LA Music Academy instructor, Philip Bynoe recently enjoyed an experience only a handful of musicians can share - the opportunity to play with The Tonight Show Band. Due to an illness in regular bassist Stan Sargeant's family, Bynoe was asked to fill in January 14th through the 16th. "They gave me a call and I went down and read the chart and that was that." Band leader Kevin Eubanks was familiar with Bynoe, having played with him in a jazz band led by Eubanks in Hermosa Beach - a side project that lasted for roughly a year before it was put on the back burner as Eubanks continued to focus on his Tonight Show duties. Asked how he approached the high profile job, Bynoe said, "On that level, I really needed to be under the radar. You know, just kind of go in, play the gig, and not make a big stink. I got a few calls - friends asking for tickets the last night - but I was like, let me make a good impression on them and then take it from there. Plus, I didn't need any extra pressure on me." Bynoe had to adjust to the fact that Eubanks has to face Jay Leno during the show in order to talk and banter with him, whereas most bandleaders or conductors will face their musicians so they can make eye contact while they are playing. "They (Leno and Eubanks) are kind of having their acting thing, so all of his conducting is done with his back to you - which is a little tricky. The other guys told me to just watch Kevin and don't look at anything... You can't have the typical band interaction, where you look at the bass player, the drummer, etc., because it's a TV show and the band is bringing guests on or playing to a commercial and it all has to be letter perfect." Bynoe has taught at the LA Music Academy for four years, teaching in the Ensemble Workshops, the Summer Program, and the Kenshu Program. Asked about the prospects for a return visit to The Tonight Show, Bynoe says, "I know I went in and did the best I could. As far as those type of gigs go, let me put it this way: If I was the bassist that had that job regularly, I wouldn't be getting up off that chair any time soon."