Christine Tobin’s sound is rich, authentic and deeply expressive and was described by the Guardian as “Tobin’s 24 carat voice” while praising her both for the poetry of her compositions and her golden voice. Much of her repertoire is self-penned and Tobin has received many accolades for her skills as a writer and arranger. Romantic and radical, Christine is a musical free spirit who blurs the lines to create her own unique style that is streetwise and eclectic. In 2008 she was named Best Vocalist at the BBC Jazz Awards.
Phil Robson is a guitarist/composer based in London , UK . He is internationally regarded as a highly versatile and creative player who appears in all kinds of diverse settings.
Winner of:
1997 -BT Best soloist of the year award
1998 Perrier Young Jazz award for the best instrumentalist of the year.
Winner of ‘Best Jazz Musician Of The Year’ in the 2009 Parliamentary Jazz Awards.
Christine and Phil joined Larraine Odell and the Roger Odell Jazznights Trio who were:
Roger Odell – Drums
As one of the founder members and drummer with the jazz-funk group Shakatak, Roger has toured internationally and recorded numerous CDs, which he continues to do on a regular basis to this day.
Musically, his first love was always straight-ahead contemporary jazz and he has played with most of the great names on the UK jazz scene.He recently produced his own critically acclaimed CD “The Blue Window” by Beatifik, which featured top UK saxophonist Mornington Lockett. Jacqui Hicks and Larraine.
Roger is the author of three technical articles which appeared in the international magazine Modern Drummer, and is an Endorsee Artist for Sabian Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks and Hardcases
Bernie Hodgkins – Double Bass
Inspired by an uncle, who played and recorded with Django Reinhart and Stephane Grappelli in the legendary Quintet de Hot Club of France, Bernie grew up in a Jazz-oriented family. Their influence led him to become a respected bass player behind such people as Matt Munroe, 
Dickie Valentine and Dennis Lotus, in the early stages of his career.
Touring in Europe and further afield with a wide variety of artists honed his skills and added to his prodigious repertoire. Supports to players like John Scofield, and singers such as Annie Ross always proved inspirational and served to reinforce his enduring love affair with jazz.
Spending much of his time in the recording studios, he is equally at home and in demand as an enthusiastic “live” rhythm section player, as is testified by his work with Don Rendell, Jack Parnell, George Chisholm, Pete Jacobson, John Etheridge, Kenny Baker, Allan Skidmore, Dave O’Higgins and many others.
Simon Brown – Piano
A regular pianist at Jazznights for a number of years Simon is also in the resident rhythm section for the Norwich Jazz Club at The Cottage, Thorpe St. Andrew.
Originally influenced by the great Nat King Cole he has now developed a style which references all of the major modern pianists including Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, et al.
As well as being a first choice pianist for many singers, Simon also ns various bands of his own including the latest venture Beyond Cantaloupe, featuring his arrangements of the music of Herbie Hancock.
With additional vocals from:
Larraine Odell – vocals
Beginning her professional singing career with the group CMU with whom she recorded two 
albums, Larraine performed at numerous venues throughout the UK and Europe, including thePurcell Room, RFH. She has since appeared at Ronnie Scott’s Club as a member of the group Jimpster and at most of the jazz clubs in the region. Jazz Festival appearances include Bures, Aldeburgh, Layer Marney and Southwold. Larraine’s CD entitled “Portrait” attracted excellent reviews as did her performance on “The Blue Window” CD by Beatifik. She also appeared on Jimpster’s “Messages From The Hub” and is represented on the “Jazz In Essex – Vol 2″ CD.
“I love Larraine’s voice…she has something special” Chrissie Murray – Ronnie Scott’s House Magazine. “Larraine shows a range and soulfulness that simply cannot be taught” – Kenneth Pearson – Jazzmanonline.
Our MC for the evening was Gareth Williams-James
Larraine Odell opened the first set with:
It’s Easy to Remember (And So Hard to Forget) is a popular song written by Richard Rodgers with lyrics by Lorenz Hart, published in 1935, written for the 1935 film Mississippi
Estate is an Italian song written in 1960 by Bruno Martino (music) and Bruno Brighetti 
(lyrics). A minor hit in Italy when released, it eventually became a worldwide jazz standard largely through its interpretation by João Gilberto. The title refers to summer.
