Philadelphia, PA based bassist Philip D’Agostino has been performing, recording, and teaching music in the Mid Atlantic region and beyond since 1995, when he began performing in bars and clubs before he was old enough to drink in them. His proficiency on electric and upright bass, work ethic, dependability, and quick ears have earned him a reputation as one of the Philadelphia area’s most versatile and in demand musicians. He is currently enjoying a career as a professional musician, performing and recording with some of the Delaware Valley’s best up and coming and veteran acts, and has taught hundreds of students since he began teaching in 2001. In 2009 he released his debut full- length solo album, “Music From A Sinking Ship”, an album of ten instrumental tracks that has received considerable airplay and excellent reviews. The record features over twenty of Philadelphia’s best musicians, and Philip has been performing the songs live with a quintet at venues such as the Kimmel Center and World Café Live. Aside from a brief stint in New York City in 2000, he has lived in Philadelphia since 1998.

Born and raised in Lansdale, PA, Philip became interested in music at a very early age, falling in love with the music of Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, and the Beatles. His parents and grandparents record collections became obsessions, and as a child he was fortunate enough to have jazz, blues, soul, folk, and rock music fill his days. He began music lessons and formed his first band at the age of seven with neighborhood friends, and has been practicing and studying music ever since. He attended Lansdale Catholic High School and studied music at Montgomery County Community College and Temple University, but his real education came from playing along with his favorite records, and in the bars, clubs, venues, and studios of Philadelphia, New York City, and surrounding areas, often playing with and learning from the great musicians of those communities. Intense private studies with electric bassist Kjell Benner and classical double bassist Amanda Rice-Johnston also were tremendous influences on his playing.

As a performer, Philip is a founding member of Philadelphia based Americana/Roots collective Wissahickon Chicken Shack, and is also a member of Hezekiah Jones and Up the Chain. He can also be heard accompanying singer songwriters such as Chris Kasper, Sharon Little, Scot Sax, Ben Arnold, and many more. He has toured the United States extensively, performing on bills with the Decemberists, Jeff Tweedy, Derek Trucks, Robert Randolph, Dr. Dog, Amos Lee, Chris Bathgate, Frontier Ruckus, Good Old War, and Taj Mahal to name a few. Jazz gigs, cover band gigs, and wedding gigs are also common occurrences.

Philip has appeared on dozens of releases as a session musician, on every kind of recording from homemade independent releases recorded in bedrooms to major labels releases recorded in magnificent studios. Most of his studio work is in Philadelphia but he has recorded as far away as Nashville and Michigan. These recordings range from rock, jazz, folk, world music, experimental, soul, reggae, classical, and everything in between. He has worked with Grammy winning producers such as Aaron Levinson, Phil Nicolo, and Scot Sax, Weekly article “Meet the Session Players” written by Tara Murtha, which spotlighted session musicians in the Philadelphia area.

Philip began teaching in 2001, and has taught one on one private lessons, music theory classes, and ensembles. He has taught at Martyn’s Guitars in Lansdale, PA, Paul Green School of Rock in Cherry Hill, NJ, Keswick Music Works in Glenside, PA, and substitutes at the Crefeld School in Chestnut Hill, PA. He also teaches privately at his home studio and travels to student’s homes for lessons.