{"id":9276,"date":"2017-10-16T10:50:46","date_gmt":"2017-10-16T01:50:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.museonmuse.jp\/?p=9276"},"modified":"2017-10-16T11:01:27","modified_gmt":"2017-10-16T02:01:27","slug":"vol-78-simon-phillips-october-2017-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.museonmuse.jp\/?p=9276","title":{"rendered":"Vol.78 Simon Phillips \/ October 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"

Simon Phillips<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Super Drummer Simon Phillips has released new album titled \u201cPROTOCOL IV \u201c which is 4th album under the alias Protocol. Simon teamed up with Greg Howe whose ultra technical guitar play has gained status amongst enthusiasts of Hard Rock & Fusion music and A young and promising keyboard player Dennis Hamm who plays for Thundercat and Ronald Bruner Jr. for this brand new album.
\nBeautiful guitar melodies played by the new member Greg Howe, following impressive keyboard melodies by Dennis Hamm are the introduction of the new album \u201cPROTOCOL IV\u201d. Its musicality became even deeper and this impressive pieces approach not only their old fans, but also other underground music supporters.
\nThis time, a skilled Japanese drummer Shun Minari interviewed Simon about his new set \u201cPROTOCOL IV\u201d. Shun is active in the front line of supporting artists and recording sessions in Japan, most notably for BLINDMAN,<\/p>\n


\nInterview\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u3000 Shun Minari
\nTranslation\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hiroshi Takakura<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Shun Minari : Please tell us about your new set \u201cProtocol IV\u201d. What was the concept for this album?<\/span>
\nSimon Phillips : My concept for Protocol 4 was primarily the same as it always has been – strong melodies, interesting harmony, great grooves and of course great sound. For me this is the strongest compositional album I have done to date.<\/p>\n

SM : Greg Howe (Guitar) and Dennis Hamm (Keyboard) joined your team instead of Andy Timmons (Guitar) and Steve Weingart (Keyboard) for this album. Can you give us some background of how they ended up playing for the album?<\/span>
\nSP : After the last Protocol album and tour both Andy and Steve decided to go their own ways so I had the task of finding new players. I played with Greg on a short Eddie Jobson tour a few years ago and always thought that I would love to collaborate with him on a project. Dennis Hamm actually rehearsed with me for a band I was putting together to go to India back in 2009.<\/p>\n

SM : From past albums of Protocol, I think you have been putting the most crucial track which has high energy as first track of the album of Protocol. Those tunes are saying something like \u201cThis is current Protocol Music!\u201d for me. I reckon there is some strong meaning when you put those tunes as first tune of the album. \u201cNimbus\u201d is the tune in this album, shows your new team and new direction which I felt different energy from your past works. Did you have an idea to put that track as first track from the early stage of this project?<\/span>
\nSP : The decision to start the album with Nimbus came later – after I had finished mixing the record. I already had an idea of a sequence but as usual that changed. It\u2019s quite normal that things change once the tunes are recorded and then mixed. That\u2019s what I love about making records – the surprises!<\/p>\n

SM : You’ve used A Bubinga\/Maple’s drum kit for long time but I’ve seen you using Star Maple by Tama at recent gigs. Which drum kit did you use for this album?<\/span>
\nSP : I used my first Star Maple kit – a beautiful Burgundy Sparkle finish. I love the sound of this kit and I love the way it records. It\u2019s obviously similar to my other kits but there is a different quality to it.<\/p>\n

SM : Do you adjust or change settings of the drum kit depending on tunes when you record an album?<\/span>
\nSP : Actually no. I might change the snare drum but for this album I only used 3 different snare drums. The Star Maple, a new Walnut drum on 2 tracks and an SLP Aluminum 5\u201d drum on 1 track. The change in sound comes from the way I play the tune.<\/p>\n

SM : \u201cPentangle\u201d \u201cSolitaire\u201d have beautiful melodies and a part which one riff repeats then it sounds like a session. Also beats and performance of those tunes are very pleasant. I almost forgot its original time signature because of it. Did you know how those tunes would get turned into when you had demo tracks?<\/span>
\nSP : My demos are quite similar to the final result except of course the keyboards, bass and guitar are all sequencer generated. Once \u201creal\u201d musicians play the music it comes alive and we also make changes to make the arrangement work best for live playing. That\u2019s where the input of musicians is so important and I love to get everyone\u2019s input and interpretation of the music.<\/p>\n

