Through his (musical) upbringing, Yoràn Vroom developed a deep interest in West African and Afro-Caribbean culture, which became instrumental in shaping his voice as a composer. By working with musicians who share a similar expertise, while bringing their own personal interests and experiences, Group of Friends became a space for experimentation in search of expanding the language of the Afro-diasporic culture.

After years of performing with international artists across a wide range of genres, including Frank McComb, Ed Motta, Snarky Puppy, Candy Dulfer, Christie Dashiell and Benjamin Herman, Vroom has been focusing on composition and the artistic direction of Group of Friends since 2021. This has led to multiple performances, two albums, a composition assignment from the BIMHUIS in Amsterdam, as well as attention from NRC and NTR with a documentary Het Uur van de Wolf.

Group of Friends is a collective of musicians who are active both nationally and internationally, each with a distinct musical voice. With collective improvisation as a common ground, the group approaches Vroom’s repertoire from different angles, creating a process that continues to develop and evolve.

Yoràn Vroom's Group of Friends:

Timothy Banchet - piano/keys

Yariv Vroom - Percussion

Yoràn Vroom - Drums

Itai Weissmand - EWI

Nathaniel Klumperbeek - Bass

Fantison Araby O'bryan-Mandinka - Percussion