Spice Jazz Soho: Shirley Smart Trio + Sam Dunn – New album preview

After 25 years of solid jazz promoting, as founded by Paul Pace, at the Spice of Life Soho, nurturing upcoming talents as well as established masters of the music, the SpiceJazz Team (Tara Minton and Clement Regert) are excited to relocate their acclaimed operation to the well-appointed and stylish music room of Crazy Coqs.

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.

Shirley’s trio has toured widely in the UK and abroad. Recent festival highlights include Aberjazz, Birmingham, EFG London Jazz, Scarborough and Somerset Jazz Festivals, Cheltenham, Lichfield and Rye Arts Festivals, Vivacello Festival in Moscow, Biennale Festival at Bimhuis, Amsterdam and Klaipeda Cello Festival in Lithuania.

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, this dynamic group promises an evening of inspired music-making.  With special guest: Sam Dunn – Guitar

‘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 line….Fascinating listening, and thought-provoking entertainment for the open-eared” – The Arts Desk

“…some of the most inventive use of the cello I have heard for some time..” – Kind of Jazz

“Smarts playing is particularly remarkable..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

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