Terry Robb – Howlin’ Waters
New Folk Records
13 Tracks – 31 minutes
Vancouver born and now Portland, Oregon based Terry Robb is a well-recognized acoustic guitar player. His finger-picking style has drawn attention on national and international stages, but across his decades of playing, he has demonstrated a capability for most blues guitar techniques. ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons is a fan of Terry and calls him the “Master of the Telecaster”. His abilities have been recognized by The Cascade Blues Society particularly. That society annually announces Muddy Awards, so named for Muddy Waters, to individuals and places that keep the blues alive in the Pacific Northwest. The award for Best Acoustic guitar was given to Terry Robb so many times that the association just named the trophy for him. The Society also gave him a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. He was inducted into the Oregon Blues Hall of Fame.
He has toured the country with Buddy Guy, Steve Miller, Robin Trower and John Fahey. He has a close friendship with fellow local performer Curtis Salgado and has played with him frequently. His music was featured in The Game of Thrones tv series and appeared on tv on Late Night with Conan O’Brien. He also has appeared at Portland Trail Blazers basketball games and collaborated with the Oregon Symphony.
This album features thirteen original songs by Terry. With the obvious naming of the album offering attention to the two blues stalwarts, Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters, as a nod to their longtime influence they have had on American music and blues in general. Terry cites his solo playing is directly influenced by people like Blind Blake and Reverend Gary Davis. His style varies from traditional blues to ragtime with stabs into jazz and classical styles.
Terry on guitar and vocals are joined by Dave Captein on upright bass, Gary Hobbs on drums, Eddie Parente on violin, David Vest on piano, Lisa Mann on vocals and electric bass, and Hank Lionhart and Ray Merideth providing additional vocals. Captein and Hobb are currently regular band members with Terry and appeared on his previous album, Confessin’ My Dues.
He gets things hopping with the opening instrumental, “St. Charles St. Rag” clearly demonstrating his fingerpicking style. He moves things along with another high-energy instrumental “Alleluia Shuffle”. Dave’s bass introduces “Back Door Mirror” before the band kicks into gear in a jazzy instrumental with Terry burning up the frets.
The first vocal track is a country blues with the Eddie’s violin and Lisa’s duet with Terry as they sing “I feel like I’m riding on a “One Way Train” to sorrow”. On a slow blues, Terry cries ” I used to be alright “But Not Now” as Terry goes the solo route again. “When it Gets Cold” is a moody solo instrumental well reflecting the intent of the title.
“Boogie in 7” gets some John lee Hooker sound kicking in with Eddie’s violin again playing a major role. Terry declares “howlin’ waters, burnin’ sky, rising time, bug your eyes, open a can, feel the heat, go to the hook, stomp your feet”. “Hobbs Captain” slows things back down and shifts into a quiet jazz mode. “Fires In the Country” deals with the massive fires that have impacted many parts of the country as Terry references “smoke in the air, people acting crazy, crazy running scared.”.
“Katie & Arnie” is another short, bouncy instrumental. “Ride to Ticina” moves into a slow jazz mode with a cinematic feel almost letting you see the views. The vocalists sing I “Tripped and Fell” in love with you” with David Vest’s piano kicking in and Terry’s guitar rolling along.
John Fahey is another friend of Terry’s and is cited as a person that has also had influence on his style after producing an album for him. Terry concludes the album with “Fahey at Bush Park”, a closing instrumental.
The album is a pleasant trip through the many shades of Terry’s virtuosity. His music proves that guitar pyrotechnics that are so ingrained in many current blues rock performers are not required to deliver a quality blues experience. Terry’s fingerpicking offers a master class in acoustic guitar playing.
