Shirley Smart Trio : Hampstead Jazz Club

Shirley Smart
Acknowledged as one of the UK’s most versatile and creative cellists, Shirley is equally at home and well versed in jazz, folk, Middle Eastern and World Music, as well as classical, and her music draws upon this rich tapestry of influences.
Originally trained under Raphael Wallfisch at the Guilldhall School of Music, and Janos Starker in Paris, she subsequently moved to Jerusalem, where she where she studied and performed and absorbed the rich and overlapping worlds of North African, Arabic, Turkish and Balkan music as well as jazz, working with some of the regions leading artists, including Avishai Cohen, Omer Avital, Khaled Jubran, Sabreen and Yasmin Levy.
Since returning to the UK, Shirley has quickly garnered a formidable reputation with her own groups and projects, and has worked with many leading jazz and World Music artists, including Antonio Forcione, Mulato Astatke, Gilad Atzmon, Issie Barratt’s ‘Interchange’, Neil Cowley, Robert Mitchell and Alice Zawadzki.
Her debut album ‘Long Story Short’, released in 2018, was critically acclaimed, and she has since have performed at festivals around the UK and Europe, including the London Jazz Festival, and Vivacello, Moscow. Highlights for 2020 the Biennale Festival at Bimhuis, Amsterdam, Birmingham Jazz Festival and a UK tour.

Live at Kings Place video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQsH0A_D3jI

Press :
‘ A superb set – a sound world that is at once rooted in the ancient and traditional musics that it draws from in an utterly contemporary manner that also incorporates modern jazz.
This is an exceptionally strong leadership debut from a lady that I’m sure we are destined to hear much more from.’
Jazzviews
“Long Story Short represents another impressive offering from Smart and is a worthy début under her own name. The album covers an impressive amount of musical and geographical ground with its range of styles and influences. Smart’s playing, both with and without the bow, is exceptional throughout..a stunning pizzicato solo, her playing reminiscent of a top jazz bassist. And she’s pretty handy with the bow too!
The JazzMann

‘As a cellist-composer she morphs seamlessly from Stephane Grappelli like swing and Bird-like bebop…a charming kaleidoscope and jazzy showcase of her global folk music-inspired compositions’ Jazzwise

‘Intense, lyrical and full of energy….A thrilling range on technique on display…Smart’s cello singing, snarling or pumping out bass lines….fascinating listening, and thought-provoking entertainment for the open-eared”
The Arts Desk

Website : https://www.shirleysmart.com/