Yes, another Simon Phillips album is out! From one of the most legendary drummers around, and with the all-stars line-up of Greg Howe on guitar, Ernest Tibbs on bass and Dennis Hamm on keyboards 'Protocol 4' is out, released on October 27, 2017 by Phantom Recordings. A new album from Simon Phillips is always a good listen. Or at least one you really should listen to a few times. And with Simon, the superlatives in promotion are always all over the place, and he really doesn't need that anymore. Simon Phillips is one of the most profound, influential and legendary drummers out there. What Simon creates always meets the highest standards, and his playing is just off this planet.
On 'Protocol 4' we experience a brand new mix of Fusion, Funk, Jazz, Rock and even Indian music. Every track is a world on itself and the compositions evolve naturally and are as surprising and vibrant as we can expect from Simon. Where all the musicians on this album are at their best, Dennis Hamm's keyboard sound choices stand out and add a major flavor to the album and fantastic dimensions to the music. Greg Howe is simply at his best on 'Protocol 4', with Phantom Voyage as his solo moment. A beautiful track, and like all the songs, written by Simon Phillips himself.
Simon's recognizable drum sound and compositions are of course present on the album. But once again, his playing found new grounds, once more new and different than we think we can expect of Simon. Rhythm-wise he is a master in renewing and challenging himself to new and different levels. Listening to the album, the opener Nimbus makes sure you know you are listening to Simon Phillips. The intro of track 2, Pentangle, makes you wonder where the song will go and end up. Then, and we're only at track 3 here, in Passage to Agra, we listen to Simon's very own interpretation and influences of Indian Rhythms and music. And these are his own, because you can hear where the track is coming from, but it is played within the realms of the distinct Protocol Sound that the band has.
'Protocol 4' is another Simon Phillips album that not only features his great and exceptional writing skills and drumming. This, in combination with his production and recording skills, make the album another standard for drummers to have in their collection.
Tracklisting Protocol 4
Nimbus - 8:56 (Phillips)
Pentangle - 6:47 (Phillips)
Passage To Agra - 7:16 (Phillips)
Solitaire - 5:59 (Phillips)
Interlude - 1:39 (Phillips)
Celtic Run - 7:48 (Phillips)
All things Considered - 5:53 (Phillips)
Phantom Voyage - 7:31 (Phillips)
Azorez - 6:44 (Phillips)
All tracks are published under Simon's Pants Party Publishing
Personnel Protocol 4 Check below for names and references of these four giants. Together they litteraly cover every corner in music.
Protocol 4 European & US Tour 2017 The live band features Otmaro Ruiz on Keyboards. November 06, 2017 Vienna AT Porgy & Bess
November 08, 2017 Buhl DE Jazztival
November 09, 2017 Ravensburg DE Trans4Jazz
November 10, 2017 Reichenburg DE Bergkeller
November 11, 2017 Munster DE Jovel
November 13, 2017 Hobro DK Bil Forretningen
November 14, 2017 Kolding DK Godset
November 15, 2017 Copenhagen DK Amager Bio
November 16, 2017 Oslo NO Cosmopolite
November 17, 2017 Larvik NO Bolgen Kulturhus
November 18, 2017 Gothenburg SE Nefertiti
November 19, 2017 Stockholm SE Fasching
November 20, 2017 London UK Ronnie Scott's
November 21, 2017 London UK Ronnie Scott's
November 23, 2017 Hasbergen DE Masterclass
November 24, 2017 Hasbergen DE Gaste Garage
November 25, 2017 Hasbergen DE Gaste Garage
November 26, 2017 Zoetermeer NL De Boerderij
November 27, 2017 Hengelo NL Metropol
November 28, 2017 Verviers BE Spirit Of 66
November 29, 2017 Aschaffenburg DE Colos-Saal
November 30, 2017 Tallinn EE Russian Cultural Cnt
December 01, 2017 Rorschach CH Jazzclub Rorschach
December 02, 2017 Lichtenstein LI Little Big Beat Studios
December 04, 2017 New York City NY Iridium
December 05, 2017 New York City NY Iridium
December 06, 2017 New Hope PA Havana
December 08, 2017 Chicago IL Reggie's
December 09, 2017 Chicago IL Reggie's
December 10, 2017 Detroit MI Jazz Café @ Music Hall
December 12, 2017 Hollywood CA Catalina's Bar & Grill
December 13, 2017 Hollywood CA Catalina's Bar & Grill
December 14, 2017 Santa Cruz CA Kuumbwa Jazz Center
December 18, 2017 Oakland CA Yoshi's
References 'Protocol 4' players
Simon Phillips To date Simon Phillips has toured and recorded with many bands and artists, including: Mick Jagger, The Who, Jeff Beck, Jack Bruce, Peter Gabriel, Joe Satriani, Tears for Fears, Judas Priest, Roxy Music, Michael Schenker, Nik Kershaw, Al DiMeola, 801, Pete Townshend, Robert Palmer, Mike Oldfield, Stanley Clarke, The Pretenders, Whitesnake, Toto and Dave Gilmore... to name but a few.
