Five-Way Split is a top UK jazz band blending hard-bop tradition with modern flair. Award-nominated, they deliver soulful, swinging original and classic tunes.
Five-Way Split is a jointly-led band formed in 2020 featuring some of the finest contemporary jazz musicians in the UK, fronted by internationally renowned trumpet star Quentin Collins and Greek saxophone phenomenon Vasilis Xenopoulos. The rhythm section features the golden touch of pianist and composer Rob Barron, virtuosic bassist Matyas Hofecker and dynamic drummer Matt Home.The band’s vision is to carry on the lineage of groups like Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers as well as mirroring the New York contemporary- bop scene. From this inspiration, the band presents a sound that respects the tradition of the hard-bop era whilst also bringing it up to date for today’s audience. With an extensive repertoire of carefully crafted and imaginative original compositions by each member along with hip, swinging material by greats like Jimmy Heath, Cedar Walton and Horace Silver, Five-Way Split delivers a night of the best swinging and soulful music in town.The band members have collectively have worked with the likes of Al Jarreau, Kyle Eastwood, Stacey Kent, Gary Smulyan, Harold Mabern and Barry Harris. They have played sold out shows at London’s Ronnie Scott’s & 606 Jazz Club, Pizza Express Live, as well as to appreciative full houses at jazz clubs up and down the country.Their debut album “All The Way” was recorded in 2021 at Livingston Studio in North London, and contains mostly original compositions by the band as well as a couple of choice arrangements of classic jazz standards. Released in 2023 on Ubuntu Music, by the late Martin Hummel, the album featured in the top 20 Jazz Albums of 2023 in Jazzwise. Five-Way Split was also nominated in the best band category of the 2024 Parliamentary Jazz Awards. Their latest album, Modus Operandi, was recorded in February 2025 and was released in March 2026. It features more original compositions from the pen of Quentin Collins, Vasillis Xenopoulos and Rob Barron as well as re-imaginings of classic material. It will appeal to all those fans of Hard Bop and straight-ahead, contemporary jazz music.Line-up:
Quentin Collins – Trumpet
Vasilis Xenopoulos – Saxophone
Rob Barron – Piano
Matyas Hofecker – Bass
Matt Home – DrumsAwards:
Nominated for Best Jazz Ensemble at the 2024 Parliamentary Jazz Awards
Album ReviewsJazzwise ★★★★★
“Barron, Collins and Xenopoulos have collectively achieved a poised sound that is very
pleasing indeed” Peter Vacher,Nick Lea, Jazz Views
“Five-Way Split is a 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”Press QuotesQuentin Collins
“Splendid”
★★★★★ - BBC Music Magazine
Vasilis Xenopoulos
“One of the most fiery young saxophonists around”
★★★★- The Times
Rob Barron
“Classic Jazz Piano at it’s best”
5/5 - UK Vibe
Band quotes“Five-Way Split is a band born in 2020 at a time when performance
opportunities were scarce, but creative energy was strong, by musicians with a shared passion for continuing the lineage of Contemporary Bop music.”“Five-Way Split are delighted to be a part of the impressive Ubuntu Music roster. It also makes perfect sense for Rob Barron and Ubuntu Music co-founder Quentin Collins to continue their strong association with one of the best independent jazz labels on the
international scene.”