Jazz Herstory presents: Shirley Smart

This July, Jazz Herstory brings us music from cellist Shirley Smart.

What to expect

One of the UK’s most versatile and creative cellists, and a rare exponent of jazz cello, Shirley draws on a unique background that incorporates classical music, jazz and world music from North Africa, the Middle East, Balkans, and South America. As well as original compositions, she presents a fresh, new approach to the cello.

About Shirley

Originally trained in classical cello she subsequently moved to Jerusalem, where she stayed for 10 years, studying and performing a wide variety of world music from the Mediterranean and Middle East, as well as being highly involved with the jazz and improvised music scene.
Since returning to the UK, she has quickly become known as one of the most creative cellists on the music scene and has worked with many leading jazz and world music groups, including Antonio Forcione, Gilad Atzmon, Neil Cowley, Julian Ferraretto, Robert Mitchell, Kosmos Ensemble, Shekoyokh, Maciek Pysz, Maurizio Minardi, and Alice Zawadski, as well as leading her own projects.

Band line up

Shirley Smart on Cello
John Crawford on piano
Demi Garcia Sabat on drums/percussion

Praise for Shirley

“…Superb cello…Smart’s playing is particularly remarkable throughout, she readily demonstrates a wide range of techniques incorporating an understanding of improvisation drawn from a jazz background and her extensive knowledge of Arabic maqam..” Songlines Magazine

“...one of the best improvising cellists in the UK” The Jazz Mann

“Impeccable musicianship…” fRoots

“A fascinating melting pot of musical influences” World Music Central

“Some of the most inventive use of the cello I’ve heard for some time” Kind of Jazz

About Jazz Herstory

Jazz Herstory presents female led bands playing jazz now, spanning styles, sounds and generations. Showcasing the richness of jazz being made in the UK today and celebrating the women who contribute, Jazz Herstory presents award winning bands and instrumentalists, composers of national and international acclaim and people making waves locally.

They aim to share: to bring women from the background to a balanced foreground in jazz. Female instrumentalists have not been part of the story of jazz as much as their male counterparts and we want to play a part in writing a more balanced story from here on in and dissolve stereotypes in the process.