Patti Smith Quartet

• Gent Jazz
  Thursday 9•July•2026
  20:00•

Patti Smith is a poet, songwriter, author, musician, artist and one of the most influential voices in rock history. Since her debut album Horses in 1975, she has been regarded as a remarkable performer who has inspired generations of artists. With iconic albums such as Easter, Wave and Gone Again, countless tours, unbridled activism and a series of acclaimed books, she remains a source of strength, poetry and (artistic) rebellion worldwide.

Patti Smith will appear at Gent Jazz in a quartet setting, accompanied by three exceptional musicians with whom she shares a deep creative trust. Tony Shanahan (on bass and keyboards) has been part of her band for twenty years. However, their collaboration goes back even further: their song 1959, from the album Peace and Noise, was nominated for a Grammy in 1998. Shanahan has also made music with greats such as Michael Stipe, Faith Hill, Robert Plant and Suzanne Vega.

Guitarist Jackson Smith, her son, has been a fixture in her band for over ten years. He has also built an impressive career through collaborations with artists such as Elton John, Steve Earle and Jeff Bridges. Finally, the versatile Londoner Seb Rochford takes care of the drums. He gained fame as the frontman of the experimental jazz ensemble Polar Bear and as co-founder of Sons of Kemet. He has also collaborated with Brian Eno, David Byrne, Jason Moran and many others.

Together they form an energetic line-up that brings Smith's music to life in an extremely direct, raw and layered way. This will be a celebration of pure musical artistry and unconventionality.

For fans of: PJ Harvey, Joni Mitchell, Sinéad O’Connor