City of Derry Jazz Festival 2024

SPOTLIGHT ON JAZZ
Christine Tobin
Having been an integral part of both the
New York City and London scenes for
many years, Christine is now based in
Co. Roscommon. Her unique, rich sound
described by The Guardian as ‘Tobin’s
24 carat voice’. Her expressive range
acknowledges finely acquired jazz, folk
and 20th century European art song
influences. MOJO Music Magazine said
“Christine Tobin really transcends glib
genrefication… everything is shot through
with an unmistakable refinement, freespirited
earthiness and giddy romanticism”.
She has recorded 12 highly acclaimed
albums and has a string of international
awards including ‘Best Vocalist’ at the BBC
Jazz Awards, a BASCA British Composer
Award for her settings of WB Yeats, a
‘Herald Angel Award’ at the Edinburgh
Fringe and ‘Jazz Vocalist of the Year’ at the
Parliamentary Jazz Awards.
George Colligan
George Colligan is not only one of the
great jazz pianists of his generation, but
he has earned an international reputation
as a multi-instrumentalist( drums,
trumpet, organ, keyboards), composer,
accompanist, teacher, and bandleader.
Winner of the 2015 DownBeat magazine
Critics Poll (Keyboard), he has had a long
association with living jazz legend Jack
DeJohnette. With over 130 albums to date
as an accompanist, Colligan has worked
with a long list of jazz greats, including
Buster Williams, Cassandra Wilson, Don
Byron, Ravi Coltrane, and many others. HIs
latest album, “Nation Divided“(Whirlwind
Records) is his 30th as a bandleader.
Colligan, a New York resident for 15 years,
now resides in Portland, Oregon where he
is an Associate Professor at Portland State
University.
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