jorrit dijkstra - alto sax, tin whistles, clarinet
paul palllesen - guitar, banjo
joost buis - trombone, lap steel
tom bancroft - drums, bodhran
phil bancroft - tenor and soprano sax, tin whistles
simon thoumire - concertina, small pipes

Since the Europhonium Project on the Glasgow Jazz Festival in 1995, Dutch saxophonist Jorrit Dijkstra, bassist Mischa Kool and trombonist Joost Buis have been invited back to Scotland several times by the Edinburgh based Bancroft brothers. These collaborations proved that there was not only a common interest, but also an interesting difference in interpretation of folk music, jazz and improvisation. Concertina virtuoso Simon Thoumire and guitar and banjo player Paul Pallesen were added and "Drones in the Bones" was formed to further explore the potential of this musical treasure. The group did a successful tour in Holland in 1998, followed by a burning concert on the North Sea Jazz Festival 1999. Their melancholy melodies, odd instrumentation, sizzling grooves and casual atmosphere known from folk jam sessions, blend in perfectly with the abstract colours, the unpredictability and intensity of the improvisations. Drones in the Bones play original compositions, as well as arrangements of Scottish and Frisian folk traditionals.

Jorrit Dijkstra, Paul Pallesen, Joost Buis and Mischa Kool have known eachother for many years and have played in numerous combinations in Amsterdam's vivid jazz and improvisation scene. With groups like Trio Jorrit Dijkstra, The Astronotes and Bite the Gnatze they have toured extensively, and have released several CDs. The sound of folk music as well as free improvisation have an important place in an all of their music. In 1995 Jorrit received the prestigious Podium Prize from the Dutch Jazz Foundation.

Tom and Phil Bancroft, both qualified doctors, have been an important part of the Scottish jazz scene for many years. They are active in the "Tom Bancroft Orchestra" "AAB Trio", in the record label "Caber Music" as well as developers of the Apple, Banana and Carrot Improvising Method. They are also know from their active collaboration with local folk musicians, such as Simon Thoumire. Simon has dazzled audiences with his playing all over the world, both as a solo artist and with his trio "The Simon Thoumire Three" He has received several composition commissions, such as "Music for a new Scottish Parliament", and the "Celtic Connections Suite"

Frank van Herk in De Volkskrant:

"Zig-zagging melodies, in which Dijkstra's sound comes out well, the Garbarek-like tenor sound of Phil Bancroft and a swinging concertina of Simon Thoumire that wanders around in an atonal dream landscape".

"The combination with the daring ideas and originality of the Dutchmen produces often catching and expressive sounds"

"Earthliness enlightened by abstraction (...) friendly and subtle. The compositions and arrangements are ingenious"