Playlist 1

This composition uses the Fibonnacci series- 1,1,2,3,5,8 etc, hence it's title. Used by composers such as Bartok, Stravinsky and Steve Coleman, the adjacent numbers produce ratios that gradually approach phi or φ, The Golden Section, (1.618...). In musical improvisation and composition the ratios can be applied to intervallic or rhythmic sub-units- eg 3 then 2 semitones, or 3 then 5 quavers to create structures with a distinct character. In Phil's words 'In this composition I was exploring these ratios to create intervallic leaps, giving the melody a hint of chromaticism.' An examination of Celtic melody within contemporary Jazz spaces, it's graced by the fierce rhythmic focus of Thomas Strønen's drumming delivered on lightweight sticks, the heavy beats and sound of Reid Anderson's spacious bass, and Mike Walker's intensity of character and line. From the album 'Headlong' released in 2014 on Caber Music, and soon to be re-released on Myriad Streams.

Contributors: Composer/Saxophone: Phil Bancroft; Guitar: Mike Walker; Acoustic Bass: Reid Anderson; Drum Kit: Thomas Strønen;

The Salmon's Tail follows the life cycle of the Salmon from Birth to Death in an epic musical journey conceived and realised by Dundonian composer, musician and fisherman Kevin Murray. Phil's solo part, recorded over 20 years ago while Phil was in his early thirties, is almost entirely improvised following closely the written text of the story. The story is performed on the narrated version- available on bandcamp soon, but in this instrumental-only version, the story is told through Murray's cinematic orchestration and evocative melody, and through Phil's instrumental voice as the spirit of the salmon from it's earliest moments in 'Ova' on tin whistle. to soprano saxophone as the young salmon grows from Parr to Smolt. In this track the Smolt moves down the Tummel to the Tay, swimming past the city of Dundee, ending at the North Sea. Kevin has painstakingly composed, orchestrated, recorded and mixed this unique work, collecting field recordings from the actual locations on the river where the story is set, creating a monumental and moving reminder of the need for us to engage with the natural world and protect our environment. The album will be released next year on Myriad Streams.

Contributors: Mandolin: Kevin Murray; Composer: Kevin Murray; Tenor Saxophone: Phil Bancroft;

This was the title track of Phil's first release as leader. One of the 3 albums released at the launch of Caber Music in 1998, a newbie mistake meant review copies were sent out after release, so the major national jazz press wouldn't review the album. The album never had a chance- until now. Slated for release next year on Myriad Streams, this album is a wonderful document of Phil's looser freer early style, lines hanging in the air, wonderful rhythmic freedom and freshness of line. His bandmates are perfect foils- Marcello Pellitteri's extraordinary drumming sometimes hangs in time, and Steve Watts intensely melodic bass lines provide an instinctive partnership with Phil's lines. We are very proud of this track and this album- Please enjoy!!

Contributors: Phil Bancroft; Drum Kit: Marcello Pellitteri; Acoustic Bass: Steve Watts;

The title of this track comes from Phil and his wife Jude's wedding vows. In a humanist ceremony, the line says, "I promise always to obey, excepting when I think you're wrong, which may well happen every day." The track comes from the album Degrees Of Freedom, the music written just after Phil's marriage. After Headlong, which explored free improvisational spaces, this music was written to explore the meeting of more structured compositions, with improvisations based on chord sequences, with looser freer contexts. It is finally due for its first release on May 5th 2023, 13 years after it was recorded in 2010, and features the beautiful piano playing of Paul Harrison, the preternatural bass wisdom of Aidan O'Donnell, and the exuberant artistry of Stu Ritchie on Drums. This track has a composed head arrangement, but the central improvisation is totally free.