Expanding his career from drumming to composing, Simon recorded his first solo album 'Protocol' in 1988, followed by a live album, 'Force Majeure,' in 1992. During that year he joined Toto on their Kingdom Of Desire tour of the World, the start of a 21 year collaboration. He recorded his third solo album, 'Symbiosis,' in 1995 and 'Another Lifetime' in 1997. 'Out of the Blue,' a live album, followed in 1998 and in 1999 he released 'Vantage Point,' which is a pure, straight ahead jazz album in collaboration with pianist Jeff Babko.
Yet another expansion to Simon's musical career is producing and engineering, which he first started back in England with British composer Mike Oldfield, working on three albums with him. Aside from his solo projects, Simon also co-produced several albums by Toto.
In 2009 he formed PSP with Philippe Saisse and Pino Palladino. A live CD and an EP was produced and tours of Europe and Japan in 2011 & 2012. In 2010 he joined Michael Schenker for a short tour of Japan and performed with Trilok Gurtu and the NDR Big Band for an amazing project resulting in the '21 Spices' CD.
That year Simon was approached by Japanese virtuoso pianist Hiromi to form 'The Trio Project' together with bass legend Anthony Jackson. The trio has recorded four CDs: 'Voice,' 'Move,' 'Alive' and 'Spark' and has been touring throughout the World the past 6 years.
25 years after his first solo recording, Simon released 'Protocol II' featuring Andy Timmons (Guitar), Steve Weingart (Keys) and Ernest Tibbs (Bass). The band, under the name of 'Protocol II,' toured in Europe, the US and Japan. At the beginning of 2014 'Protocol III' was recorded and tours of Europe, Japan and the US followed. And now much to the excitement of Simon Phillips fans worldwide, the new CD, 'Protocol 4,' will be released on October 27th!
Ernest Tibbs Natalie Cole, Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight (musical Madam Lilly), James Ingram, Melba Moore, Eloise Laws, and Debra Laws. Ernest has also toured and/or performed with Allan Holdsworth, Simon Phillips, Dean Brown, Harvey Mason, Scott Henderson, Andy Summers, Jeff Richman, Thom Rotella, David Benoit, David Garfield, Phil Upchurch, Dan Segal, Tom Scott, Eric Marienthal, Brian Auger, Ronnie Laws, Jeff Lorber, Gregg Karukas, Kevin Toney, Pat Kelley, Lee Ritenour, John Pisano, Brian Bromberg, Brandon Fields, Norman Brown, Russian Pop Star Alsou, as well as symphony orchestras in San Francisco, Atlanta, and Los Angeles.
Greg Howe Dennis Chambers, Victor Wooten, Richie Kotzen, Jason Becker, Billy Sheehan, Stu Hamm, Simon Phillips, Marco Minneman, John Wetton, Dave Weckl, Bernie Worrell, Gregg Rolie, Eddie Jobson, Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Rihanna, Enrique Iglesias, and many more.
Greg Howe endorses: DV Mark Amps, Kiesel Guitars, D'Addario Strings, Seymour Duncan Pickups, and Carl Martin Pedals.
Dennis Hamm Thundercat (Stephen Bruner), Flying Lotus (Captain Murphy), Larry Carlton, Jonathan Butler, and Virgil Donati. Recent past tours and performances include Allan Holdsworth, Chris Cornell, Kenny 'Babyface' Edmonds, Ryan Leslie, John Densmore (The Doors), Bilal, and Judith Hill (Michael Jackson). Other artists he has performed or recorded with are Kenny Loggins, Pete Escovedo, Will Kennedy & Jimmy Haslip (The Yellowjackets), Walter Smith III, Jojo Mayer, Ronald Bruner Jr., Cliff Almond, Frank Gambale, Hadrien Feraud, Jimmy Johnson, Janek Gwizdala, Bob Reynolds, Marcus Belgrave, Tony Macalpine, Mike Miller, Thomas Pridgen, Sheila E, Justo Almario, Tony Royster Jr., Melvin Davis, Jimmy Branly, Brian Bromberg, Renee Olstead, Carlitos del Puerto, Sandro Albert, Buck Owens' 'Buckaroos', Monty Byrom, The Smokin' Armadillos, and his own original projects including funk/jazz group Mother Funk Conspiracy featuring L.A. saxophonist Zane Musa.
Otmaro Ruiz Considered one of the most important jazz pianists in the current scene, venezuelan Otmaro Ruiz is known for his versatility and virtuosity. He has worked with music artists: John McLaughlin, Tito Puente, Arturo Sandoval, John Patitucci, Paquito D'Rivera, Jing Chi, Nana Caymmi, Dori Caymmi, Akira Jimbo, Frank Gambale, Peter Erskine, Dave Weckl, Art Davis Quintet, Charlie Haden Liberation Music Orchestra, Alain Caron, Gino Vannelli, Tolu, Frank Morgan, Robben Ford, Vinnie Colaiuta and Jon Anderson.
Otmaro Ruiz enjoys a US support deal from Kawai Pianos and proudly endorses products from the following companies: LP (Latin Percussion), Art, Radial Engineering, Mackie, Zoom, Primacoustic, Quiklok, Washburn Guitars, Scarbee and Ilio/Spectrasonic.
