American Songs Reborn
Philip Russom Sings/Plays Duke Ellington's "Do Nothing Til You Hear from Me"
Philip Russom Sings/Plays Billy Joel's "Honesty"
Philip Russom playing jazz standards at The Java Room in Chelmsford, MA in January 2024.
Philip Russom playing jazz standards at The Java Room in Chelmsford, MA in January 2024.
Philip Russom playing hymns for the nondenominational church at Linden Ponds in Hingham, MA
Overview
I specialize in the Great American Songbook, which consists of thousands of jazz standards by Duke Ellington, Irving Berlin, Hoagy Carmichael, Harold Arlen, Billy Holiday, the Gershwin brothers, Rodgers & Hart, and many other great songwriters from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. I also perform rock and folks songs, by Billy Joel, Elton John, the Beatles, Joni Mitchell, John Denver, Carole King, Burt Bacharach, and other songwriters of the 1960s, 70s, and 80s.
Christmas music (both sacred and pop) is one of my specialties, along with worship music (both Catholic and Protestant).
I work with clients, to include their favorite songs. And I can perform just piano, piano and voice, or a mix of both.
Reviews
5 reviews
Michael H.
December 22, 2025Excellent Christmas Music
Phillip was terrific at our event. Played lots of festive songs and was ready to go with sing along sheet music!
Hired as: Singing Pianist
Anne-Marie A.
August 12, 2025Excellent Pianist for Church Service
Philip played Hymns which he arranged during a non denominational church service. His performance enhanced our experience and his attention to detail was exemplary. Philip is a gifted musician who I highly recommend.
Hired as: Pianist
American Songs Reborn
Anne-Marie, you and everyone at your Senior Living Community were welcoming and professional. After multiple church services, I felt at home and appreciated. I hope to worship with you again soon. Bless you all!
George D.
April 8, 2025Philip was great!
Philip played marvelously, but beyond that he immediately keyed into my music genre, and brought it forth on the piano. I was very pleased. I found him to be congenial and interesting. I'm a succer for live music, and he will be my go-to guy should we have such an event again.
Hired as: Jazz Pianist
American Songs Reborn
Thanks for your generous review, George! For me, it was a pleasure to work with you on the song list. Your sophisticated taste led me to learn some new songs and rediscover others I had forgotten. Thanks for the growth opportunity. Plus, your friends and extended family were delightful. You are very blessed!
Zelda G.
April 1, 2024Outstanding
Philip served as our Easter pianist and did an outstanding job. He was punctual, prepared, person stepping in for a congregation with high expectations. We could not have ask for more to enhance the service. The feedback I and our pastor received at the First United Methodist Church was extremely positive with requests for Philip to join us in the future for special events which may or may not be secular.
Hired as: Pianist
American Songs Reborn
Thank you, Zelda, for the kind and energetic review. Worshiping with you all was an uplifting experience for me. I look forward to working with you again. Alleluia!
Robert S.
December 17, 2023Best Christmas party!
Phillip was superb playing pop and religious Christmas songs at our party. We’re looking forward to booking him in July for our Independence Day party too. Everyone loved the music and the event calling and texting praises.
Hired as: Pianist
American Songs Reborn
Robert, it was great to meet you and your son, plus play piano and sing in your beautiful home. You and your guests were very friendly and kind, so I look forward to returning some day. I wish the best of holidays to you all!
Booking information
Price range: $300 and up
Languages: English
Gig length: 60 - 240 minutes
What to expect
I'm flexible, and I like to communicate with each client before the event. That way, I know what they want and need. Based on client feedback, I know what repertoire of songs I should perform (or avoid), how much I should interact with the audience (if at all), and whether we'll include song requests, sing-alongs, or soloists from the audience.
I always dress well for the stage, with a sport jacket and slacks (or tuxedo, if you prefer). I'm always courteous and friendly with my clients and their guests. After all, I want everyone to have good time!
About
Hey, folks! My name is Philip Russom, and I'm a conservatory-trained musician, specializing in piano and voice performances of songs from the Great American Songbook. In the 1970s, I earned Masters and Bachelor degrees from the University of North Texas (music major with computer science minor). In the early 1980s, I earned a Masters and PhD from Yale University (major in music theory with music history minor).
For decades, I worked as a performer and a music professor at Yale, Indiana, Penn State, and Brandeis Universities. While working as a musician, my "side hustle" was working part time as an expert in certain data center and information technology disciplines, in petroleum, manufacturing, and insurance firms.
At the turn of the century, I changed careers and became one of the world's leading industry analysts for big data, advanced analytics, and other data management disciplines. I worked for leading analyst firms, namely Gartner Inc., Forrester Research, Giga Information Group, and TDWI. Performing as a musician then became my "side hustle."
Two years ago, I retired, but I still work in both of my careers. I have a small consulting practice as an industry analyst for data and analytics, and I regularly perform as a pianist and/or singer in private parties, restaurants, churches, and community concerts.
Additional booking notes
See Stage/Setup Requirements
Services offered
Set list
I have lead sheets for thousands of songs from the Great American Songbook (jazz and swing style music). And I know hundreds of popular songs in other styles (rock, pop, folk, Broadway, and sacred). For each gig, I pull from these large repertories to create a unique song list that addresses my understanding of what the client needs and wants. Note that some gigs require me to be a solo pianist, some require me to be a singing pianist, and others require a mix of both. Requirements like this will affect the songs I select for a gig.
My clients request certain songwriters and performers repeatedly. So, I've created one-hour sets for these, including: Duke Ellington, Irving Berlin, Rodgers & Hart, Cole Porter, George and Ira Gershwin, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Burt Bacharach, The Beatles, Classic Blues (featuring Billy Holiday), Sinatra, etc. Similarly, I have sets for special occasions and holidays, including three hours of love songs for Valentine's Day and weddings; three hours of Christmas music (both sacred and secular); and many hours of hymns and worship songs (for church services).
