Robin Henkel
Highway
© 2000 Robin Henkel
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A blend of American styles--swing, jazz, funk, and latin with slide and steel guitar plus horns. Although it is not really a blues CD, Highway was awarded Best Blues CD at the San Diego Music Awards 2000.
tracks
- 1 Bb Blues
- 2 Helena 1
- 3 Tonopah
- 4 E Minor 6
- 5 Steel Swing
- 6 Highway
- 7 Pepe
- 8 Mahtochiquala 1
- 9 Gee Wiz
- 10 Ocean Lullaby
- 11 Walking My Troubles Away
- 12 Hawaiian Song
- 13 Down By The Riverside
- 14 Paddycake
- 15 Mahtochiquala 2
- 16 Helena 2
- 17 Pancakes
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Robin Henkel is known in his hometown (San Diego, CA) as a blues artist specializing in slide guitar and the styles of the Mississippi delta. Because of this reputation, his CD "Highway," although deep in American roots, is not what many of his fans expected. This music is a thoughtful blend of swing, funk, Latin, with jazz horn arrangement, slide and steel guitar. Although not a blues CD, Highway won Best Blues CD at the San Diego Music Awards 2000.
Cuts like "Steel Swing" and "Mahtochiquala 1" are reminiscent of a period in American music when the steel guitar (popular in Hawaiian and country music) met with the horn arrangement of the big bands. This was a rich (and almost forgotten) moment in our musical culture.
"Tonopah" is straight ahead 40's swing, an American classic with horns and Hammond organ.
"Highway" is a medium-slow tempo swing instrumental featuring slide guitar and saxophones--an odd yet pleasing blend.
In a bright tempo, "Pepe," brings Cuban and Brazilian rhythm to the steel guitar.
San Diego Union columnist Mike Kinsman wrote "as a guitar player Robin can play blues, jazz, funk, country swing, Hawaiian and Latin music. He borrows from each of those styles when he performs and sometimes even surprises himself."
The Los Angeles Times said "Robin is a futurist and a historian."
Robin has opened shows for Bonnie Raitt, John McLaughlin, Dizzy Gilespie, Charles Brown, Dr John, Arlo Guthrie and Willie Nelson.
Robin has performed with Big Jay McNealy, Eddie Kirkland, Sha Na Na, Johnny Almond, Jimmy Witherspoon and Papa John Creach.
Robin performed blues with the San Diego Symphony as a special featured guest artist during the Summer Pops Concert Series 2002.
Robin was recognized and honored by MP3.com in their "Hot Artist Spotlight" feature November 2002.