Centre-Line

Centre-Line is a fresh, vibrant and creative jazz group that prides itself on the spontaneity, creativity and empathy among its musicians. It was established by Leeds College of Music alumni Russell van den Berg and Darren Altman in 2006, bringing together the talents of the multi-award winning saxophonist and ex-NYJO drummer with those of fellow alumnus and fearless guitarist Jez Franks, creative pianist Simon Colam and the ever-grooving bassist Jon Harvey. The musicians fuse their own diverse influences of jazz, funk and classical music to form a dynamic ensemble that strives to create new ways of navigating its music, with an instinctive collective consciousness that has the freedom to change and adapt.

Playing their original music from an ever growing repertoire, the musicians continually stretch their improvisation and interaction. With arrangements reflecting contrasting moods and timbres utilising the group’s acoustic and electronic soundscapes, Centre-Line’s strong and individual ensemble sound delivers a dynamic, empathetic performance through their driven integrity, from high energy to the subtle. Their debut album Centre Line has recently been released.

Classy contemporary jazz with a personal stamp - John Fordham, The Guardian.