This event is cancelled
Line Up Shirley Smart - Cello
John Crawford - Piano
Demi Garcia Sabat - Drums/Percussion
Acknowledged as one of the UK’s most versatile and creative cellists, trailblazing cellist and composer Shirley Smart 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.
Drawing on a background of 10 years living in Jerusalem and working with the overlapping worlds of jazz, Arabic, Turkish and North African music, her trio brings these influences together in an evening of vibrant melodies, grooves, swing and lively improvisation.
Showcasing her unique ability to explore the potential of the cello in a jazz context, performing multiple roles as bassist, lead and soloist on the instrument, and featuring also some of the UK's leading lights in world-influenced jazz - John Crawford on piano, and Demi Garcia Sabat on percussion, and special guest Nicolas Meier on guitar this dynamic group promises and evening of inspired music-making.
Originally trained under Raphael Wallfisch at the Guildhall School of Music, and Janos Starker in Paris, she subsequently moved to Jerusalem, where she worked with some of the region’s leading artists, including Avishai Cohen, Omer Avital, Khaled Jubran, Sabreen and Yasmin Levy.
Shirley has appeared at numerous festivals in the UK and abroad and recent highlights include the Cheltenham Festival, EFG London Jazz Festival, Birmingham Jazz Festival and Vivacello Festival in Moscow. Upcoming performances include the Rye Arts Festival and Bimhuis, Amsterdam.
She is also a keen educator, and has given workshops for the National Youth Jazz Collective, Jazzlines, Trinity Laban and Kent University, She teaches Jazz and Improvisation at the RCMJD, and is Head of Performance and Lecturer in Music at City University.
‘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
"...some of the most inventive use of the cello I have heard for some time.." - Kind of Jazz
Shirley Smart Trio
This event is cancelled
Please note your booking confirmation email is your ticket and you will be asked to present this on the door.
Approx end time of 9:30pm
Please note the Music Room is located on the first floor up a flight of stairs.