Henry Robinett Quartet – Then Again – CD Review

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Plastic – CD

Surface noise: N/A

Dynamic Range: 4

Stereo Imaging: 4

Image depth/perspective: 4-

Overall frequency response: 4

Please see here for my comments on reviewing albums.

Track List:

1. Yours is My Heart Alone
2. Like Someone In Love
3. I Thought About You
4. On The Street Where You Live
5. Milestones (original version)
6. Body and Soul
7. How Am I To Know
8. Darn That Dream
9. I Love You
10. It Could Happen To You
11. Monk’s Mood
12. San Francisco Holiday (Worry Later)

Line Up:

• Henry Robinett – Guitar
• Joe Gilman – Piano
• Chris Symer – Bass
• Michael Stephans– Drums

This album was originally recorded and engineered by Henry Robinett at The Hanger, Sacramento, CA. April 19th-20th, 2000. It was mixed and mastered by Henry Robinett at Henry’s Place – his own recording studio. The album is due to be released on Henry’s own label Nefertiti Records on January 8th, 2021.

Welcome to Volume 2 of a 4 volume series entitled Jazz Standards. Both volumes 1 & 2 were recorded over 20 years ago, the first being titled Then. Henry Robinett does it all, jazz guitarist, composer, bandleader, recording engineer and teacher. Robin also leads his own band;The Henry Robinett Group, with whom he has released 5 albums.

Musicianship was very good providing a tight, enjoyable and entertaining performance having no obvious bum or fluffed notes. This album is really all about Henry’s electric guitar performance that was excellent, providing a clean and detailed, center image. Depth of image was very shallow with the kit filling most of the space between my speakers and sitting just behind Henry’s guitar playing that was placed front and center. The double bass was set of to Henry’s left hand side, midway between him and my RH speaker and the piano set midway between Henry and my LH speaker. With stereo imaging being stable at all times.

Henrys electric guitar sounded full and mellow never changing it’s tone from track to track and having a pleasing level of reverb that you occasionally hear tail out. There was no plectrum, finger or fret noise of consequence. His guitar being virtually ‘tied at the hip’ to the piano, when Henry played, there was the pianist accompanying him. There were therefore no real Henry solos, but there again they were hardly necessary with Henrys guitar leading all of the numbers.

The piano sounded very natural with good attack and a clean, bright and mellow tone. During a couple of solos like the one on T6 when its level was raised, it seemed to pull much more to the center front stage. No key or damper action was apparent. There are several short breaks and solos on every track, but here are a few that I singled out; T6, T7, T8 and T10.

The double bass was always well detailed, tight, natural sounding and uncolored, but on a couple of occasions almost vanished into the mix. When bowed on T8 sounding rich and mellow. The real issue was that the bassist either; hit the strings with his nails or the strings slapping the neck producing a loud and distracting “click” that emanated from the bass image location. At first I thought it was electronic clipping but on further listening realized it was just the way the bass was being played. Occasional general finger work was heard providing just a slightly more intimate feel. Solos of note would include; T5 and T9.

All toms provide a well damped, short decay with a slightly hollow sound, while the kick drum was a very solid dull thud with no beater sound. The snare had a short well damped ring and provided a few very impactful rim shots. All brush work was very detailed and almost exquisite on T8, being bright, clean and open, as were all the cymbals and hi-hat that just needed a little more top end in order to sparkle. The chimes on T6 & T11 providing a detailed and refined sound. Solos of note would include; T1, T5 and T9.

Despite this entertaining musical performance the recording lacked a little in presence, even during some of the more dynamic solos the instruments never managed to ‘appear’ in my room. This twenty year old recording exhibited little background noise and no hum, however, even with this low noise floor the dynamics never really excelled, but nor were they obviously compressed.

All instruments were ‘wrapped’ with reverb that was short and low level, not interfering with or coloring the musical performance, but managing to add just a little warmth.

Clearly not a state-of-the-art recording, but never the less a very enjoyable performance. Each track had a little extra something to give the listener, be it an instrumental break, solo or a new take on an old number. The numerous instrumental breaks and solos giving the listener time to get to ‘know’ the instruments. I am sure that Henrys fans and lovers of jazz will enjoy these resurrected tracks from his earlier life.

Playback note: Reviewed using my Denon DBP A100 over Denon Link 3. Speakers; a stereo pair of Genelec 1038’s and four SVS subs.

Disclosure: This CD was provided by Mouthpiece Music for my review. No financial compensation was provided.

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