Jesse Smith began playing fiddle at a young age. Immersed in the thriving music scene of the US east coast, he graduated from Baltimore School for the Arts in 1995 before moving to Ireland in 1998, where he played with Danu for a number of years. His 2002 solo album met with critical acclaim, and he has since collaborated on recording projects with Harry Bradley, Colm Gannon, Emmett Gill, Mick O’Grady and Seán Gavin. A teacher and performer at festivals and music gatherings across Ireland, he delivered a talk entitled ‘The Finer Details of Michael Coleman’s Fiddle Style’ at Queen’s University, Belfast, at Na Píobairí Uilleann and at the Catskills Irish Arts Week.

In 2007–08, an Arts Council-funded project enabled Jesse to take up residence in the refurbished two-hundred-year-old cottage of Irish traditional- music flute legend John McKenna.