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Sophie Bancroft and Tom Lyne

Featuring some of the most wonderful jazz standards alongside some of Sophie’s original songs inspired by a lifetime of listening to, performing and teaching jazz standards, their repertoire serves up a delightful combination of new and old songs from t

About Me

Sophie Bancroft and Tom Lyne Sophie Bancroft and Tom Lyne perform jazz standards, original compositions and songs imported from other genres that invite jazz treatment and improvisation. In the setting of voice, bass and guitar, the duo creates an entertaining and intimate interpretation of beautiful songs all treated with warmth and personality. Sophie heralds from one of Britain’s top jazz families alongside siblings Tom and Phil Bancroft. Known as a jazz singer of gorgeous uplifting qualities and a skilled guitarist, Sophie is also a gifted songwriter with an extensive catalogue of powerfully evocative songs. Her music has been used in major US TV shows such as ‘Six Feet Under’ and has been recorded and performed by award-winning jazz luminaries such as British vocalist Liane Carroll and American pianist Louis Durra. Tom, originally from Canada, moved to Europe after graduating from McGill University with distinction on jazz bass. He is regular bassist with renowned piano trio, The Dave Milligan Trio, and the folk/jazz big band, The Unusual Suspects. His electric and acoustic bass work is solid and lyrical with an instinctive feel for the performance and soloing, and a deep regard for melody and voice. As a result Tom has worked extensively as a sideman with the likes of Charlie Hunter, Jaleel Shaw, Charlie Mariano, Martha Reeves and The Vandelas, Nigel Hitchcock, Colin Steele, Laura MacDonald, Karine Polwart and Brian Kellock.

My Jazz Story

Sophie grew up in a jazz family in Scotland, with brothers Tom and Phil Bancroft, whilst Tom Lyne grew up in Edmonton, Canada and studied jazz bass at McGill University in Montreal. Sophie and Tom have been partners in life as well as music for the past 14 years. After graduating from McGill University in Montreal, Canada with a distinction on jazz bass, Tom moved from Canada to Europe, where he became bassist for Tom Bancroft’s (Sophie’s brother) band – The Orange Ear Ensemble. This is when Sophie and Tom first met, 5 years before they became a couple. Tom soon became the regular bassist in the Sophie's band, but eventually the immigration officers made it too difficult for Tom to move around Europe, so he moved back home to Edmonton, Alberta in Canada. With the emergence around this time of email and personal computers, Sophie and Tom’s relationship started to blossom, with reams of words being sent through cyber-space across the Atlantic, and a romance became apparent. After one transatlantic date that lasted 1 week, the question was popped and they were engaged to be married. Tom, once again left Canada, to embark on a new life in Scotland, and has lived here for the last 14 years.