About Deirdre
Deirdre Cartwright is a multi award-winning guitarist and composer who became well known presenting the BBC TV’s ground-breaking series ‘Rockschool’. In the 1980s she also played with the all women Afro-Latin Jazz group The Guest Stars, recording three albums and touring in 17 countries.
Her latest project is ‘Organik’ which features Pete Whittaker on organ and Gary Hammond on congas/percussion. Their first album is released 10 July 2026.
‘This is definitely a trio to catch on tour if you can – jazz with soul to burn.‘
Duarte Figueira, UK Jazz News May 2025
Deirdre continues to tour and record with ARQ | Alison Rayner Quintet. They’ve released four highly acclaimed albums, were winners of Best UK jazz group in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards and Best small group in the British Jazz Awards.
Deirdre won the public vote for Best Guitarist at the 2019 British Jazz Awards and in 2020 was awarded Services to Jazz with Blow the Fuse at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards. In 2025, ARQ won the Presto Music jazz recording of the year for SEMA4.
Deirdre also plays with Carol Grimes, PICNIC featuring Annie Whitehead, Sea Change, Electric Landladies and guests regularly at Ronnie Scott’s and other UK jazz clubs.
Deirdre has played with legendary guitarist Tal Farlow, studied in America with Mick Goodrick, toured with Jamaican composer Marjorie Whylie, played in festivals from Mexico to Warsaw leading her own group, founded Blow the Fuse with Alison Rayner in 1989 and has presented regularly on BBC Radio 3.
Deirdre has written seven books on guitar playing, was head of the guitar syllabus for the Rockschool exam series and presented her own radio show on Jazz London Radio.
Deirdre regularly feeds her garden wild animals, Popeye the fox, Scratchy and Twitchy the squirrels, Eyeball the pigeon and Button the robin. She is a massive fan of dahlias and Suzi Quatro.
‘If there is a more complete guitarist in contemporary music than Deirdre Cartwright – I’d like to know who it is’
Dave Gelly, The Observer
‘Cartwright’s coolly undulating Grant Green shuffle groove is one of the understated pleasure of UK’s contemporary fusion.’
John Fordham, The Guardian
‘Cartwright remains that most chameleon of players, able to summon the spirit of others while retaining her own voice’
Andy Robson, Jazzwise
‘Her sinewy guitar fronts a sparse trio who stretch out like a psychedelic 1960s blues band, but take the blind leaps of faith of improvisers. Highlights are the Nirvana grunge-fusion Smells Like Jazz and a sublime exploration of Kate Bush’s Wuthering Heights.’
Stewart Lee, The Sunday Times