Phil Parnell is a freelance pianist, producer and songwriter from New Orleans, based in Denmark. He has enjoyed 35 years in the music business performing around the globe with artists from cutting edge of the music spectrum to torchbearers from Storyville’s heyday and nearly everything in-between! Diversity has kept him involved in so many projects, which in turn has kept his keen musical perspective and enthusiasm alive over the years.

In the 1970’s he was a piano student of Ellis Marsalis’ before attending Berklee College of music in Boston. His musical education continued in the blues and jazz clubs of New Orleans working with many old school musicians like Freddy Kohlmann, David Lastie, Gatemouth Brown, and Justin Adams. He has performed on stage with such notables as Bettye Lavette, Astrud Gilberto, Brian Blade, George Porter jr. (of the Meters), Bo Diddly, Imelda May, Jamie Lidell, Matthew Herbert, John & Lillian Boutte’ and Oscar Brown jr all from whom he has drawn influence and inspiration.

Recent highlights of Phil’s career include: ‘PP3_Blue’ the 2nd CD release for his eclectic 3-tet ‘PP3’. Recording ‘Normalment Plan Bar’, an experimental CD with ‘FR::YK’, a Swiss electronic music project in Valais CH. Recording at Abbey Road studios and subsequent touring with the Matthew Herbert Big Band ‘There’s Me And There’s You’ CD (with the Phil Parnell Trio being drafted in to fill the rhythm section chairs). World tour with nouveau soul singer/songwriter Jamie Lidell and opening for Elton John’s Red Piano tour. Appearing with Lillian Boutte’ in a live performance his song ‘Party All My Troubles Away’ in the 2009 Zurich Film festival documentary category winner “The Sound After the Storm” about New Orleans musicians after hurricane Katrina.