'An American master saxophonist...' declared a London critic after Phil Barham's debut there in 1990.
Audiences and critics agreed with the opinion already offered by the New York TÏmes: '...ability to swing at a dancing rhythm or to blister through a swift rippling melody...' published after his New York debut at Carnegie Recital Hall in 1987.
At a recent concert in the Midwest, one critic was moved to write: '...world-class saxophonist... technical virtuosity...a dazzling performance that brought the audience to its feet in a standing ovation.'
On March 2, 1991, Barham completed his 1990–1991 season with a solo recital at Merkin Concert Hall, New York City.
On September 28, 1994, Barham performed for the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series held at the Chicago Public Library Cultural Center.
Recently, he was awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to record the works for U.S. contemporary composer Rodney Waschka II.
Barham is presently a clinician for the Selmer Company and assistant professor of Saxophone at Tennessee Technological University.