Media release 9 March 2011

Irish singer Mary Coughlan brings ‘all that jazz’ to the National Concert Hall with the Dublin City Jazz Orchestra and guests

On Sunday 27 March 2011,8pm The Dublin City Jazz Orchestra, a 17-piece big-band comprising some of the best musical talent in Ireland joins Irish singers Mary Coughlan, BBC award-winner Christine Tobin and Belgian singer- and composer David Linx in a unique performance.

The Dublin City Jazz Orchestra which originally convened for an Electric Picnic performance evolved out of weekly informal sessions into one of the most impressive big bands performing in Ireland today. Led by the charismatic Ciaran Wilde, together they play music from the ‘40s and ‘50s along with some more modern exhilarating tunes.

Powerful bluesy jazz singer Mary Coughlan best known for her recordings to include: ‘Under the Influence’, the revised 1948 Peggy Lee hit "Don't Smoke In Bed" and the ballad "Good Morning Heartache", as well as Christy Moore's "Ride On" brings her inimitable vocal talent to the stage. Mary who began her singing career in 1984 working with Dutch producer Erik Visser sees her career come full circle as she embarks on the next phase of her career with an extraordinary new album entitled ‘The House of Ill Repute’. Its thirteen songs represent the end of a thirteen year relationship in Mary’s life and the album re-unites her with Erik Visser, whose previous work with Mary has inspired them both to career best performances on the albums ‘Tired And Emotional’ and ‘After The Fall’ albums.

Joining Mary on stage is the BBC award-winning singer Christine Tobin. Described by BBC Music Magazine as “One of the most gifted and original singer/ in today’s jazz world” Tobine’s style is rooted in jazz but draws on a broad range of influences from West Africa to Brazil. She has recorded seven albums for Babel, one of the UK's most dynamic and creative indie labels and works, and performs regularly on the UK jazz scene and many reputed festivals including the London Jazz Festival, Cheltenham and Brecon. She has also appeared at some of the most renowned jazz festivals abroad including Monterey U.S., Rainforest Music Festival Borneo, Haarlem, Frankfurt and Cork.

Brilliant singer-songwriter and composer David Linx from Belgium has recorded with names such as Horace Parlan, Toots Thielemans, Slide Hampton, Richard Galliano, Steve Coleman, David Erskine, Sly and Robbie and many more. In 1996, 1998 and 1999, David was nominated for the Django d'Or in France for the best jazz singer, together with Abbey Lincoln, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Cassandra Wilson and was elected best vocalist of the year in Europe in 1998. He regularly records and performs with the Brussels Jazz Orchestra and with most of the top Europeans jazz ensembles.

Dublin City Jazz Orchestra with Mary Coughlan, Christine Tobin and David Linx is presented by The National Concert Hall in association with the Improvised Music Company.

Tickets: €25, €30 20% group discount available / 25% discount for Friends of the National Concert Hall. 10% discount for students/senior citizens. Box Office Tel: 01 417 00 00 / www.nch.ie (no booking fees)

ENDS For further information please contact: Sinead Doyle, Marketing & PR Manager, Tel: 01 417 00 57 or 087 1775334