Simon Phillips – Protocol 5 Concert Review MIM Phoenix AZ 7-19-25
Concert Review and Photo Gallery by Roc Boyum
Renowned virtuoso drummer, producer and sound engineer Simon Phillips and his phenomenal band Protocol, brought their explosive music to the sumptuous Musical Instrument Museum, aka MIM on Saturday July 19, 2025. In celebration of their latest release, Protocol 5; Simon Phillips and his band gave the sold-out venue a show that can only be described as lighting in a bottle.
To those who may not yet know Simon Phillips, he is a top-tier session player that many of the best drummers in the world aspire to emulate. His impressive roster of collaborators throughout his illustrious career is nearly impossible to fully enumerate, but I’ll highlight a few notable names: Jeff Beck, Jan Hammer, The Who, Pete Townshend, Judas Priest, Derek Sherinian, Gary Moore, Hiromi, Joe Satriani… and the list continues endlessly!
Although Phillips is renowned for his expertise in the Jazz/Rock Fusion genre and his exceptional drumming skills, he is also proficient in trio jazz, big band jazz, pop, rock, and metal music. His brief collaboration with the Metal Gods, Judas Priest, on their 1977 LP, Sin After Sin, highlighted Phillips‘ double bass drumming on the track “Dissident Aggressor.” This track later became emblematic of the drumming style associated with heavy metal and thrash metal music.
While Phillips‘ solo project, Protocol, is a Jazz/Rock Fusion band that embodies exceptional musicianship, the foundation of the band’s music lies in its composition and dynamic range.
This performance was packed with countless highlights; it would be impossible for me to mention them all. The show undeniably showcased exceptional musicianship, which is what we expect from and group of musicians of this caliber. What impressed me the most was the band’s ability to collaborate seamlessly, producing a sound that was silky smooth while skillfully executing their intricate arrangements. The improvisational exchanges throughout each song were remarkable, achieved only through the continuous eye contact shared among the musicians.
I have seldom encountered a band in a live performance that can master such intricate musical complexity while maintaining a cohesive ebb and flow. Each member is attuned to the others’ musical emotions, allowing their expressions to spontaneously evolve in front of the audience.
During their performance, each member was highlighted with a spotlight that showcased their astonishing talents, eliciting enthusiastic applause from the audience for every solo. In many bands, the guitarist tends to be the loudest, but on this occasion, guitarist Alex Sill was the only one I felt could have turned up the volume; a statement I don’t often make. Three of the five musicians were given the opportunity for solos without any accompaniment: guitarist Alex Sill, keyboardist Otmaro Ruiz, and Simon Phillips. Sill’s solos throughout the show were mezmerising to say the least and his individual solo piece was on his acoustic/electric guitar that was sonic mix of beautiful sounds and flowing technique. Ruiz captivated everyone with his impressive technique, melodic phrasing, and a lightning-fast left hand that seemed to possess a musical mind of its own. Phillips prefers to initiate his solos without any preconceived notions, often launching into a rhythmic or melodic idea that guides him on an improvisational journey. For this particular solo, he picked up a pair of felt-headed mallets, creating a melodic atmosphere as he swept his mallets across his tom-toms. He skillfully navigated his extensive array of tom-toms, producing sounds that transitioned from loud to soft, reminiscent of an orchestral composition. He then exchanged his left mallet for a traditional stick, followed by the right, leading into a more classic display of drumming prowess that had the audience on their feet.
It appeared that, despite the challenging nature of their music, the band still had plenty of energy left and could have continued with a multi-hour set. Unfortunately, the MIM enforces a strict 90-minute limit for artists, reminding us that all good things must eventually conclude.
After their final song, the band approached the front of the stage to receive a standing ovation filled with cheers during their last bow, leaving everyone in attendence to revel in the unforgettable musical experience they had just witnessed.
Hopefully, Simon and Protocol will make their way back to Phoenix, AZ, and the MIM in the near future, so this won’t be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
If you appreciate world-class musicianship and the fusion of Jazz and Rock, I urge you to catch Simon Phillips and his band Protocol for an unforgettable performance. In the meantime, be sure to grab their CD at: https://www.simon-phillips.com.
Simon Phillips – Protocol 5 Photo Gallery MIM
