Shirley Smart’s trio draws on a rich tapestry of musical influences drawn from 10 years spent living in Jerusalem in the overlapping worlds of North African, Arabic, Balkan music and jazz. Featuring two leading lights of the world/jazz scene and long-time collaborators, John Crawford on piano and Demi Garcia Sabat on drums/percussion, the trio are currently touring the UK with the critically acclaimed album ‘Long Story Short’.

They have also performed at festivals around the UK and Europe, including the London Jazz Festival, Aberjazz, Birmingham and Scarborough Jazz Festivals, Vivacello, Moscow, and Biennale Festival at Bimhuis, Amsterdam. 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 classical music and her music draws upon this infusion of influences.

Originally trained under Raphael Wallfisch at the Guildhall School of Music, and Janos Starker in Paris, she subsequently moved to Jerusalem, working with some of the region’s 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 has worked with many leading jazz and World Music artists, including Antonio Forcione, Mulatu Astatke, Gilad Atzmon, Issie Barratt’s ‘Interchange’, Neil Cowley, Robert Mitchell and Alice Zawadzki. She is a keen educator, and is Head of Performance and Lecturer in Music at City University, as well as teaching Jazz and Improvisation for the RCMJD.

Find out more: https://www.shirleysmart.com/

Shirley Smart – cello

John Crawford – piano

Demi Garcia SAbat – drums/percussion