Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM – 2 set(s) of music
Line-up:
Shirley Smart – Cello
John Crawford – Piano
James Arben – Tenor Saxophone
Tim Quicke – Trumpet
Michele Montoli – Double bass
Demi Garcia Sabat – Drums
About
Acknowledged as one of the UK’s most versatile and creative cellists, trailblazing cellist and composer Shirley Smart’s sextet features a heady blend of North African and Middle Eastern grooves and jazz.
Drawing on a background of 10 years living in Jerusalem and working with the overlapping worlds of jazz, Arabic, Turkish and North African music, Shirley is equally at home and well versed in all these traditions, and her music draws upon this rich tapestry of influences to create an evening of vibrant melodies, grooves, swing and lively improvisation.
Originally trained under Raphael Wallfisch at the Guildhall School of Music, and Janos Starker in Paris, Shirley 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.
Since moving back to London from Jerusalem, she has established herself firmly on both the jazz and world music scenes and has appeared at numerous festivals in the UK and abroad and recent highlights include the Aberjazz, Birmingham, Cheltenham, and Scarborough Jazz Festivals, EFG London Jazz Festival, and Vivacello Festival in Moscow.
She is now Professor of Improvisation at the Royal College of Music and a Lecturer at Kent 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.‘ Jazzviews
“… 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