Cascade Blues Music Reviews

When I Play My Blues Guitar

Terry Robb

Music Review Reprint from the
September, 2002 BluesNotes
By Greg Johnson

Don't Know What She Got
But Not Now
Lucky Labrador
Drag In F
When I Play My Blues Guitar
Buck Dance Nummer Rag Spanish Dance
Judge Boushay Blues
Fahey At Bush Park
Goin' To California
Bye And Bye
West Virginia Rag Nocturnal Cake Walk
You Left Me With A Broken Heart
Sam Webb Is Gone Guitar Rag II Panama Unlimited

Burnside Records 0045
Total Time 41:39

When it comes to guitar players in the city of Portland, I have to admit that Terry Robb is usually the first person that comes to my mind when I want an example of just how the instrument should sound. Incredible. Brilliant. Awe-inspiring. All synonyms that I find easy to use as a description for his talent. He's someone that I could spend hours listening to and never find myself being bored. Rather, I'm dumb-founded at how easily he glides across the strings.

As displayed on his previous recordings, Terry is quite at home working with a band. His music always stands out. But, to capture him in his truest essence, you must hear him perform as a solo musician. He works this way quite often in the clubs, but we've only received glimpses of this on disc. Until now. When I Play My Blues Guitar is Terry's first totally solo outing and believe me, if you are a fan of acoustic guitar, no matter what style or genre you may usually listen to, this is an album you must purchase without any further delay. It's simply that astounding!

The selections included here cover the history of Terry's love for music. Six instrumentals and seven vocals tell the story and not a single one of them is a bum steer. His earliest influences from artists such as Bukka White, Furry Lewis and Gary Davis are all showcased, as is his deep-rooted friendship with the late John Fahey and his love for Ragtime. Some of the material included may have been heard on previous Terry Robb outings, but like many other musicians, Terry can rework a piece over and over, making it sound so much better with each new version. Those songs are mostly placed in medleys on this CD and they blend together as if they were meant to be in Terry's capable hands. As an example, who else could've combined the works of Sylvester Weaver and Bukka White with their own composition and made it flow as smoothly as displayed on the medley "Sam Webb Is Gone Guitar Rag II Panama Limited"? There is quite a diverse mixture of musical styles within here as well. Quirky, happy songs such as the rag instrumental "Lucky Labrador" sit nicely beside Tommy Johnson's lamentful number "Bye And Bye," as well as his beautiful instrumental tribute honoring his mentor, "Fahey At Bush Park."

Acoustic guitar is most certainly Terry Robb's forte. When I Play My Blues Guitar is an example of just how the instrument should sound, too. One of the most pleasurable acoustic guitar albums I have heard in years and it stands tall among the very best. From (Leo) Kottke to (John) Fahey, Terry Robb's name is at home with the masters of the craft.