“I met two brothers called Bancroft. They’re good.” Sun Ra in The Guardian
“the most instinctive powerhouse drummer on the Scottish Jazz scene"  David Keenan, Sunday Herald

"an uproarious set calling on complex themes in the vein of Gil Evans, Sicilian Wedding bands, all get out funk,
and a fine sense of Scottish mythology" The Independent 1990 reviewing Orchestro Interrupro

"the most complete mix of invention and originality" The Times reviewing Trio AAB
"a simply stunning ensemble.....They are, in turns, challenging and accessible - master musicians and improvisers
 in true jazz style....... Astounding is the only word that applies ."   Shetland Times reviewing Trio Red

“superb atmospherically grooving...a close sense of rapport and organic dialogue between the musicians...
a highly enjoyable set that strikes a happy medium between playful curiosity and deep groove.” Jazzwise **** reviewing Trio Red

“riveting set... complex, twisting, percussion-powered episodes are played like a rougher, brawling Brad Mehldau band.
Cawley is inspired.... Zanussi's majestic..It's a shot-in-the-dark venture that turned into a world-class trio in a week.”
The Guardian **** reviewing Trio Red :First Hello to Last Goodbye"

"Its a rich mix with violin, tabla, guitar and bodhran (go on, look it up). Its also a trance piece, very yoga,
something for the whirling dervish in you. At times it trips out, spaces out and expands all the way into the
depths of the universe. Flavours of psychedelic soul and funk are sprinkled in."  Vanguard Online reviewing In Common

"Bancroft …. has created something extraordinary here….a truly intriguing
seventy minutes of mellifluous music."  All About Jazz In Common

“exquisite harmonies - tabla and bodhran take over with chanting in the background creating a feeling of
mysticism and meditation….full of interest and innovation.....very interesting and enjoyable…...wonderful.”
Sandy Brown Jazz reviewing In Common

“Tom Bancroft is by far the most exciting, innovative, inspiring music educator I have come across.  He thrills children of all ages with his wacky, funny ideas and top quality music.  He captures the imagination of all his audience, from the very tiny, to the teenagers, to the mums and dads and grannies and gets everyone involved – even the, stroppy, ‘I’m not gonna do that rubbish’ 14yr old boys ended up joining in and having fun at one of the Kidsamonium performances I saw.  Our young jazz players loved working with him and learnt a lot."   
Gill Walsh, Youth Ensembles Co-ordinator, The Sage Gateshead

Awards:
Creative Scotland Award 2004
BBC Jazz Award for Innovation 2007
Herald Angel 2007
Scottish New Music - Ginkhana Award for Innovation in new Jazz Music 2017 - as part of Playtime collective.

Trio Red - Lucid Dreamers Quotes:

“Wide ranging and endlessly fascinating CD... shifting from ...playful reggae stepping ..to soaring, classical sophistication...a masterclass in trioism. At a time when so much new jazz is predicated on raw power or endlessly repeated Coldplay-style motifs, it’s so refreshing to hear such a thoughtful, ideas driven set...5 STARS!”  Jazz Journal *****

“ Excellent.... superbly musical approach....his natural way of including the listener, even in his more abstract concepts.....Each of these ten pieces presents its own strong character, along the way incorporating playfulness, quiet profoundness, robust swing, small but very effective details, a wealth of sonic ideas, subtle solo building, and on Bancroft’s title track, a gift for melody that conjures rich images and emotion in very few notes.”  The Herald

“superb atmospherically grooving...a close sense of rapport and organic dialogue between the musicians...a highly enjoyable set that strikes a happy medium between playful curiosity and deep groove.”  Jazzwise **** 

“Trio Red has really hit its stride... developed a great rapport...successfully integrating diverse musical elements into a distinctive group sound...a delight... breezy...infectious...thunderous” 

The List 

“impressive level of rapport which is happily in evidence throughout... ebullient and invigorating improvising...dazzling... thrillingly exuberant... consistently inventive... a highly rewarding listen” 

Jazz Mann 

“the chemistry still simmers on this fine follow-up...A welcome reunion for an unpretentious trio of very classy musical equals.” 

The Guardian