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Simon Phillips Protocol: 4
by Glenn Astarita
All-universe drummer Simon Phillips can navigate just about any rock-related genre with the greatest of ease, given his tenure with Toto, The Who; voluminous discography as a session artist and ongoing leadership with his jazz-rock ensemble, Protocol. On 4 guitar hero Greg Howe replaces Andy Timmons, and Dennis Hamm takes over keyboard duties for Steve Weingart, along with longstanding member, bassist Ernest Tibbs. Ultimately, Phillips strikes gold on the latest rendition, perhaps looming as the band's finest outing to date.
Continue ReadingSimon Phillips Protocol at Catalina Jazz Club
by Jim Worsley
Simon Phillips Protocol Catalina Jazz Club Hollywood, CA February 6, 2018 Early on, the very engaged crowd at the Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood knew we were in for a treat. Perhaps it was enough that drummer Simon Phillips and his quartet Protocol were ready to take the stage for an evening of high-energy fusion. After an opening number, Phillips announced, “We will be playing Protocol 4 in it's entirety." ...
Continue ReadingSimon Phillips: Protocol 3
by Glenn Astarita
This is the 3rd installment of all-universe drummer Simon Phillips' (The Who, Toto, Hiromi...) Protocol band. And he imparts a commanding presence via lyrically charged fills and mesmeric polyrhythmic flurries amid the resonating output from his large rock kit. Akin to the previous albums, the quartet intertwines jazz fusion, jazz rock and progressive rock into a unified entity, backed by tuneful hooks and the musicians' tightknit interactions. Moreover, keyboardist Steve Weingart and guitarist Andy Timmons infuse an array of multihued ...
Continue ReadingSimon Phillips: Protocol 3
by Dave Wayne
A professional musician from the age of 12, Simon Phillips' drumming sound and style is instantly recognizable. He's toured and recorded with just about every major rock and pop act imaginable; from Mick Jagger, The Who and Toto to Judas Priest, Mike Oldfield, and Joe Satriani. Also an uber-session player, he's recorded countless jazz, fusion and progressive rock sessions with lesser-known, highly-gifted artists such as Duncan Browne, Gary Boyle, Phil Manzanera, and Ray Russell. Lately, he's turned increasing attention to ...
Continue ReadingSimon Phillips: Protocol II
by Ben Scholz
It has been 14 years since the release of Vantage Point, Simon Phillips' last project as a leader, and nearly 26 years since his debut album Protocol. In these years, Phillips has become a drummer to the stars, recording and performing with the likes of Jeff Beck, The Who, and Judas Priest. In '92, following the death of founding member Jeff Porcaro, Phillips was asked to fill the drum chair for Toto. He would go on to occupy this position ...
Continue ReadingSimon Phillips: Protocol II
by Dan Bilawsky
Protocol II arrives fourteen years after drummer Simon Phillips' last leader date--the hard bop and post-bop based Vantage Point (Jazzline Records, 2000). And it comes approximately a quarter century after the original Protocol (Music for Nations, 1988)--a true solo date that had Phillips covering all the instruments, filling in the space around his calling-card drumming. So why the long wait for another solo album? That question is pretty simple to answer: Phillips wasn't thrilled with much of ...
Continue ReadingU-Z: Ultimate Zero - Live
by John Kelman
Since returning to the progressive rock scene with a new group/EP--UKZ's Radiation (Globe Music, 2009), U.K. co-founder and Frank Zappa/Jethro Tull alum Eddie Jobson has been dealing with the same problems that every indie musician does: keeping a band together for less than regular touring. With UKZ in suspension, the keyboardist/violinist began touring U-Z--devoted to performing classic progressive rock and fusion music from back in the day--with a revolving-door including fellow legends, bassists Tony Levin and John Wetton, alongside younger ...
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