Timothy Croft 
B.Mus., B.Ed., M.Mus.

     Victoria B.C. bassist Tim Croft has toured much of the country and has played everything from cruise ships to concert halls. 
     Since arriving on the west coast in 2010, Tim has been very active and can be found playing nearly every week anywhere between Port Hardy and Victoria. He has performed in numerous festivals, including The Victoria Djangofest, The Victoria Jazz Festival, The Victoria Francophone Festival, The Rifflandia Festival, The Gabriola Island Music Festival, Nashville Boogie, Kustom Kulture and The Montreal Jazz Festival.  
     He has also had the privilege of sharing the stage with such great artists as Kid Koala, Daniel Lapp, Phil Dwyer, Donny McCaslin, Denis Chang, Marc Atkinson and Quinn Bachand.
     His latest project falls in the Gypsy Jazz (Manouche) tradition.  The Islanders Hot Club (Le Hot Club des Insulaires)  has been entertaining fans since 2019 and has performed at many Francophone (and Anglophone) events and concerts around Victoria and Vancouver Island.  The group is co-led by Tim on double bass and guitarist Nick Mintenko. The co-leaders also double on vocals (singing en français!). With modern twists on French music (from France, Canada and beyond), the virtuosity of these seasoned professionals is sure not to disappoint.  
     The group has just released their debut album: Greenhouse Blues.  The recording features west coast gypsy jazz legends: Marc Atkinson and Daniel Lapp.   
     The new album is quickly gaining traction and is getting regular play and special mention on programs such as “Saturday Night Jazz” (CBC) and Swing Set (JazzFM91).
     As an educator, Tim has taught theory and been a peer tutor as well as lectured in jazz appreciation classes, all at the collegial level. He has also taught at numerous music camps in Canada and the US,   including CYMC; one of the leading and longest-running music camps in Canada.   
     Tim teaches double bass privately but is also in demand as a clinician and early music educator. He is currently on faculty at the Victoria Conservatory of Music and also teaches music for School District 62, in Victoria, BC.
     As well as having a Masters in Music (jazz cognate) from Western Michigan University, Tim also obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Jazz Studies (performance) from Toronto’s Humber College and a Bachelor's of Education from Simon Fraser University.
     He has had the privilege of studying with some of the continent's leading musicians and educators including Neil Swainson, Russ Botten, Mike Downes, Don Thompson, Pat Labarbera, Ken Lister,
Rene Worst, Marc Denis, Scott Colley, Pat Collins, Mary Rainie, Scott Cowan, Tom Knific and Michel Donato.
Photos by Zsofin Sheeny.