Jazz. Rock. Fusion. For more than forty years, drummer Simon Phillips has proven himself a master of precision, intensity, and emotion across musical genres.

From his early twenties, he worked with icons such as Jeff Beck, Jack Bruce, Pete Townshend, Al Di Meola, Jon Anderson, Jan Hammer, Stanley Clarke, Jon Lord, Mike Oldfield, and Brian Eno—many of them pioneers of jazz-rock fusion. Soon came tours and recordings with Mick Jagger, Asia, The Who, Gary Moore, and Joe Satriani. Following Jeff Porcaro’s passing, Phillips joined Toto in 1992, remaining for 21 years, contributing to ten albums and countless world tours while collaborating with Steve Lukather, Michael Schenker, and Derek Sherinian.

In jazz, Phillips formed a trio with pianist Hiromi and bassist Anthony Jackson, producing five albums between 2011–16. He also co-founded PSP with Philippe Saisse and Pino Palladino. Influenced by Tony Williams, Phillips refined his compositional voice through his Protocol series. Protocol II (2013) established a powerhouse line-up with Andy Timmons, Steve Weingart, and Ernest Tibbs, followed by Protocol III (2015). Protocol IV (2017), featuring Greg Howe and Dennis Hamm, earned a GRAMMY nomination.

Phillips celebrated Protocol’s 30th Anniversary in 2019 with a quintet including Otmaro Ruiz, Jacob Scesney, and Alex Sill. In 2022, Protocol V continued the legacy with Tibbs, Ruiz, Scesney, and Sill, delivering high-energy performances that showcase Simon Phillips’ enduring artistry.

These shows will feature material from the new album Protocol VI planned to be released on 8th May 2026.