Oregon bluesman Terry Robb's new album, "Resting Place," is a soulful journey into the heart of the blues and the heart of an artist familiar with a myriad of traditional blues styles.

As Central Coast audiences will learn, with Robb, the listener gets the complete blues guitarist - a player who invites his audience to the pure experience of authentic blues while avoiding obvious devices.

"Resting Place" is a classic recording showcasing distinctive voicing talent, both vocal and on the guitar.

From tragic tracks like my "Baby Left Me," "My Mind is Trying to Leave Me" and "Louise," you get the sense of a skilled finger-stylist evoking the beauty of King and Clapton but with a distinct voice all its own. Robb's style exhibits panache without flash, and virtuosity with subtlety and restraint.

The second track, "My Mind is Trying to Leave Me," is a torch song of despair and descent into madness. The solo licks alone symbolize the heartbreak of the situation as clear as any great classic blues recording does, if not better.

On the tenth track, "Lonely Avenue," Robb's licks are as authentic as the Mississippi mud - thick, earthy and hard to wash off.

The titular track "Resting Place" is a fun rollicking sliding guitar number evoking a contemporary Muddy Waters.

"Back to Memphis" is a rousing blues song with a fast beat, reminiscent of the best of Chuck Berry with a Delta-style bluesy color.

There's much soul to Robb's smooth fingerpicking prowess. Robb brings an authenticity to his new recordings present but not as crystal clear from recordings from the earlier masters.

Robb is fairly well known to fans of blues and hot lick guitarists. A first-call session player, he has been named to the Cascade Blues Association's Hall of Fame for both his electric and acoustic guitar playing. The virtuoso bluesman is a record 16-time winner of the Cascade Association's Muddy Awards.

Robb is also known nationally for his collaborations with the late John Fahey. The pair worked together on seven albums, including the critically acclaimed "Let Go" (1983). "Resting Place" is his debut album with Yellow Dog Records.