A Legacy of Musical Excellence

For over three decades, Philippe Vieux has captivated audiences and earned the admiration of peers across the globe. A San Francisco native, his musical journey began at the age of three when he first touched the piano. While his future in music was evident to all, it wasn’t immediately clear to him.

Vieux’s early dedication extended beyond performance into theoretical harmony, composition, and arrangement. By 1990, he had established his distinctive voice, garnering respect from musical elders. During his high school years, he focused intensely on the saxophone, balancing his academic pursuits with orchestral and jazz ensemble performances.

In 1991, Vieux received his “big break” when he joined the Tootie Heath Quintet on tenor and soprano saxophone at the age of 19. This opened doors to collaborations with jazz luminaries such as Billy Higgins, Cedar Walton, and Papa Juno Bernard Lewis. Vieux’s career continued its meteoric rise as he recorded two albums with the Los Angeles-based jazz group Black Note under Columbia Records and Red Records, appearing in John Singleton’s Higher Learning.

By 1994, Vieux’s reputation as a formidable woodwind artist earned him invitations to perform with jazz legends, including Albert “Tootie” Heath, Horace Tapscott, and Francisco Aguabella. His debut solo recording, Point of Vieux (1995), released under Billy Higgins’ World Stage Records, was met with acclaim both in the United States and Europe. This period also saw him join Ray Charles’ Big Band for a tour of Eastern Europe, showcasing his versatility on alto, soprano, clarinet, flute, and piccolo.

In 1996, Vieux’s artistry drew the attention of Horace Silver, leading to an extensive tour of North America and Europe with Silver’s septet. His exceptional ability to blend jazz and Afro-Latin traditions soon earned him a role in the Eddie Palmieri Orchestra. Notably, Vieux played lead alto on Obra Maestra/Masterpiece, a Grammy Award-winning collaboration with Tito Puente in 2000.

Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, Vieux established himself as a prominent figure in New York City’s jazz scene, collaborating with legends such as Max Roach, Patato Valdés, and Don Alias. His contributions spanned composition, arrangement, and performance, leading to notable film credits, including The Thomas Crown Affair.

Relocating to Austin, Texas, in 2000, Vieux performed as a special guest alongside Bonnie Raitt on Austin City Limits and became an integral member of groups like Blaze and the Ephraim Owens Quintet. His sophomore album, A Room with a Vieux (2006), showcased his compositional prowess and mastery across the woodwind family, blending jazz, Latin, funk, and hip-hop influences.

Vieux’s extensive career has included numerous high-profile performances. Notably, he contributed orchestrations for The Road to Austin, a landmark production featuring Bonnie Raitt and Kris Kristofferson. He was also commissioned in 2007 to adapt a complex a cappella piece for philharmonic orchestra and chorus, an achievement he regards as among his finest works.

His global tours have taken him across the Caribbean, Europe, Australia, and the Pacific, performing at premier venues and collaborating with world-class musicians. From leading his trio in Cuba to crafting orchestral works in Los Angeles, Vieux has demonstrated an extraordinary range of artistic vision and technical mastery.

Today, Philippe Vieux stands as a towering figure in the world of jazz and beyond—an artist whose work transcends boundaries, uniting tradition, innovation, and global influences. His career is a testament to dedication, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to musical excellence.