Phil Boniface

Phil Boniface is a New Zealand/Canadian bassist, composer and educator.

Growing up in New Zealand his journey in music started at age 12 with piano, followed closely by four years of lessons on the electronic organ. At age 16, it was the sound of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Nirvana, and Led Zeppelin that was an influence in taking up the bass guitar.

In 2000, after formal study on the acoustic and electric bass, he graduated from the Conservatorium of Music at Massey University, Wellington (now The New Zealand School of Music) with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance.

His professional career has included performances in festivals, theatres, bars, clubs, hotels, weddings, cruise ships, and expanded over time to include teaching (individuals & groups), composing his own work and arranging.

In 2005, Phil moved to Vancouver, BC, and since living on the West Coast have been fortunate enough to perform with many of Canada's finest jazz musicians. In addition, his own bands have been apart of the Vancouver International Jazz Festival (2013, 2014 and 2015), The Pender Harbour Jazz Festival and local venues that support jazz music.

In 2012, Phil established Vancouver's longest running jazz jam session, 'Sessions at The Patricia'. Still continuing every Monday night at The Mill Street Brewery at the historic Patricia Hotel in Vancouver's downtown east side, this jam attracts the cities finest jazz musicians along with touring artists.

In November 2015, with funding support from FACTOR he released his first album as band leader of original compositions and arrangements titled 'BaixaBlue'.

Returning to New Zealand in 2016 after 11 years residing in Canada, He graduated in 2017 with a Masters of Teaching and Learning (w Distinction) from Massey University and continues to teach.

In 2017, with grant funding support from The Lilburn Trust, as well as the Earle Creativity and Development Trust Phil has been working with New Zealand's leading ngā tāonga puoro (traditional māori musical instruments) artists, Al Fraser. They released their duo album of compositions and improvisations for ngā taonga pūoro and doublebass in March 2018. This album - titled Ponguru - has been released through leading art music label Rattle Records and received acclaimed reviews in New Zealand and abroad.