Terry Robb - A Journey to Memphis Produces A Winning CD

As most Portland-area blues fans and other hip music lovers are by now well aware, Terry Robb has recently released another excellent CD that further solidifies his reputation as a virtuoso blues and roots music guitarist.

Titled Resting Place, the CD was recorded in Memphis, Tenn; at Sam Phillips’ Recording Studio for the recently-established label of Yellow Dog Records, a company formed to promote the continuing traditions of American roots music.

Veterans of the Memphis music scene joined forces with Robb for a session that combined old-time styles with distinct new approaches to produce a toe-tapping, hip-shaking set of music. Resting Place joins an extensive list of superb releases from Robb that display his extraordinary mastery of the guitar.

On this venture, Robb again sticks to the acoustic variety of the instrument while he deftly covers material ranging from roots rock and Piedmont-style blues, to Delta blues, country and folk music. His guitar wizardry shifts seamlessly from the finger-picking style common in folk music and acoustic blues, to the flat-picking style associated more with rock and country music. He also breaks out the slide to capture the essence of that traditional blues guitar style.

Resting Place includes several original songs written by Robb, as well as some classics such as My Baby Left Me, recorded by Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry’s Back To Memphis. While his guitar prowess is featured most prominently on Resting Place, Robb’s vocal contributions and the solid support he receives from the backup band are also deserving of ample praise. His plaintive singing fits wonderfully with the low-down blues sounds of My Mind Is Trying To Leave Me and Louise, as well as on the country-blues number Fare Thee Well Blues.

Of course, as is typical on Robb’s previous recordings, instrumentals play a major role on Resting Place. They include standout original tunes Madison Avenue Shuffle and Like Merle, the engaging John Fahey composition Joe Kirby Blues and the beautiful, solo guitar effort on Cassie. Overall, this is an absorbing set of music that most any music lover can enjoy listening to time and again.

Since Resting Place was recorded in Memphis, home of the renowned Beale Street music scene, it is only fitting that the first CD Release Party for Resting Place was July 15 at Beale Street NW, the new restaurant and blues club on N.E. Sandy Boulevard. The event virtually filled the spacious venue with fans, friends and fellow musicians, who were all treated to plenty of great music. The quartet that Robb brought to the festivities consisted of bassist Cassie Rosinski, who also contributed to one cut on the new CD, keyboardist Gino Michaels and drummer Ed Pierce.

Following the first set, some of Robb’s friends and colleagues sprang a surprise tribute to him in honor of his 40 years in music. Fellow performer Bill Rhoades kicked off the tribute with a few words to honor his frequent duo partner in acoustic blues and later broke out his harmonica to sit in with Robb and the band for a few solid blues numbers. Guitarist Mark Hanson, who has performed regularly over the last 10 years with Robb as part of the talented and eclectic group Acoustic Guitar Summit, also said a few words. Hanson related his own respect for Robb’s musical skills and mentioned that the group had nicknamed him “Secret Weapon” because of his ability to captivate listeners with his agile and distinctive guitar work.

Robb’s brother Larry also joined the tribute and remembered the times during Terry’s early musical endeavors that their parents would inquire as to when Terry would be growing up and getting a proper job. Larry also made the insightful comment that it is artists who hear the cosmic note and, through their work, allow the rest of us to hear it as well. Larry thanked his brother for seeking and making that connection with the spiritual world.

Bassist Katie Angel took the opportunity to also thank Robb for encouraging her as a friend and mentor to play music, particularly in jams at local clubs; Mike Powers of Yellow Dog Records contributed to the event by talking about the recording session back in Memphis. He explained that the musicians and sound engineer he brought onboard for the recordings were heavyweights in the Memphis music business who aren’t easily impressed. Yet all of them were taken by Robb’s talents and strong sense of the sound they were striving to produce. Engineer Roland Janes, a veteran of Sam Phillips’ Sun Records, provided liner notes that are effusive in their praise of Robb.

Greg Johnson, current CBA President, recalled fond memories of attending early performances by Terry at long-defunct clubs in Portland and then wrapped up the tribute by congratulating him on behalf of the CBA for his long and successful career.

To refer to Terry as a virtuoso guitarist with a tremendous feel for traditional styles is to barely scratch the surface of his musical accomplishments. He has written many of the songs on his CDs and is an able singer. As a record producer, he has put his stamp on releases from such notable artists as John Fahey and Alice Stuart, both prodigious guitarists in their own right, as well as Sheila Wilcoxson and Bill Rhoades. In fact, Robb produced the newest release from Bill Rhoades and the Party Kings, titled Voodoo Lovin’, which just came out in July of this year.

It was John Fahey who got Robb started in producing during the 1980s while he was still in his 20s. Robb’s fruitful collaborations with the innovative Fahey lasted some 11 years. He counted Fahey as a close friend, as well as a colleague.

Perhaps more important than the rest of his professional endeavors, Robb is also an experienced and dedicated guitar teacher who started his own N.W. School of Acoustic Guitar about four years ago. Through his teaching, he helps to keep traditional music alive and bring new music to light on a personal level. An excellent example of this is young guitarist Aric Riley, who took lessons from Robb, wound up becoming a professional guitarist and recently recorded a CD of traditional country blues on which Robb served as producer.

Although a native of Vancouver, B. C., Robb has lived in northwest Oregon since his family moved here in the mid-1960s. So, as far as local music fans are concerned, he may just as well be a native Oregonian. Robb was given his first guitar when he was 8 by his uncle, a jazz guitarist who worked with Lawrence Welk’s band. He got turned on to Delta blues and country blues during the blues revival of the 1960s and has played the music ever since.

Robb will be hitting the road in support of his new CD release, heading to California later this summer and then on to points east in the fall, so local music fans should take the opportunity to catch him live at area clubs when they can. Check his website or other local listings for gigs in your community.