Five-Way Split

• Vasilis Xenopoulos sax
• Quentin Collins trumpet, flugelhorn
• Rob Barron piano
• Matyas Hofecker bass
• Matt Home drums

We start the new season with the fantastic Five-Way Split, featuring their 2026 album, “Modus Operandi”. The band has been playing together since 2020 and as is the case with jazz musicians, they have developed the understanding that makes a brilliant experience for us jazz fans. May 2024 was the last time at Progress and Trevor Bannister’s review of the gig ended; “The band launched into a blues. It was ‘All hands to the pumps’ as the excitement mounted for the grand finale – blistering solos, high speed exchanges, dramatic top notes … still the audience called ‘more!”. Nothing less is anticipated in 2026.

The new album contains original compositions from Rob Barron, Quentin Collins and Vasilis Xenopoulos alongside arrangements of tunes by Henry Mancini, Jimmy Van Heusen. Most compositions are of the rousing “hard bop” variety, if one has to use such terms. However, whatever term you use, a guaranteed night of great jazz is assured.

A final quote from The Jazzmann who attended the band’s London Jazz Festival gig in November 2025, when they played tunes from the, yet to be released, Modus Operandi”.

“This was a thoroughly enjoyable experience, the quality of the playing and the enthusiasm of the audience combining to create an unforgettable atmosphere”. 

Jazz at Progress is presented in association with Jazz in Reading.