All or Nothing At All (1940) Words and Music by Arthur Altman and Jack Lawrence
Isn’t It a Pity? is a song composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin, written for the 1933 musical Pardon My English.
You Stepped Out of a Dream (1940) Music by Nacio Herb Brown and Lyrics from Gus Kahn from the spectacular Ziegfeld Girl which was one of the biggest film hits of 1941. The song was a modest hit for Glenn Miller and His Orchestra.
The band then retired to the bar while Christine Tobin & Phil Robson sang and played as a duo for a number of songs including Leonard Cohen compositions from her new album A Thousand Kisses Deep:
Dance Me to the End of Love is a 1984 song by Leonard Cohen. It was first performed by Cohen on his 1984 album Various Positions. It has since been recorded by various artists, and has been described as “trembling on the brink of becoming a standard”
Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye from the album Songs Of Leonard Cohen (1967
A Thousand Kisses Deep, from Christine Tobin’s new album of the same name featuring 
all Cohen material
God Bless the Child is a song written by Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog, Jr. in 1939. It was first recorded on May 9, 1941 which was honored with the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1976.
Returning to Leonard Cohen, Christine and Phil finished the first stunning set with You Know Who I Am from the album Live Songs: Leonard Cohen.
Following the interval and the Jazznights raffle of 3 jazz cd’s and a bottle of wine the Christine and Phil returned with the Jazznights Trio for the second set which included the following:
I Didn’t Know What Time It Was (1939) Music by Richard Rodgers and Lyrics from Lorenz Hart. This Rodgers and Hart song was introduced by Benny Goodman, with vocalist “Louise Tobin”, on the Columbia label on September 13, 1939.
Meditation (“Meditação” in Portuguese) is a song composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Newton Mendonça and English lyrics by Norman Gimbel.
I’m Old Fashioned is a 1942 song composed by Jerome Kern, with lyrics written by Johnny Mercer. A 1954 session by a group called the “Boston All-Stars” featured Charlie Parker-inspired alto saxophonist playing this number.
Alfie was song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David to promote the 1966 film Alfie. The song was a major hit for Cilla Black (UK) and Dionne Warwick (US).
I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free is a gospel/jazz song written by Billy Taylor and Dick Dallas, well known for the recording by Nina Simone in 1967 on her Silk & Soul.
Jay Bolotin’s Go Down Easy
Old Devil Moon (1946) Music from Burton Lane and Lyrics by Yip Harburg
Dindi (in Portuguese – which sounds like Gin-Gee in English) is a song composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim, with lyrics by Aloysio de Oliveira. English lyrics were added by Ray Gilbert. It is a world famous bossa nova standard. Antonio Carlos Jobim wrote this piece especially for the Brazilian singer Sylvia Telles, whose nickname was Dindi.
A wonderful evening fully enjoyed by a full house.
DAVE O’HIGGINS (sax) will be at Jazznights on Sunday 17th August with the Jazznights Trio.
As well as running his own quartet Dave is a member of the “official” legacy band Brubecks Play Brubeck, with whom he tours the world. “A stunning player in the neo-bop vein, with an apparently effortless flow of coherent ideas, beautiful time and a highly developed harmonic sense.” Jazz Guide.
THE BEST IN BRITISH MODERN JAZZ is at Jazznights, The Cock Inn, 3, Callis Street, Clare, Suffolk, CO10 8PX
Admission £10. Doors open 7.30pm. Music 8.00-10.30pm.
Reserve seating on 01787 237653 or email info@jazz-nights.com
Pay on the night.
You can join us at facebook, read reviews of previous performances on more opinions blog or tweet at twitter.com/jazznightsuk
For further information on future gigs which will feature Tim Whitehead (sax), Ben Cox (vocals), Juliet Kelly (vocals) – live BBC recording and Karen Sharp (saxes) go to www.jazz-nights.com
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