made electric flamenco guitar – made by his Son, Miles. The sound that is produced by this guitar and amp combination is unusual, soothing, gentle, relaxing, and moving.

Book Chris today!