Christine Tobin with Phil Robson & Dave Whitford – Jazz at NAC

We’re very proud to welcome the unique, rich sound of Christine Tobin, multi-award-winning Irish vocalist-composer. Not for nothing did The Guardian celebrate her “24 carat voice”. She’s absolutely top-drawer!

Christine can be junkyard philosopher, snappy beat seductress, a conduit for exquisite Zen-like harmonies, or reflective Americana. Here she appears with long-time musical partners – renowned, fizzing UK guitarist Phil Robson and master bass player Dave Whitford.

They play a concert of material drawn from Tobin’s 12 albums including her originals, classic jazz songs alongside exquisite arrangements of Leonard Cohen, Wayne Shorter, Milton Nascimento, and more!

Christine grew up in Dublin, later moving to London after being awarded a scholarship to attend the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. She was an integral part of the London contemporary scene, before moving to New York in 2015 where she made a considerable impact on the city’s creative music world.

Christine has a list of prestigious awards under her belt: winner of Best Vocalist at the BBC Jazz Awards; the Herald Angel award at the Edinburgh Festival; Jazz Vocalist of the Year at the UK Parliamentary Jazz Awards; and a BASCA British Composer Award (now called the IVORS) for the album Sailing To Byzantium, her settings of WB Yeats poems. She returned to Ireland in 2020.

In March 2023 she released Returning Weather, her 12th album under her own name. Aside from her own projects, she has worked and recorded with an array of artists including musicians Julian Joseph, Django Bates, Huw Warren, Billy Hart, Kenny Wheeler, Mark Turner, Nigel Kennedy, Tim Garland, Jean Toussaint, Ingrid Jensen, poets Paul Muldoon, Eva Salzman, Don Paterson, actor Gabriel Byrne and film director Mike Figgis. She has played at major festivals and venues around the world.

Phil Robson is a multi-award-winning UK guitarist and composer, who relocated to New York City in 2015 for five years and is currently based in Ireland. He has led bands featuring jazz legends such as David Liebman, Mark Turner, Billy Hart, James Genus, Marc Copland and many more as well as working as a sideman with Kenny Wheeler, Barbra Streisand, Steve Lacy, Charles Earland, Donny McCaslin, Django Bates, The BBC Big Band, Ingrid Jensen, Phil Woods, Mike Gibbs, Bob Brookmeyer, Steve Wilson and a hugely diverse spectrum of internationally renowned artists.

In Europe he is renowned as the co-leader of the cult UK band Partisans with saxophonist Julian Siegel which ran for 23 years, as well as for his work with Christine, who is his partner. In New York he is best known for his collaboration with the master saxophonist-composer Jed Levy. He’s also a Whirlwind Recordings and Lite recording artist with highly acclaimed albums who performs at major venues and festivals around the world.

Dave Whitford was born and raised in Falmouth. He received a scholarship to study at the Guildhall School of Music’s Jazz postgraduate diploma from which he graduated with a distinction. He also received the Paul Hamlyn Foundation award which enabled him to tour and record with collective quartet Neverland. His distinctive sound, solid groove and exceptional musicality have made him an in-demand player with a diverse range of musicians. He has worked and recorded with top artists including Steve Lacy, Marc Copland, John Taylor, Bill Frisell, Evan Parker, Bobby Wellins, Dave Liebman, Jack Bruce, Evan Parker, Kirk Lightsey, Billy Hart, Nikki Iles and Maceo Parker.

More info on Christine: www.christinetobin.org & Phil Robson www.philrobsonmusic.com

  Praise for Christine’s work. ………. 
 “One of Britain’s most brilliant and creative artists…she challenges her artistry, vocally, musically & lyrically all the time.”  Julian Joseph, BBC Radio 3
  
 “Christine Tobin 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.” MOJO Music Magazine****                     
                                
 “Balancing improv adventures against deep, purring expositions of memorable themes and haunting lyrics, (recalling the audacity of the late, great jazz diva Betty Carter), confirmed how far this gifted, imaginative and honest artist has come in a career she has successfully steered by her own star”.  The Guardian****

 “What sets her apart is her intensity and the sheer beauty of her voice, a deep soulful thing that she seems to summon from somewhere deep inside…”. Time Out Magazine

 “A masterclass in songcraft.” BBC Music Magazine

 “The voice is a killer”. fRoots Magazine

 “Too humane and humorous to preach, and too intelligent to deliver a formula for life, Christine Tobin is nevertheless fascinated by the pursuit of something that might stand up as The Truth.”  John Fordham, Jazz UK