Henry Robinett Quartet - Jazz Standards Volume 2: Then Again

Henry Robinett Quartet - Jazz Standards Volume 2: Then Again - Nefertiti Records

Henry Robinett is a guitarist, composer, bandleader, and recording engineer whose recording career began in 1986. Born in Sacramento, California, he was inspired by Jimi Hendrix when 13. He first studied with a couple of classical guitar teachers. He had to learn to play Bach, Paganini, Mendelssohn, and Rimsky-Korsakov on an electric guitar using a pick. Later he would study with jazz guitarist Warren Nunes. Robinett played a variety of music back in Sacramento before moving to San Francisco. 

He spent a year in Germany, and upon returning, he started playing his music and leading his own group. He recorded three albums for the Artful Balance label. Wanting more control over his music, Robinett learned to be a recording engineer and recorded his music and others for his label. This album is the second album released from 2000 sessions with Joe Gilman on piano, Chris Symer on bass, and Michael Stephans on drums. Like "Volume 1: Then," this was not released at the time. In 2019, the quartet got together again and recorded another two CDs worth of material to be released in the future. 

About the earlier volume, I wrote, 'It was as much a real pleasure listening to this marvelous recording, and one looks forward to these future releases." The same can be said about the present recording. Robinett leads his swinging, straight-ahead quartet on a repertoire of songs from Lehar & Loehner, Van Heusen & Burke, Van Heusen & Mercer, Alan Jay Lerner, Miles Davis, Cole Porter, Thelonious Monk, Thelonious Monk, and others. 

On these recordings of standards, Robinett shows himself to be a melodic guitarist with a gorgeous tone. He mixes scintillating single-note runs and judiciously played chords against the tasty grooves of the rhythm section. In addition to his comping, Gilman is a sterling soloist, as heard on his lively solo during "On the Street Where You Live." Robinett himself exhibits his familiarity with the song's lyrics with his statement of the theme and solo. Then there is the charm of "Like Someone in Love," where Stephans deft touch on the cymbals accents the leader's solo. 

The quartet provides a relaxed treatment of Miles Davis' 1st version of "Milestones," with Robinett's imaginatively crafted solo. A beautiful performance of "Body and Soul" features a dexterously played, well-shaped solo that showcases his considerable technical mastery in addition to his creativity. There is also a reflective quality to the treatment of "Darn That Dream," and the scintillating playing on the briskly paced "It Could Happen To You."

Closing this recording are excellent versions of Thelonious Monk's "Monk's Mood" and "San Francisco Holiday." The performance of "Monks Mood" is particularly memorable for the delicacy and restraint exhibited by Robinett and rhythm. These two tracks conclude another excellent album that was a pleasure to listen to. The exquisite music on this and the earlier volume may lead listeners to have strong anticipation for the forthcoming volumes. These volumes will be devoted to the more recent sessions by this splendid group.

I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is a performance by Henry Robinett with saxophonist Jeff Alkire. 

Henry Robinett Quartet - Jazz Standards Volume 1

Henry Robinett Quartet - Jazz Standards Volume 1 - Nefertiti Records

Henry Robinett is a guitarist, composer, bandleader, and recording engineer whose recording career began in 1986. Born in Sacramento, California, he was inspired by Jimi Hendrix when 13. He first studied with a couple of classical guitar teachers. He had to learn to play Bach, Paganini, Mendelssohn, and Rimsky-Korsakov on an electric guitar using a pick. Later he would study with jazz guitarist Warren Nunes. At home, he explored the record collection of his father, Charles Mingus' first cousin. He, in fact, spent three months living with Mingus. Robinett played a variety of music back in Sacramento before moving to San Francisco, where he would play at the Keystone Korner. 

After a year in Germany, he returned to start playing his own music and leading his own group. They recorded three albums for the Artful Balance label. At this time, he wanted more control over his music and learned to be a recording engineer. Robinett then recorded his subsequent albums and albums for others, as well. He also started his own label, Nefertiti Records. This present album was recorded in 2000 with Joe Gilman on piano, Chris Symer on bass, and Michael Stephans on drums. For whatever reason, it was not issued at that time but finally is available.

It is a most welcome CD with Robinett leading a swinging, straight-ahead quartet on a repertoire of songs from Mancini, Fields and Kerr, Arlen and Koehler, Mal Waldron, Bronislaw and Webster, Hammerstein and Kern, and Wayne Shorter. I understand that Robinett often is a more electric player than here, where he is in a traditional bebop-rooted approach. He has a gorgeous tone, plays scintillating single-note runs, and judiciously played chords against the tasty grooves of the rhythm section. There is a focus on the melody as his playing sings on such songs as "I Hear a Rhapsody," 'The Days of Wine and Roses," "The Way You Look Tonight," "East of The Sun" "Invitation," and "Soul Eyes." Pianist Gilman is splendid as well with his comping and well-conceived solos. Bassist Symer provides the musical axis while drummer Stephans adds his rhythmic embellishments to these tuneful and lively performances.

There is another volume of recordings from 2000 forthcoming, and then a further two volumes from 2019 when this quartet got together again. Robinett says in his CD notes." It's been a real pleasure playing this music with these remarkable musicians." It was as much a real pleasure listening to this marvelous recording, and one looks forward to these future releases.

I received my review copy from a publicist. This review appeared in the May-June 2020 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 390) although erroneously not credited to me. Here is a recording from Henry Robinett's first album.