A Thousand Kisses Deep is a beautiful re-working of eleven Leonard Cohen songs alongside some choice originals and is singer Christine Tobin’s salute to the legendary Canadian singer, songwriter and poet. In her own song writing, Tobin specializes in idiosyncratic, highly musical poetic vignettes with a strong sense of story, so it’s no surprise she weaves such magic with the profound, sensual songs of Cohen. The songs chosen are from his early 1960s albums through to his 2001 release ‘Ten New Songs’. She was first drawn to Cohen at the age of ten after hearing ‘You Know Who I Am’ on the classic CBS vinyl sampler ‘Fill Your Head with Rock’ which belonged to her eldest sister. The live show of ‘A Thousand Kisses Deep’ won a prestigious Herald Angel Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 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 Tobin 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 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.

Christine Tobin will be performing with her long-term partner & collaborator guitarist Phil Robson, and Dan Bodwell double bass

Phil Robson is a multi-award-winning guitarist & composer, originally from the UK 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 & 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 Jenson, 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 his partner, the great singer/songwriter Christine Tobin. In New York he is best known for his collaboration with the master saxophonist/composer Jed Levy. He’s also a ‘Whirlwind Recordings’ and ‘Lyte Records’ recording artist with many highly acclaimed albums who performs at major venues and festivals around the world. www.philrobson.net

Daniel Bodwell studied classical double bass at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA, and jazz double bass at the Hochschule für Künste, Bremen. He is a founder member of the New York based Micah Gaugh Trio with Kevin Shea. He currently performs with Mary Coughlan, the Nigel Mooney Quartet, the Francesco Turrisi Trio, Julie Feeney, Sue Rynhart, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, the RTÉ Symphony Orchestra, the Quiet Music Ensemble and the Crash Ensemble. Recent recordings include Nigel Mooney’s ‘The Bohemian Mooney’, Nina Hynes’ ‘Goldmine’, Linley Hamilton’s ‘Taylor Made’, Ian Wilson’s ‘Double Trio’, Francesco Turrisi’s ‘Si Dolce e il Tormento’, David Lyttle’s ‘True Story’, Vyvienne Long’s ‘Caterpillar Sarabande’, the Dubliners ’40th Anniversary’, and Donnacha Dennehy’s ‘That the Night Come’ featuring Dawn Upshaw.

Doors, 7.30pm, performance at 8pm.

Attendees who are expecting to take a taxi home after the concert are advised to book one in advance.

Christine Tobin (vocals,) Phil Robson (guitar,) Dan Bodwell (double bass)