The Henry Robinett Group

Every musician is responsible for learning everything about the art form that came before, and advancing it into the next generation. Henry Robinett has catapulted jazz guitar a few generations forward.

While there is some discussion whether the guitar was invented “by” Henry Robinett, hearing him play leaves no doubt that it was invented “for him.” He breathes, the strings sing. He strums, and a symphony of strings ring heavenly hallelujahs, where does he hide all those extra fingers? This concert will be a culmination of his complete body of work. With original collaborator Dr. Joe Gilman on keyboards, all the original tunes will ring familiar, but with a fresh flavor added by Ben Kopf on stand up and electric bass, Cameron Womack on drums and Jacám Manricks on sax.

Henry lived and studied with his cousin, jazz great Charles Mingus in 1976. He played and recorded with Jessica Williams in San Francisco. Later he received the prestigious Sammies Award for Best Musician and Best Band for five years in a row as well as being voted into the Sammies Hall Of Fame. He taught music and was the head of the jazz department for The American Institute of Music in Vienna Austria in 1995-96. He recorded his first album The Henry Robinett Group for Artful Balance Records and received a Four Star review for it in Downbeat Magazine. He has since released 3 other CDs under his own name for Nefertiti Records and Challenge Records. His own band toured Japan and played The Monterey Jazz Festival, Yoshi’s Oakland and performed for two standing room only shows at Keystone Korner. He currently is playing with The Capital Jazz Project and The Henry Robinett Group and produces music for various independent labels as well as teaching music to incarcerated persons.

Joe Gilman has played and recorded with the likes of Bobby Hutcherson, Eddie Harris, Woody Shaw, Marlena Shaw, Richie Cole, Joe Locke, George Duke, Chris Botti, Eric Alexander, Anthony Wilson, Nicholas Payton, Russell Malone, Charles McPerson, Wycliffe ‘gordon, David “Fathead” Newman, Slide Hampton and Joe Henderson.

With his nine previous albums, saxophonist Jacam Manricks established his bona fides as a composer, arranger and improviser of the highest order. Jaacám heads a 19-piece big band, The JMO, a supertax-type ensemble, and is a member of The Capital Jazz Project.

Benjamin Kopf is a professional Bassist and Producer living in Sacramento. While attending Berklee College of Music in Boston, he studied Contemporary Writing and Production, as well as earning a minor degree in Conducting. After graduating in 2014, Ben has worked as a freelance musician, playing with band leaders such as Vivian Lee, Byron Colborn and Joe Mazzaferro.

Cameron Womack studied privately under the guidance of Rick Lotter, as well as toured, performed, and recorded with the Downbeat award winning 1:30 Jazz Ensemble from 2011-2015. He first began playing professionally in his teenage years, and has since gone on to enjoy a very busy performing career with some of the top-call musicians inNorthern California.

Downbeat Poll review;
“…their self-titled album works simply because of the judicious balance maintained between the preplanned(composition) and the unplanned(execution); no less than the great pains taken in the execution, recording and production to ensure a seamless flow throughout the performances.”
“…what is played carries forward and sustains the intent of the composed line, making it come alive and breathe with flowing beauty, continuity of thought, great vitality, and perfect finish.”