Christine Tobin

Event Has Passed

Last Show: Tuesday 19 th June 2018

PizzaExpress Jazz Club (Soho)

The Irish-born, multi-award winning vocalist & composer is now based in New York, having been an integral part of the London scene for many years. Her unique, rich sound was described by The  Guardian as 'Tobin’s 24 carat voice’. Her expressive range acknowledges finely acquired folk, jazz and 20th-century classical influences. She can be junkyard blues philosopher, or snappy beat seductress, a conduit for exquisite zen-like harmonies, or reflective Americana. This show will be a mix of originals, imaginative versions of Cohen, Monk, settings of Paul Muldoon & Yeats alongside some choice jazz classics.

Read more ...

“One of Britain’s most brilliant and creative artists... she challenges her artistry, vocally, musically & lyrically all the time.” Julian Joseph, Jazz Line-Up, BBC Radio 3

“Unmistakable refinement, free-spirited earthiness and giddy romanticism, this singersongwriter is in a field of one.” MOJO ****

Irish-born singer/songwriter Christine Tobin is now based in New York having been an integral part of the London music scene for many years. She has carved out a niche for herself as one of the most richly expressive and original voices. A series of sublime albums for the Babel label showcased her poetic original material and compelling sound. Describing her style, MOJO writes -Christine really transcends glib genre-fication.  Her expressive range acknowledges finely acquired folk, jazz and 20th-century classical influences, which already sets her apart. And everything is shot through with an unmistakable refinement, free-spirited earthiness and giddy romanticism, this singer-songwriter is in a field of one.”  Tobin is a musical free spirit who blurs the lines to create her own unique style that is streetwise, eclectic, romantic and radical. 

She has eleven highly acclaimed albums and 4 major awards under her belt. Her style, although rooted in jazz, is eclectic and draws on a broad range of influences from Ireland to West Africa to Brazil (Oumou Sangare, Elis Regina etc). Her sound is rich, authentic and deeply expressive and was described by The Guardian as “Tobin’s 24 carat voice” while praising her both for the poetry of her compositions and her golden voice. 

Much of her repertoire is self-penned and Tobin has received many accolades for her skills as a writer and arranger.  In 2008 she won Best Vocalist at the BBC Jazz Awards and her 2010 release, ‘Tapestry  Unravelled’ for Trail Belle Records received rave reviews and drew attention to her outstanding ability as interpreter.  In 2012 she won a British Composers Award for her ninth album ‘Sailing to Byzantium’ album, her settings of W.B.Yeats poems and the following year 2013 she won a Herald Angel Award at Edinburgh Festival for her live performance of ‘A Thousand Kisses Deep’, her imaginative versions of Leonard Cohen Classics. In 2014 she was awarded Jazz Vocalist of the Year at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards.  Part of the BASCA British Composer Award for ‘Sailing To Byzantium’, included a PRS commission to write new music. Tobin’s latest album PELT, released on Trail Belle Records is the result of this commission. PELT is Christine’s settings of poems and lyrics by contemporary Pulitzer Prize winning poet, Paul Muldoon. Although a continuation of her alchemy with fine words and music and her exploration of the chemistry between the two, PELT marks a new direction and a new musical soundscape. 

In 2017 Christine performed in Gutersloh, Germany at the WDR3 Jazzfest and also in Ireland at the Sligo International Jazz Festival and in Dublin for the ‘Return of the Earls’ concerts.  In the summer of 2018 Christine will be performing at the Gibralter World Music Festival.  She recently completed 2 very successful UK tours, firstly in Autumn 2017 and then in January/Feb 2018 a 12-date Arts Council England funded ‘PELT’ Tour.  

Christine is making a name for herself on the NYC scene playing at venues Kitano, Symphony Space, Jazz Standard, 55 Bar, Club Bonafide, ShapeShifter Lab, Irish Arts Centre and cutting edge Brooklyn arts venue National Sawdust.

www.christine-tobin.com

Christine Tobin (vocals)

Phil Robson (guitar)

Steve Hamilton (piano)

Oli Hayhurst (double bass)