Capital Jazz Project

Capital Jazz Project (CJP) was formed in 1997 to give concerts and offer individualized instruction in jazz improvisation. Since then it has begun the Jazz Mentor Program allowing less experienced musicians the opportunity to perform with the CJP in a professional setting, has established an outreach program bringing educational and performance programs emphasizing jazz history and improvisation to regional schools, and has become the artists-in-residence and faculty of the jazz program at American River College. Concerts are designed around themes of great jazz artists, including Wayne Shorter, Charles Mingus, Thelonius Monk, Horace Silver, Duke Ellington, Art Blakey, Dave Brubeck, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Pat Matheny, Cannonball Adderley, and many others, and original music composed by CJP. The performances, programs and services of CJP are planned and developed to fulfill their mission and artistic vision: To create an atmosphere of respect for jazz as a high-level art form, equal to classical music and other ethnic musics, and to present repertory that is diverse and representative of the complete history of the genre. Members include:

Joe Gilman, piano

Joe Gilman is a professor at American River College. He holds degrees from Indiana University, Eastman School of Music, and University of Sarasota. He has performed professionally with Eddie Harris, Bobby Hutcherson, Woody Shaw, Richie Cole, George Duke, Chris Botti, and Slide Hampton, and has recorded with Joe Henderson and Jeff Watts. He recently won the Great American Jazz Piano Competition in Jacksonville, Florida and has twice been an International Jazz Ambassador through the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and USIA, traveling to West Africa in 1999 and East and Southern Africa in 2000. Joe was awarded the Brubeck Institute’s first Brubeck Award for Distinguished Achievement in 2005, has been on the faculty of the Brubeck Summer Jazz Colony and the Fellowship Program for several years, and is currently the musical director of the Fellowship Program.

Rick Lotter, drums

Rick Lotter has worked in settings from combo to big band jazz to rock and world music. His credits include recording and performing with the Henry Robinett Group, Bob Mintzer, Bobby Shew, Dave Liebman, Richie Cole, Jessica Williams, Buddy Montgomery, Maria Muldaur, and in radio and television commercials. He is an instructor at Sacramento State University and American River College.

Henry Robinett, guitar

Henry Robinett has played with Frank Strozier, Muhal Richard Abrams, Chico Freeman, George Lewis, Ricky Ford, Bob Neloms, Junior Cook, Clifford Jordon, and has studied with the great Charles Mingus. In 1985 he formed The Henry Robinett Group, recorded a CD on Artful Balance Records, and has received a 4-star review in DownBeat Magazine and reviews in and a feature interview Jazziz Magazine. Henry has garnered many awards, has his own publishing company and recording studio, and teaches privately and at the prestigious American Institute of Music in Vienna.

Kerry Kashiwagi, bass

Acoustic and electric bassist Kerry Kashiwagi has been performing professionally for 20 years and has performed or recorded with the Henry Robinett Group, the Tom Peron/Bud Spangler Interplay Quartet, Richie Cole, John Fedchock, Rio Latin Quintet, and Todd Cochran. He is currently an adjunct professor of jazz bass at American River College.

Mike McMullen, woodwinds

Mike McMullen has studied sax with Joe Henderson, woodwinds with Phil Sobel, and composition and arranging with Dick Grove in LA. He has worked as a performer, composer, arranger, conductor and educator throughout North America and Europe. He has performed concerts, recorded and/or toured with artists such as Dave Liebman, Bobby Shew, Doc Severinsen, Ray Charles, Randy Brecker, Sonny Fortune, Pat LaBarbera, Manhattan Transfer, Dianne Schuur, Natalie Cole, and Kenny Wheeler. He is currently director of jazz ensembles at UC Davis, and teaches at CSU Sacramento and American River College.

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