March 2012
Russell van den Berg: saxes
Darren Altman: drums
Jez Franks: guitar
Jon Harvey: bass
After a successful 15 date UK tour (sponsored by Jazz Services), Centre-Line (co-lead by Russell van den Berg & Darren Altman) have been busy recording their second album, ‘A Virtual Joyride’.
A London based quartet with a unique sound and a repertoire of original music, their instrumentation of electric bass, Sax/EWI (Electric Wind Instrument), electric guitar and drums, gives them a contemporary jazz sound that continually grooves and surprises. And it’s the groove and melodies that open up their music to a wider audience. The individual band members are all respected musicians on the London and UK Jazz scene.
This band sounds like a unit. Aggressive but playful, this is the language of jazz, but not at the expense of spontaneity. Tim Garland
Heading up the pack of London-based bands that are turning their extensive schooling and high-level real world professionalism into their own ensembles, quintet Centre Line have been gaining huge respect over months of steady gigging.
Altman’s rhythmic bite perfectly complimenting Berg’s harmonic bark. Balanced by the wonderfully grooving rhythm section, Berg’s explosive chops that maintain a sense of drama and surprise through every twisting bar, this is a band to watch. Jazzwise Magazine
Classy contemporary jazz with a personal stamp. The Guardian
