Simon Phillips - Protocol III (2015) [Hi-Res]

Brand new release from this fusion quartet whose 2014 Protocol II album was one of the years best. The new album „Protocol III“ contains music inspired by the band’s live performances, taking the style of electric jazz fuzed with rock and this time experimenting with world music and blues. Simon Phillips, drums, Andy Timmons, guitar, Steve Weingart, keyboards and Ernest Tibbs, bass.

„It took a quarter of a century for Phillips to follow up his first experimental rocker under this name, now he’s followed that one up in less than a year. With the same crew on board, they are unequivocally looking toward tomorrow with this new batch of prog jazz/rock that you don’t have to be a moldy oldie to appreciate. Smoking stuff that isn’t afraid to be loud and proud, Jaco, Brain Auger and all the rest have got to be giving their blessings. Well done stuff from a long term chef that wouldn’t cook it up any other way.“ (Chris Spector, Midwest Records)

„Protocol 3 is real-deal jazz rock. No avant-garde trappings, smooth jazz noodling or proggy pretensions (well, maybe a little bit of the latter) here. This one left me with a smile on my face every time I listened to it.“ (AllAboutJazz)

Simon Phillips, drums
Andy Timmons, guitar
Steve Weingart, Fender Rhodes, keyboards
Ernest Tibbs, bass
Satnam Singh Rangotra, tablas