Irish Women in Jazz in association with Improvised Music Company
Irish Women in Jazz / Christine Tobin
Join Irish Women in Jazz for the final podcast and concert of 2024, featuring award winning vocalist Christine Tobin.
Kicking off at 8pm, Irish Women in Jazz's Jennifer McMahon will be in conversation with Christine Tobin ahead of a full set from the band; Christine Tobin vocals, Phil Robson guitar, Neil Ó Loclainn double bass, and Dominic Mullan drums.
CHRISTINE TOBIN
The Dublin born and raised, multi-award winning vocalist and composer, has been an integral part of both the New York City and London scenes for many years. She returned to Ireland in 2020 and is now based in Northwest Co. Roscommon. Within her kaleidoscopic musical palette that draws on contemporary jazz, folk and European art song traditions, she can be junkyard blues philosopher, snappy beat seductress, a conduit for exquisite zen-like harmonies and reflective Americana.
Her authentic sound was described by The Guardian as “Tobin’s 24 carat voice” while praising her both for the poetry of her compositions and the warmth of her golden voice. Her style, although rooted in jazz, is eclectic and draws on a broad range of influences. MOJO Music Magazine said of her “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.”
She has led various projects and in 2012 “Sailing to Byzantium”, her settings of WB Yeats poems featuring actor Gabriel Byrne, won a British Composer Award. The following year she won a “Herald Angel Award” at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for her show “A Thousand Kisses Deep”, her imaginative versions of Leonard Cohen classics. In 2014 she won “Jazz Vocalist of the Year” at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards. Earlier in her career Christine won “Best Vocalist” at the 2008 BBC Jazz Awards. Her last album PELT was Tobin’s musical interpretations of Pulitzer Prize winning Paul Muldoon’s lyrics and poems. Tobin was also a regular guest in his hit series ‘Muldoon’s Picnic’ in NYC.
Her vivid interpretations of Bessie Smith were featured in film director Mike Figgis' “Red White and Blues” docu/film in the ‘Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues’ PBS series. Christine has also presented special features for BBC Radio 3’s cutting edge program Jazz On 3 and appeared regularly on Jazz Library also for BBC Radio 3. She has contributed to programs about Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith, Abbey Lincoln, Betty Carter, Joni Mitchell and Carmen McRae. The special documentary program she presented for RTE Lyric FM “Out with Paganism”, was a Silver Radio Winner at the New York Festivals - 2013 World’s Best Radio Programs.
In New York City she created, co-curated and performed in the highly successful series “Tobin’s Run On 51” at the Irish Arts Center with guitarist partner Phil Robson. These were themed, mixed media shows which featured slideshows, film clips, storytelling and invited guests who comprise of some of the greatest musicians on the NY scene today including Ingrid Jensen, Steve Wilson, James Genus, Dayna Stephens, Billy Drummond, Jed Levy, Craig Handy, Dezron Douglas, Janis Siegel to name just a few as well as renowned authors such as Ashley Kahn.
Tobin has played at iconic venues in NYC such as Birdland, The Jazz Standard, Mezzrow, National Sawdust, Symphony Space etc as well as in concert halls, clubs and international festivals around the world. Since returning home she has performed at venues including the NCH & The Workman’s Club in Dublin, Triskel Arts Cork, Glor Ennis, The DOCK, Carrick on Shannon, Ionad Culturtha Bhaile Bhuirne, The Hawkswell Sligo, Dolans Limerick. She was invited by Martin Hayes to play at the legendary Masters of Tradition festival at Bantry House and also performed at the 2022 Borris Festival of Writing & Ideas where she invited poet Paul Muldoon to join her as a special guest. She played a nine date nationwide album launch tour of Ireland in March 2023.
IRISH WOMEN IN JAZZ
Irish Women in Jazz is a non-profit organisation working towards a more equal music scene in Ireland in terms of gender representation. The group is run by musicians and for musicians. We run events featuring emerging and established artists and offer peer learning sessions for the community.
This event is kindly supported by The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon, and presented at The Cooler with support from Improvised Music Company.
"Tobin’s vocals, veering from acrobatic to sultry, are tailored perfectly for the material, her evocations of time and place precise. Classy and lovely.” The Observer ****
The Cooler is located upstairs at The Complex Arts Centre, 12 Mary's Abbey Dublin 7. The entrance to The Cooler is through the same door as The Depot at The Complex, on the Mary's Abbey side of the building, where the LUAS tracks run. The building has a red wall on the left hand side of a front plaza that has a sign reading 'The Complex', and a blue wall facing the front plaza that has a sign reading 'The Complex - Art Lives Here'.
The plaza in front of The Complex is used by the surrounding businesses and is often full of fruits, vegetables or delivery vehicles. You can still access The Cooler at these times.
Above the small blue artist's door (close to the red wall), you'll see a painted sign for The Depot. The Cooler is marked by a small sign between the main glass doors (sometimes covered by blue shutters) and a blue artist's door. The glass doors will be open for performances from door times (usually 7:30pm).
The Cooler cannot be accessed from the Arran St East side of The Complex - this is the entry for the Gallery and artist studios only. If you have any trouble locating the Cooler please give Caitriona a call on 087 783 3391.
To find the Cooler on Google Maps, search for The Cooler or The Depot at The Complex (the main performance space downstairs at The Complex). If you find the address for just The Complex, it will generally bring you to the gallery on Arran St East.
The performance space is up two flights of stairs and may be difficult to access for patrons with additional mobility needs. The space is fully seated. Gender-neutral toilet facilities are available upstairs (a few steps up from the level of The Cooler). Baby-changing facilities are available at The Gallery, downstairs at The Complex.
If you have any other queries regarding accessibility or require any accommodations for seating etc, please contact us at admin @ improvisedmusic . ie and we will do our best to assist you.
The red line of the LUAS runs very close to The Cooler, taking the stop at Jervis St or at Four Courts. Many different bus lines run to Ormond Quay, Inns Quay, or Church Street, which are all a couple of streets away from The Cooler.
There is unfortunately no customer parking available at The Complex. During the day, a small gated Dublin City Council car park can be accessed on Marys' Lane around the corner, at standard rates. Jervis Shopping Centre Car Park is also close by, with varying opening hours. Some street parking is available nearby - days and rates vary, please check signs.
More About this Artist
BBC Music Magazine““A masterclass in songcraft. One of the most gifted and original singer/songwriters in today’s jazz world.” ”
The Irish Times““Tobin has followed a studiously personal path as a singer and songwriter that has won her the kind of accolades bestowed on only a few. This rare and thoroughly personal artist is a one-off.” ”
Time Out Magazine““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…” ”
Herald Scotland““…..songs with emotional impact, melodic hooks and ecstatic refrains. …. by turns yearning, bucolic, elegiac, apocalyptic and deliciously romantic, and draws on the folk and European art song traditions as much as Tobin’s jazz background.” ”
