Biography of Christine Tobin

"She has clearly assimilated into her own style the music from apparently disparate fields. The strengh, control and purity of her voice, and the telling contribution of her band ensure a satisfying artistic whole." Chris Parker, BBC Music Magazine, August 95.

Christine Tobin is an Irish singer / songwriter living in London, UK since 1987. Her work is firmly rooted in the jazz tradition but also draws on other influences which give her music a distinctive and unique sound. She works regularly on the U.K jazz scene, appearing at "Ronnie Scott's", "The Pizza Express Jazz Club", "The Jazz Café" and the "Purcell Room" South Bank Centre. International festivals and tours include: Wiesen - Austria, Frankfurt and Berlin jazz festivals, Varna - Bulgaria, Baku- Azerbaijan, The Jamboree Club - Barcelona, Turkey, Syria, Yemen, Ireland and Malaysia. She has also appeared at international festivals with Django Bates' "Delightful Precipice", Tim Garland's "Lammas", and has worked in bands with Julian Arguelles, Kenny Wheeler, Joe Locke and Billy Childs amongst many others.

Christine has recorded four CDs under her own name for the Babel label. "Aililiu" was released in 1995, "Yell Of The Gazelle" in 1996, "House Of Women" in 1998 and her new CD was released in April 2000.

The first three CDs focus on Tobin's original material but her latest, which was recorded in New York, is a tribute to the great American song tradition and concentrates on interpretation and creative arrangements. The musicians are the legendary American drummer Billy Hart, Peter Herbert double bass, Phil Robson guitar and the highly acclaimed U.S. saxophonist Mark Turner. Christine has also recorded with a number of other artists including Django Bates, and Lammas.

"A singer who refuses to be boxed in by convention."

Clive Davis , The Sunday Times

"Tobin is forthright, self-revalatory, eclectic and experimental.

" John Fordham , The Guardian

"The Tobin voice is simply peerless."

Jazzwise Magazine

"Definitely one of the country's finest musicians."

Linton Chiswick ,Time Out

"House Of Women" confirms her as one of the most creative vocalists on the contemporary scene."

Jazz UK

"Tobin's voice is commanding and poised throughout and her husky scat singing is a delight. She's occupying a niche that's her own and the possibilities are enormous."

Mike Barnes,The Wire

"Tobin has a talent for writing complex but cogent melodies and supplying appropriate words and re-settings for existing jazz tunes".

Chris Parker, BBC Music Magazine