"Smart’s playing, both with and without the bow, is exceptional throughout." - The JazzMann
"A fascinating melting pot of musical influences." - World Music Central
". . . she morphs seamlessly from Stephane Grappelli-like swing and Bird-like bebop . . ." Jazzwise
Led by cellist Shirley Smart, Bezique performs a variety of acoustic jazz and café music from around the world. Their repertoire includes material by Django Reinhardt, Richard Galliano, and Bireli Lagrene, as well as original compositions. They also incorporate an occasional and rarely heard North African flavour to their repertoire through the inclusion of works by the Algerian chaabi pianist Maurice el-Medioni, giving them a uniquely cosmopolitan sound on the UK gypsy jazz scene.
Shirley is recognised as one of the UK’s most versatile and creative cellists, being equally at home and well versed in jazz, Middle Eastern, and classical music.
Originally trained under Raphael Wallfisch at the Guildhall School of Music and Janos Starker in Paris, she subsequently moved to Jerusalem, where she remained for 10 years, studying and performing a wide variety of musical traditions from North Africa, Turkey, and the Middle East. She was also highly active on the jazz scene, working with artists including Avishai Cohen, Omer Avital, and Yasmin Levy.
Since returning to the UK, as well as leading several groups of her own, she has worked with many leading jazz and world music artists, including Antonio Forcione, Mulato Astatke, Gilad Atzmon, Neil Cowley, Julian Ferraretto, Robert Mitchell, and Alice Zawadski.
Professor of Musicianship and Improvisation at the Royal College of Music and a Lecturer in Music at Kent University, Shirley also teaches at Trinity Laban and the RCM Junior Department. She is a visiting tutor for the National Youth Jazz Collective and an in-demand workshop leader.
Shirley Smart (Cello), Peter Michaels (Guitar), Mike Guy (Accordion), Marcus Penrose (Double Bass).
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