Phil Slater was born in Wollongong in 1972 and began playing the trumpet at the age of 12.

Phil has performed and recorded with some of the most influential ensembles and artists in Australian music, from the Australian Art Orchestra to Mike Nock, Vince Jones, Baecastuff, Barney McAll, D.I.G., and Steve Hunter.

In 1990 he studied music composition at University of Sydney and University of Wollongong. In 1996 Phil moved to Sydney and began playing with various groups. Since this time, Slater has been the leader or co-leader of several jazz groups, including Band of Five Names, Strobe Coma Virgo, Whistlestop Trio, The Fresh Kills, The Very Interactive Band, omnivore, and Trigger.

• 2003: winner of the 2003 Wangaratta Festival of Jazz National Jazz Award
• 2002: awarded the 2002 Music Council of Australia/Freedman Foundation Fellowship
• 1997: a finalist in the 1997 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Trumpet Award in Washington DC
• 1996: awarded second place in the National Jazz Award

Phil has toured internationally and performed as a featured artist at many music festivals in the world including the Montreaux, Montreal, Northsea, and Umbria jazz festivals and is a regular performer at the Wangaratta Jazz Festival and the Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide International Arts Festivals.