About Philip Topping

Philip Topping is a Los Angeles based music educator, trumpet player, and musical director with more than 25 years of professional experience.  As a live performer and studio freelance musician, he has worked in the Jazz, Commercial, and Latin styles of music and has performed at such notable clubs as The Baked Potato, Viper Room, The Fillmore, and The Hollywood Bowl.  He has also performed or shared the stage with such notable musicians as Mitch Forman, Gary Herbig, Tony Austin, Jamison Trotter, Bill Marcus, Joe LaBarbera, Larry Koonse, Alphonso Johnson, and Stevie Wonder.  

Earlier in his career,  he co-founded one of the seminal groups in the west coast swing revival movement of the late 90s, Blue Plate Special.  The group recorded several albums and also toured nationally.  In addition to playing trumpet, Philip also plays the EVI (Electronic Valve Instrument).

Philip is currently focusing his musical attention on the latest group he co-leads,  TriTone Asylum. The group recently released their second album "The HideAway Sessions" in late February of 2022.  They perform regularly at notable Jazz clubs throughout the Los Angeles area.

Philip is the Jazz Director at Hamilton High School.  Originally from the Northern California region, Philip received his bachelor’s degree from California State University Chico in Music (trumpet performance). He moved to Los Angeles in 1998, and graduated from CalArts in 2007 with a Master’s of Fine Arts in Music and in 2011 recieved a Masters of Arts in Teaching in Music Education from the University of Southern California (USC).