Phillips’ strength is his versatility. He plays both piano/keyboard and trumpet, sings, and plays many styles of music – jazz and blues, big band and dance music, pop, Dixieland, show music, musical theatre, multicultural, solo piano, and digital computer/MIDI music, as well as composing and arranging for all genres. He has arranged more than 30 songs for John McDermott and full 66-piece orchestra. His production and arrangements on the debut CD by the Cape Breton traditional group The Cottars led to their receiving the Best New Artist Award at the 2003 East Coast Music Awards.