Terry Robb is one of the most heralded acoustic guitarists on the Pacific Northwest blues scene. His influences include Lightning Hopkins, Reverend Gary Davis, and Merle Travis. He collaborated with John Fahey on seven albums including 1983's "Let Go". This is his debut recording for Yellow Dog Records and along for the ride are two of the Bo-Keys; Charlie Woods, keyboards and drummer Willie Hall. Bassist Paul Taylor is from the North Mississippi All-Stars. The album is recorded in Memphis by studio ace Roland Janes.

The album opens with Arthur Big Boy Crudup's "My Baby Left Me" and it sounds like something from Elvis' early Sun Records recordings and why not since Roland Janes is an engineer and guitarist from those early Sun sessions with Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis. Terry Robb opens with the full treatment including Willie Hall's infectious drumming.

The "Madison Ave. Shuffle" and "Hesitation Blues/Knowing What Blues" are instrumental showcases for Terry's picking. For "Resting Place", Terry switches to a National steel guitar. His playing manages to avoid repetitive tricks and each tune highlights another "side" of Terry. Two more original instrumentals are included "Like Merle" and the softer "Cassie", these are my favorites.

The Percy Mayfield classic "My Mind is trying to Leave Me" allows Terry to tear into some jazzier guitar. Terry is also a dramatic vocalist and this comes out here, but it's "Louise" that really shows off the complete talents of Terry Robb. Terry extracts passion from both his vocal and his Martin guitar, as it is the best song on a very good album. Terry Robb does a great job on the John Fahey instrumental "Joe Kirby Blues", and on Joe Callicot's "Fare Thee Well Blues" his voice sounds like Paul Rishell.

Also covered are Chuck Berry's "Back to Memphis", Doc Pomus' "Lonely Avenue", and Booker T and The Mg's "My Sweet Potato", which is much more Memphis than the rest. Whether he is performing solo or with a band his tasteful playing and singing should bring him a greater following.

Richard Ludmerer
Director, The New York Blues & Jazz Society
ricdale2@yahoo.com