Jonny Tobin is a Grammy and JUNO-nominated keys player, vocalist, and producer based in the west coast of Canada. His keys and production work have graced hundreds of tracks from independent artists like NYC-based Sarah Kang to breakout hip-hop artist D. Smoke to placements for Vogue Germany and the Utah Jazz NBA team. Jonny’s original music resides in an alternate dimension somewhere between a 90’s video game and a 60’s Blue Note record. Fat synth funk grooves playfully collide with abstract jazzy undertones and create immediately infectious vibes for the listener. To date, Jonny has released 5 original albums. His songs have collectively received over 15 million streams, and have been selected for numerous official editorial Spotify playlists including “Jazztronica”, “Chill Out Jazz”, “BUTTER”, “lofi beats”, “State of Jazz”, “Lo-Fi Cool Down”, “21st Century Jazz”, “Crisp”, “Mood Ring”, “Orbit”, and “Best Funk Songs of 2021”. As a live performer, Jonny has had the privilege of opening for several high-profile artists within the world of R&B, neo-soul, and modern jazz including Braxton Cook, CARRTOONS, and Adi Oasis, and he headlined at the Vancouver Jazz Festival in 2023.
ABOUT ME
Jonny’s music has received love from audiences all over the world, and has been showcased on livestreams, radio shows, and playlists of various tastemakers including Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick (leader of seminal British acid jazz outfit Incognito), Joe Kay (Soulection), and DJ Jazzy Jeff. Jonny was a finalist in Masego’s “Veg Out” remix contest in 2020 and got a special shoutout from Masego for his remix.
Session Work/Production
Known for his huge, soulful sound on the keys and lush production work, Jonny has excelled in a variety of collaborations across all genres.
While groove-based music is his primary focus, Jonny is known for his ability to transcend genres. He has a knack for crafting his playing to cater to a wide variety of different styles, and this has resulted in session work with a diverse pool of talent. Jonny has performed with hip-hop artists, R&B/soul singers, instrumental jazz groups, pop singer-songwriters, country artists, reggae bands, and Latin bands. He has worked with acclaimed artists including multiple Grammy-winning R&B/gospel vocal group The Hamiltones and JUNO-nominated Canadian soul star Tanika Charles. In 2018 and 2019, Jonny toured China with R&B/pop vocalist ZiZi (子子). Through 2019 and 2020, Jonny was a part of David Ward’s Propeller series, which has united Ward and his band with a collection of talented artists from all over the world including Daru Jones, Salami Rose Joe Louis, Patrice Quinn, Swatkins, JC Maillard, and Brandon Coleman.
Jonny has been a valuable studio player and writer, contributing keyboards/synths, beats, production, and song ideas to projects from many artists including D. Smoke, Johnny Burgos, Warren Dean Flandez, EyeLoveBrandon, Milla Thyme, Janette King, Maya Killtron, Paul Grant, Makadi, Kapok, Poe, Jordon Veira, Shannon Lauren Callihan, Emotionz, pHoenix Pagliacci, BrandonLee Cierley, Potatohead People, Austyn King, Emily Chambers, Kitt (FKA Katherine Penfold), Sarah Kang, Reuben Spyker, Curci, Trian Kayhatu, daniel hayn, Teon Gibbs, Jerrica Santos, and Taylor-Rae.
His collaborations with Warren Dean Flandez on the album “Speak” received multiple GMA Covenant awards and a Juno nomination. In 2020 Jonny’s co-production work on the acclaimed debut D. Smoke album “Black Habits” garnered a GRAMMY nomination.
Here is a selection of some of the many tracks that Jonny has produced, mixed, composed, or performed on: