Watch: Five-Way Split share video for ‘All The Way’
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
The all-star quintet release the title track of their new album, All The Way, with the LP to be released on 17 March, as their UK tour continues this month
Five-Way Split is a group of musicians at the top of their game, led by internationally renowned trumpet star Quentin Collins, in-demand pianist Rob Barron and Greek saxophone phenomenon Vasilis Xenopoulos. The virtuosic double bassist Mátyás Hofecker and hard-swinging drummer Matt Home complete the quintet.
Formed in 2020 during the pandemic, Five-Way Split came together to collectively work on their craft by playing repertoire from some of hard bops greats including Jimmy Heath, Cedar Walton and Horace Silver. Many hours were spent honing a collective sound of their own which has resulted in a recording of imaginative, original compositions. All The Way features seven original compositions by Barron, Collins and Xenopoulos as well as up-beat interpretations of ‘All The Way’ by J Van Heusen/S Chan and ‘Theme for Ernie’ by Fred Lacey.
Five-Way Split’s vision is to carry on the lineage of groups such as Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers as well as mirroring the New York contemporary-bop scene. “Five-Way Split is a group born at a time when performance opportunities were scarce, but creative energy was strong,” explains Collins. “We have a shared passion for continuing the lineage of contemporary Bop music.”
Album released on Ubuntu Music (CD & digital) on Friday 17 March 2023
Dates are:
18 February – Clun Valley Jazz
3 March – The Crypt Jazz Club, London
9 May – Pizza Express Jazz Club, Soho, London (album launch)
23 August – Fleece Jazz, Suffolk
19 September – Fleet Jazz Club
6 October – Bracknell Jazz