Russell van den Berg

Music:

Member Since: 09/01/2007
Band Website: www.russellvandenberg.com
Band Members: "Centre-Line" consists of; Russell van den Berg, Darren Altman, Jez Franks and/or Mike Outram, Simon Colam, Tom Mason
Influences: In all honesty, I'm attracted to anyone who can improvise - in music and beyond! I like all sorts of music and DO NOT confine myself to just one thing. If I get the chance to explore any realm of style or genre of music, I'll have a go! I have to say, I'm hugely influenced by my father Dez van den Berg, who's extensive record collection I was brought up on! This ranged from Basie, to Getz, to E.W&F, to Stan Kenton, to Miles and the list goes on and on into the 1000's.... So here we go.... in no real particular order, these are the main influences (I guess) - Getz, Parker, Zoot Sims, Jimmy Giuffre (on Cl & Ten), Stitt, Coltrane (all era's), Wayne, Joe Henderson, Dizzy, Garbarek, Dewy Redman (& The Jarrett Qt), Hodges, sifu John Ding, Master Gary Cornwall, Basie, Ellington, Andrew Hill, Monk, Kenny Werner, Woody Herman, Don Cherry, Brecker, Joe Lovano, Benny Goodman Trio, Bill Frisell, Sanborn, Ornette Coleman, Tim Berne, E.W.F., Prince, Al Jarreau, Christine Tobin, Kate Bush, Mike Walker, Gordon Ramsay, Tim Garland, Iain Dixon, Richard Ilses, Beverly Knight, George Benson, Julian Arguelles, Pat Metheny, Kenny Wheeler, Charles Ives, Copland, Mozart, Mike Gibbs, John Taylor, Ron Carter, Steve Watts, Bill Evens, McCoy Tyener, Elvin Jones, Mingus, Gill Evens, Th Kun Tao Gang, Tony Faulkner, Steely Dan, Chick Corea, Adam Nussbaum, Paul Motion, Rashid ali, Miles (all era's!), U2, Ben Webster, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Bobby McFerrin, Take 6, Branford Marsalis, Stevie Wonder, Herbie, Jeff Tain Watts, Chaka Khan, {college buddies, Jim watson, Phil Pesket, Jez Franks, Joel Purnel, Darren Altman}, Jean Toussaint, Ray Wilkes, Harry College, Joe Zawinul, Ed Blackwell, Bruce Lee, John Scofield, Gary Thomas, Paul Gonsalves, Liam Nobel, Don Patterson, Level 42, Pete Churchil, Phil Woods...
Sounds Like: In a world teaming with saxophone players it is rare to find someone who is developing something genuine and personal. Russell van den Berg should be given every chance to do just this. To ignore this talent is to miss out on an expressive, creative and exciting new voice (Tim Garland.)................................................... .......Congratulations to Russell and the group. The compositions are quite beautiful and the performances superb, very contemporary in rhythm and feel . Tenor and soprano solos have great flow, restraint and yet an abundance of ideas plus a passionate lyricism. The whole group seems to share these qualities! The benign spirits of “Jarrett hover over this haunting, gloriously sonorous music...... (Ian Carr – for “All we Have”, 1st solo album review)..................................................... .............Russell Van Den Berg highlights how owing some greater or lesser debt of allegiance to Wayne Shorter need not necessarily manifest itself in tonal reproduction. Instead, the influence manifests itself (particularly in his tenor sax work) in a certain knotty, sometimes intriguingly unresolved way with a phrase—as though even in the quicksilver business of putting out musical ideas, he is at the same time also engaged in a kind of editing process, rigorously tailoring his ideas the meet the demands of the fleeting musical moment.All About Jazz (10th Dec 2006)....................................................... ..............Van Den Berg, a superb asset here, his playing ranging from the most poised soprano breaks to vigorously querulous tenor and the occasional throaty ballad.The Vortex jazz webpage (9th Oct 2006)....................................................... ......................There has been much enthusiasm in the jazz press of late concerning Van den Berg, and his soloing over accommodating chord sequences is indeed something to celebrate: he launches himself into his breaks as if obeying a starting pistol, and buzzes around, through and over the changes like a man possessed, at times (as in the second set's opening flagwaver) … He is also an engaging stage presence with a ready wit… This undeniably exciting band … attracted a respectably sized audience to the club… They're a muscular, versatile and attention-grabbing outfit with a virtuoso frontman, and who could reasonably wish for much more than that! (The vortex Jazz club review of “Centre-Line”).......................................... ....................................Heading up the pack of fast maturing 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. Co-led by ex-NYJO drummer Darren Altman and multi-award winning saxophonist Russell Van Den Berg – Altman’s rhythmic bite perfectly complimenting Berg’s harmonic bark – there’s talent more to spare in the shape of guitarist de jour Mike Outram, great bassist Tom Mason and superb pianist Simon Colam all propelling this hugely confident group forward. Balanced by the wonderfully grooving rhythm section, it’s Outram’s chomping guitar and Berg’s explosive chops that maintain a sense of drama and surprise through every twisting bar, this is a band to watch. (Jazz Wise Magazine review of Centre-Line)................................................ ............................................Russell van den Berg has impressed everyone who has heard him over the last few years. You can hear just why so many people are talking about him, as he crafts every solo with his trademark combination of wonderful control and lively, angular melodic ideas. (Jazz UK magazine.).................................................. ......................Russell van den Berg is one of our most inventive improvisers, with the ability to tell stories which keep you hooked as their plots twist and turn. (Jazz UK magazine – for “Plastic City” trio recording review.).................................................... .....................…It’s brilliant. I love your compositions and the performance is very strong throughout. I think you have a very fresh CD. I congratulate you on taking the initiative in making this CD. It’s a breath of fresh air to see musicians getting out there and producing there own works… (Jean Toussaint (ex Art Blakey). –for “17 west 32nd St.”, 3rd quartet based solo project.)................................................... ............................................................ ............
Record Label: GLP & 33rpm
Type of Label: Indie