Cellicious

Kate Shortt

Kate Shortt is a freelance cellist, vocalist and workshop leader. Her work takes her through varying genres, including Portuegese fado, Classical, Jazz, Theatre, Rock and Contemporary. Work with pop artists include Gary Kemp of Spandeau Ballet, Take That and Simon Le Bon. In the contemporary theatre world she has performed and toured with composer Jocelyn Pook . Amongst her work as a session player and collaborator in varying projects, Kate has played and toured regularly with the jazz singer Christine Tobin’s band and with guitarist Phil Robson. She performs with pianist Liam Noble and poet Penny Rimbaud as a free improviser ‘… her fierce avant-garde romaticism puts her in a class of her own…’

Kate’s one woman show ‘Shortt and Sweett’ was born in London Islington at the Kings Head Theatre in 1991 and consists of original songs, impressions and comedy. It has since graced the cabaret/comedy scene in London, Austria, Edinburgh and more. ‘…she twists the dials of our genre sensitive mind, hopping from station to station like a pre – digital radio sliding in and out of wave bands…’ Alban Low – The Art Of Jazz. Her album of original songs with piano/vocals ‘Something To Tell You’ (2006) depicts life, love, and the bits in-between. (cd baby/itunes /Amazon)

Rupert Gillett

Rupert Gillett is a highly active performer and session musician on the London scene and abroad. In 2018, he was a featured artist at the prestigious New Directions Cello Festival in Cologne, Germany. He currently performs with jazz-icon Jacqui Dankworth MBE, jazz violinist Chris Garrick & composer/pianist David Gordon in the chamber-jazz ensemble “Butterfly’s Wing”. He also plays in a unique 2 cello and violin jazz-fusion/crossover ensemble called “Arcopia” with renowned jazz cellist Gunther Tiedemann (String Thing) and London-based violinist Chris Haigh (Bob Geldof, Michael Ball).

Rupert has performed with Alison Moyet, as well as being featured live on BBC 2 television, BBC Radio London, BBC3 and BBC 6 Music with various ensembles. He has played at large scale events such as the 2012 Paralympics & the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations, and has performed for clients such as Amazon, Boots, Dunhill, Asda, the American Embassy and Buckingham Palace.

Rupert has also performed to celebrity clients, including Prince Philip, Brad Pitt, Jeremy Corbyn, Angelina Jolie, Jude Law, Sir Antony Gormley, Charles Dance, Orlando Bloom, Nigel Planer (The Young Ones), Chris O’Dowd (The IT Crowd), Jeremy Clarkson (although he left quite quickly!) and Ray Davies.

CELLICIOUS!

Meet the duo!