Ballina Arts Centre, Co. Mayo, "A Thousand Kisses Deep", Christine Tobin & Phil Robson

Tickets from https://ballinaartscentre.com/

About the concert…..

A Thousand Kisses Deep is a beautiful re-working of Leonard Cohen songs alongside some choice originals and other favourites. In her own writing, Christine Tobin specializes in idiosyncratic, highly musical poetic vignettes with a strong sense of story, so it's no surprise that she weaves magic with the profound, sensual songs of Cohen, and in her musical settings of WB Yeats and contemporary Irish poet Paul Muldoon. S|he has chosen the Cohen songs from his early 1960s albums through to his 2001 release ‘Ten New Songs’. The live show of ‘A Thousand Kisses Deep’ won a prestigious Herald Angel Award at the Edinburgh Fringe and the album received rave reviews. (see below)

Having been an integral part of both the New York City and London scenes for many years, Christine is now based in Northwest Roscommon. Her unique, rich sound was described by The Guardian as ‘Tobin’s 24 carat voice’. Her expressive range acknowledges finely acquired jazz, folk and twentieth century European art song influences. She can be junkyard blues philosopher, snappy beat seductress, a conduit for exquisite zen-like harmonies, or reflective Americana. MOJO Music Magazine said of her “Christine Tobin really transcends glib genre-fiction…..everything is shot through with an unmistakable refinement, free-spirited earthiness and giddy romanticism, this singer-songwriter is in a field of one". Her live show ‘A Thousand Kisses Deep’ won a prestigious ‘Herald Angel Award at the Edinburgh Fringe. In 2012 she won a BASCA British Composer Award for her settings of WB Yeats, and in 2014 she was awarded “Jazz Vocalist of the Year” at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards. Earlier in her career Christine won “Best Vocalist” at the BBC Jazz Awards.

The reviews……...

Press praise for A Thousand Kisses Deep

"Christine Tobin is inspiring on her own material. But she is in a class of her own singing Leonard Cohen. Her new version of “Everybody Knows” is stunning… Gorgeous, affecting and deeply human.” The Guardian

“Great timing is a gift given to few and one that Tobin possesses, along with an exciting tendency to take the darker path.”   The Times

“The Voice is a killer.” fRoots

"She's got one of those voices that can move from pure, pastoral-edged folk whimsy to big angry blues mama in a single phrase; from world-weary interpreter of show tunes to howling rock diva within a single note.” Time Out

Jazzwise Magazine **** Recommended ….there’s something inherently right when vocalist Christine Tobin sings Leonard Cohen. Christine’s ear for lyrical detail, coupled with her sensitivity to the singular mood of each song, combines to magical effect. From the alluring groove of ‘Tower of Song’, and the powerful imagery of ‘Story of Isaac’, to the incredibly moving ‘Anthem’ and the enigmatic ‘You Know Who I Am’, these are interpretations that shimmer with beauty and insight.

‘A wholly absorbing and often downright ravishing concert’.

LondonJazz, London Jazz Festival, Southbank Centre

BBC Music Magazine (5 star review) *****

Jazz and poetry have often had strong links and vocalist Christine Tobin has struck gold with this album that focuses on the works of Canadian poet and folk hero Leonard Cohen. Tobin’s last disc set the work of WB Yeats, a poet who was also a key influence on Cohen. And for her latest, she tackles tunes from across Cohen’s long career including his famous ‘Suzanne’. She uses her own distinctive jazz style, unlocking the subtleties of Cohen’s incisive observations and moods"