The Cape Codder

Guitarist Jim Robitaille

By Cheryl Kain

Guitarist Jim Robitaille marches to the beat of his own drum, or guitar. Weaned on British blues and rock ‘n’ roll, he learned the instrument by ear and went on to study classical and jazz guitar and improvisation with jazz guitarist Jon Damian in Boston, and improvisation with pianist and master teacher Charlie Banacos, before finding his voice as a composer. Jazz critics compare him to greats such as guitarists Pat Metheny and John Scofield.

The Jim Robitaille Group will open the Provincetown Jazz Festival at Provincetown’s town hall. Robitaille’s Friday night set will be followed by Shawnn Monteiro, and the two hope to do a two-person set afterward. Robitaille on guitar will be joined by Bruce Abbott on tenor and soprano saxophone, Matt Richard on piano, Dave Zinno on bass and Chris Poudrier on drums.

The group will play Robitaille’s versions of jazz standards. “We do them with reharmonizations, and some restructuring, form-wise,” said Robitaille, whose original music will be a part of the set as well. “That music is more modern, there’s a romantic quality to it,” he said, citing European chamber music as a strong influence in his compositions. Fans call the musician’s melodies soulful and memorable. The Jim Robitaille Group's internationally acclaimed debut recording, "To Music," features saxophone great Dave Liebman. The CD won three international composition awards, including the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Composers Competition award. Oddly enough, the winning tune was inspired by a novel by Arthur C. Clarke, “Rendezvous with Rama,”

“I received my award from [piano great] Herbie Hancock,” he said. Robitaille performed his award-winning composition with the Monk Institute band at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. The performance aired as part of a two-hour television special on the BET Jazz Channel.

When not playing with the Jim Robitaille Group, Robitaille can be found playing electric guitar with MM4 (the Marcus Monteiro Quartet), a contemporary jazz group. “It’s very improvisational. These guys are great, and the drummer [Peter Antunes] is phenomenal,” he said. They recently toured Canada and play Tuesday nights at Bridge Street Station in Fairhaven.

Robitaille often performs in Boston and on the Cape, and says he especially enjoys being part of Bart Weisman’s lively Jazz Jam at the Oyster Company in Dennisport every Sunday. In addition to playing out and composing, Jim teaches jazz guitar on the faculty at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth; Tabor Academy in Marion; as well as the Symphony Music Shop in Dartmouth and at his home studio in New Bedford.