SM : I’ve seen a lot of drummers. It is said that \u201cThere is a drama in the tune\u201d. I feel your drum solo is very dramatic. What is the important thing to build drum solo phrases for you?<\/span>
\nSP : Pure and simple – musicality! Above all a solo must tell a story. It is after all a composition as is any solo by any instrument. At least that is my concept of soloing.<\/p>\n

SM : On a global level, Drummers have improved their techniques to play fills and It’s not that rare to see that some of those play technically mad phrases. But meantime I also find drummers who impress people by their rhythm, swing and dynamics are getting slightly less. When I listened to your \u201cPassage To Agra\u201d and \u201cPhantom Voyage\u201d, Despite of these 2 tunes have completely different rhythms, I felt that powerful beats have strong vital energy from both of them. Did you mean to create a stir in the current drummer’s trend?<\/span>
\nSP : Ha ha ha! I feel that a lot of music, especially jazz or fusion, has become a technical exercise. Sure it\u2019s wonderful to see displays of ridiculous technique but \u2026.. music first. My music is fairly complicated in structure and harmony so the groove must be strong. If it\u2019s simplicity that\u2019s needed then that\u2019s what the song will get. You have to bring the audience in to the music – not standing on the outside!<\/p>\n

SM : The tune \u201cCeltic Run\u201d sounds light shuffle but hard guitar riffs are following later in the tune. Greg Howe’s played his guitar solo with Rock feeling as a response to the hard riffs. I know you’ve worked for lords of Hard Rock Bands and projects in your career. Do you still listen to hard sounding music or different types of music which you don’t normally play and get inspired by them?<\/span>
\nSP : When I am composing music for an album I may listen to all sorts of music to get inspiration. However most of the music I can recall from memory. For example if there is a certain groove I want to refer to I\u2019ll recall a track from something I\u2019ve either heard or maybe even played. Then I\u2019ll hunt it down either on the internet or my music collection and listen to it to remind myself.<\/p>\n

SM : I’ve listened a lot of your works, solo works and very much understand that you always try new things. I think that\u2019s why your drum is keeping on evolving even more. Please tell me what keeps you so inquisitive and how do you move yourself forward?<\/span>
\nSP : I\u2019ve made 7 studio albums and 2 live albums and have composed most of the music on those albums so I am very aware of not repeating myself. Obviously every composer has a style which might sound similar but I always try to write something different every time I sit down for a writing session. I\u2019m always looking for new ways to do things!<\/p>\n

SM : Please tell us about your upcoming plans.<\/span>
\nSP :\u00a0 My plans now are to tour with this project. Protocol 4. The band is now Ernest Tibbs on Bass, Greg Howe on Gtr and Otmaro Ruiz on Keys, and we\u2019ll be leaving for Europe at the end of October for a 31 date tour and then 10 dates in the US in December. We\u2019ll be coming to Japan in January and then other countries after that. I\u2019m really looking forward to presenting this new band to the fans.<\/p>\n

SM : Please give us a message to fans.<\/span>
\nSP : Please come and see my new band – it will be very exciting and very energetic!<\/p>\n

SM : I’m really looking forward to seeing you in Japan!<\/span>
\nSP : Yes, next January in Tokyo!<\/p>\n

Simon Phillips Official Website : http:\/\/www.simon-phillips.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"
\nSIMON PHILLIPS \/ PROTOCOL IV<\/strong>
\nUCCU-1546 \uffe52,808\u00a0Universal<\/p>\n

1. NIMBUS
\n2. PENTAGLE
\n3. PASSAGE TO AGRA
\n4. SOLITAIRE
\n5. INTERLUDE
\n6. CELTIC RUN
\n7. ALL THINGS CONSIDERED
\n8. PHANTOM VOYAGE
\n9. AZORES<\/p>\n

\"\"
\n– Interviewer: Shun Minari –<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shun Minari, a promising young Japanese drummer is known for playing for one of the top Melodic Hard Rock bands BLINDMAN who released their 10th album \u201cTO THE LIGHT\u201d on Walkure Records in 2016. Apart from works for BLINDMAN, Shun is active in the front line of recording sessions and supporting live acts for numerous bands all over the Japan. He played for 30 years anniversary event of a Japanese legend Fumihiko Kitsutaka ( Kinniku Sh\u014djo Tai, Sh\u014djo Tai ) in 2015.
\nShun Minari official site \uff1a https:\/\/www.shun-minari.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Simon Phillips The Super Drummer Simon Phillips has released new album titled \u201cPROTOCOL IV \u201c which is 4th album under the alias Protocol. Simon teamed […]<\/p>\n

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