Contributors: Acoustic Bass: Aidan O'Donnell; Piano: Paul Harrison; Bandleader: Phil Bancroft; Composer: Phil Bancroft;

Phil first played with Tabla virtuoso Gyan Singh when guesting with Gyan and Sharat Chandra Srivastava's band Myrigya, at a sold-out concert in Delhi- a musical meeting immortalised on Youtube. Phil felt a musical connection, and was interested in creating a duo, so invited Gyan over to play early one Saturday morning in Scotland, the only time when Gyan and Phil's schedules coincided in one place. This recording is only the second improvisation they played at that session- recorded in Phil's conservatory at Glenkinchie, with a mike placed in front of the Tabla. The first improvisation is also recorded, and both will appear on their duo album 'Birth and Death', planned for release late in 2023 or early 2024. 'Birth and Death' features a number of tracks recorded in Delhi, along with the two improvisations from Scotland. We find this an intensely beautiful and calming piece of music, which reflects the immediate and profound musical connection between these two people, musicians from two different traditions, resonating deeply through improvisation. This relationship has been furthered explored in the band The Beautiful Storm, with guitarist Graeme Stephen added to the duo. Enjoy!

Contributors: Tabla: Gyan Singh; Tenor Saxophone: Phil Bancroft;

The Salmon's Tail follows the life cycle of the Salmon from Birth to Death in an epic musical journey conceived and realised by Dundonian composer, musician and fisherman Kevin Murray. Phil's solo part, recorded over 20 years ago while Phil was in his early thirties, is almost entirely improvised following closely the written text of the story. In this instrumental-only version, the story is told through Murray's cinematic orchestration and evocative melodies, and through Phil's instrumental voice as the spirit of the salmon from it's earliest moments in 'Ova' on tin whistle. to the soprano saxophone as the young salmon grows from Parr to Smolt. In this track the Smolt leaves the Tay, and moves out into the much larger scale of the North Sea, with its industrial noise and pollution, ending in the moment when the smolt swims off the edge of the continental shelf to see for the first time the majestic depth of the North Atlantic. Murray has painstakingly composed, orchestrated, recorded and mixed this unique work, creating a monumental and moving reminder of the need for us to engage with the natural world and protect our environment. The album will be released next year on Myriad Streams.

Contributors: Soprano Saxophone: Phil Bancroft; Mandolin: Kevin Murray; Composer: Kevin Murray;

In Phil's words: "I first became inspired by jazz listening to Charlie Parker, and the range of the great black American Jazz musicians took over much of my spirit- Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, Wayne Shorter, John Coltrane, Red Garland, Sonny Rollins, Clifford Brown. I did not want to copy any of them, I wanted to find my own voice as they did. As an older person I am in awe of the musical genius displayed by a group of people suffering extreme racism and economic struggle in America, discrimination which persists even up till this day. I have studied the Jazz Tradition my whole life, and only now feel I may have something worthwhile to say on these classic tunes, but all the music examining the Standard repertoire is made with the deepest respect and in honour of the amazing people who created such an extraordinary body of work."

This track comes from a live recording from a performance at the Blue Lamp Jazz Club in 2021, made during lockdown as a video only broadcast, with no audience, with long-time collaborators, bassist Mario Caribe and brother Tom on Drums.

Contributors: Composer: Joe Henderson; Acoustic Bass: Mario Caribe; Tenor Saxophone: Phil Bancroft; Drum Kit: Tom Bancroft;

Possibly the first post-apocolyptic ironic eco-funk video ever made, this short film depicts the climax of the concert from multi-media project 'Home, Small As The World'. Taken from the end of the concert, the part looking at Planet Earth as our collective home, the start of 'Message From The Future' interrupts a more serious and beautiful piece called Gaia, breaking into the feed to the surprise of the band, who leave the stage only to return in space suits and helmets to perform 'Party On' which ends with the world exploding, and all humanity's love hopes and dreams bleeding from the cracks in our planet. A video version of the complete live show will feature soon inside Myriad Streams. Party On!

Contributors: Electric Bass: Mario Caribe; Trumpet: Felicity Provan; Fiddle: Aidan O'Rourke; Synth/Keyboard: Paul Harrison; Filmmaker/Composer/Saxophone: Phil Bancroft; Guitar: Graeme Stephen; Actor/Dancer: Judith Lorrain-Smith; Drum Kit: Stu Ritchie;

Contributors: Author: Myriad Streams;