Studio Live Session recorded in 2025 at Little Big Beat Studios in Liechtenstein, this set brings together Simon Phillips and his Protocol V project around demanding instrumental jazz fusion. A prolific British drummer (Toto, The Who, Jeff Beck), Simon Phillips writes the compositions here and leads a top-tier quintet: Otmaro Ruiz on keyboards, Ernest Tibbs on bass, Alex Sill on guitar and Jacob Scesney on saxophone. The studio format, captured with remarkable sonic care, highlights the ensemble’s rhythmic precision and harmonic depth. The programme runs through Celtic Run, Narmada, You Can’t But You Can, Azorez, First Orbit, Midair Decision, Circle Seven and Manganese, pieces that alternate written themes, intricate unisons and open improvisation. Each musician gets room to speak, between inventive solos and tightly interlocked interplay, often over dizzying tempos. An heir to 1970s fusion while remaining firmly contemporary, Protocol V showcases the instrumental command and sense of group dynamics that Simon Phillips is known for. This live performance will appeal to fans of jazz fusion, virtuoso drumming and ambitious instrumental music, offering both a masterclass in ensemble playing and a pristine, close-up view of a world-class band at work in the studio.
Setlist
- Celtic Run
- Narmada
- You Can't But You Can
- Azorez
- First Orbit
- Midair Decision
- Circle Seven
- Manganese
Personnel & credits
- Simon Phillips — drums
- Otmaro Ruiz — keyboards
- Ernest Tibbs — bass
- Alex Sill — guitar
- Jacob Scesney — saxophone