Here are some songs I perform regularly:
Jazz and Broadway Standards =
A Child Is Born
A Fine Romance
A Foggy Day
Alfie
All Of Me
All Of You
All The Things You Are
Angel Eyes
As Time Goes By
Autumn in New York
Autumn Leaves
Blame It On My Youth
Blue Skies
Blues In The Night
Body and Soul
But Beautiful
But Not For Me
By Myself
Call Me Irresponsible
Cheek To Cheek
Come Fly With Me
Count Your Blessings
Cry Me A River
Darn That Dream
Days Of Wine And Roses
Deep In A Dream
Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend
Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead
Don't Explain
Don't Get Around Much Anymore
Dream A Little Dream Of Me
Everything Happens To Me
Fly Me To The Moon
Forty-Second Street
Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You?
Georgia On My Mind
Girl From Ipanema
God Bless The Child
Have You Met Miss Jones?
Here's That Rainy Day
How High The Moon
How Insensitive
I Can't Get Started Without You
I Can't Give You Anything But Love
I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire
I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good
I Left My Heart In San Francisco
I Only Have Eyes For You
I Thought About You
If I Only Had A Brain
I'm In The Mood For Love
I'm Just A Lucky So and So
Imagination
In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning
It Don't Mean A Thing
It's Easy To Remember
It's Only A Paper Moon
I've Got The World On A String
I've Got You Under My Skin
Jeepers Creepers
Lady is a Tramp
Let's Fall In Love
Lover
Make Someone Happy
Misty
Mona Lisa
Mood Indigo
Moon River
My Foolish Heart
My Funny Valentine
My Old Flame
My Romance
Nice Work If You Can Get It
Old Devil Moon
On The Sunny Side Of The Street
One For My Baby
Over The Rainbow
Pick Yourself Up
Polka Dots and Moonbeams
Satin Doll
Shadow Of Your Smile
Skylark
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
Solitude
Some Day My Prince Will Come
Someone To Watch Over Me
Stardust
Steppin' Out With My Baby
Stormy Weather
Take the A Train
Thanks For The Memory
The Boulevard of Broken Dreams
The More I See You
The Most Beautiful Girl In The World
The Nearness of You
The Party's Over
The Shadow Of Your Smile
The Way You Look Tonight
There Will Never Be Another You
They Say It's Wonderful
Til There Was You
We're In The Money
What A Wonderful World
What Are You Doing for the Rest of Your Life?
When Sunny Gets Blue
When You Wish Upon A Star
Willow Weep for Me
You Are Too Beautiful
You Don't Know What Love Is
You Go To My Head
You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby
You'd be So Nice To Come Home To
You're Nobody 'til Somebody Loves You
Rock, Folk, and Pop Standards =
Alfie
All You Need Is Love
Always On My Mind
America The Beautiful
And I Love Her
And So It Goes
Blackbird
Both Sides Now
By The Time I Get To Phoenix
Close To You (They Long To Be)
Crazy
Daniel
Danny Boy
Desperado
Didn't We Girl?
Do You Know The Way To San Jose?
Eleanor Rigby
Galveston
Hallelujah
Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?
Here, There and Everywhere
Hey Jude
Honesty
I Feel The Earth Move
I Say A Little Prayer For You
If I Fell In Love With You
I'll Never Fall In Love Again
Imagine
In My Life
Just the Way You Are (Don't Go Changing)
Killing Me Softly With His Song
Leaving On A Jet Plane
Let It Be
Long and Winding Road
Marie
Michele
New York State of Mind
Norwegian Wood
People
Piano Man
Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head
Rocket Man
Something
Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
The Look Of Love
This Guy's In Love With You
Tiny Dancer
To Make You Feel My Love
Try A Little Tenderness
What The World Needs Now
When I'm Sixty-Four
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Wichita Lineman
Yellow Submarine
Yesterday
Your Song
Influences and inspiration
Great jazz pianists, such as Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson, Fred Hersch, Brad Mehldau, Keith Jarrett, Danillo Perez, Dave McKenna, Hank Jones, Horace Silver, Mose Allison, Scott Joplin, Fats Waller, Jelly Roll Morton. I studied with Dan Haerle and Tim Ray.
Great jazz and pop singers, such as Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Mel Torme, Nat King Cole, Billy Holiday, Gregory Porter, Nina Simone, Johnny Hartman, Diana Krall, Jane Monheit, Adele, Amy Weinstein, Kurt Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald.
Great jazz, Hollywood, and Broadway songwriters, such as Duke Ellington, Irving Berlin, James van Heusen, Harry Warren, Harold Arlen, Jule Styne, George and Ira Gershwin, Hoagy Charmichael, Johnny Mercer, Sammy Cahn, Jerome Kern, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Cole Porter, Rodgers & Hart, Norah Jones, Madeleine Peyroux
Recent Singer/Songwriters, such as Billy Joel, Elton John, The Beatles, Springsteen, Randy Newman, Leonard Cohen, James Taylor, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Burt Bacharach & Hal David, John Denver, Hank Williams.
Setup requirements
Most venues provide me with an acoustic piano, usually a grand piano, in good condition and recently tuned
If I'm to sing (or talk to the audience), the venue should also supply a mic on a boom stand (or a lapel mic), wired into a public address (PA) system
If necessary, I can bring my own digital piano and mic/PA, but I need to know that far in advance of the event. Due to the time required to set up and break down equipment, I will charge an additional $100, and I will not discount my base fee of $300