Vasilis Xenopoulos (tenor)
Rob Barron (piano)
Matyas Hofecker (bass)
Matt Home (drums)
London-based Five-Way Split return to Norwich with their second album “Modus Operandi” – a compelling continuation of the straight-ahead contemporary hard bop that defined their acclaimed 2023 debut, “All The Way” (and which earned them a nomination in the ‘Best Ensemble’ category at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards).
The band, formed during the 2020 lockdown and honed through months of dedicated rehearsal, draws inspiration from the lineage of hard bop giants such as Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers, while embracing the contemporary sound of New York supergroup One For All to create a distinctive voice of their own.
The new album features original compositions from pianist Rob Barron, renowned trumpeter Quentin Collins, and acclaimed saxophonist Vasilis Xenopoulos. Their melodic, hard-swinging and harmonically-rich writing is brought vividly to life by the band’s tightly integrated rhythm section, featuring bassist Matyas Hofecker and leading UK drummer Matt Home.
Expect to hear music that’s energetic, sophisticated and deeply rooted in the hard bop tradition, while remaining fresh and contemporary. Five-Way Split’s sound will appeal to anyone who appreciates melodic, swinging, straight-ahead jazz performed with conviction, personality and flair.
Check out the video that the band produced to accompany the launch of the new album here.
“Barron, Collins and Xenopoulos have collectively achieved a poised sound that is very pleasing indeed” Peter Vacher, Jazzwise *****
“Five-Way Split is a collective group of some of the finest contemporary musicians on the UK circuit who make a strong case for bebop and hard bop being a vital force in 21st century jazz” Nick Lea, Jazz Views
