Christine Tobin

THE return of Christine Tobin to her native Dublin near the close of a nationwide tour confirmed a number of positive things about this fine singer. Always well equipped vocally, she has improved even further since she left for London nine years ago. Her range is good, with a lovely full low register, a firm middle register and no appreciable trace of [strain in the top. As for her information, it's well nigh impeccable her ear is superb. And she has a sense of time that any jazz musician would envy.

With so much at her command, the problem is what to do with it, epitomised by a programme which ranged over everything from her own originals, to bossa nova, standards, Irish songs, jazz originals like Django Reinhardt's Nuages, a folk tune and even a piece by Leonard Cohen. In all of these she was technically irreproachable. The difficulty was that, while there was much to admire, there was somewhat less to warm to the bossas, her triumphant risk taking on her own Behind The Wall, a beautifully sung Old Folks, moments on Black Is The Colour Of My True Love's Hair, were the lyrical high points. At almost any level, she is a match for the best jazz and jazz influenced singers around, but with so much technique available to her, sometimes the material is submerged by it.

Of the supporting trio, guitarist Phil Rob son was excellent as a soloist and accompanist, while bassist Steve Watts was competent only drummer Paul Clarvis seemed less than impressive.