Jesse Smith was born into a musical family in Baltimore in the US. After learning the fiddle from a young age Jesse moved to Ireland in 1998 performing and recording for a period with the band Danú.. After learning the fiddle from a young age Jesse moved to Ireland in 1998 performing and recording for a period with the band Danú. He has recorded with The Tap Room Trio, Harry Bradley, Seán Gavin, Cherish the Ladies, Colm Gannon, Alan Kelly, Sharon Shannon, Emmet Gill, Enda Scahill, Tim Dennehy and Donna Long. His 2002 solo recording ‘Jigs and Reels’ appeared in Earle Hitchner’s Top 10 Albums of the Year in US paper, The Irish Echo.

A prolific recording and performing artist, Jesse is a regular teacher at summer schools including Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy. He received an M.A. degree from Dundalk IT for his research thesis on Sligo’s Michael Coleman.