Terry Robb

"The first thing that struck my mind when I heard the opening title cut of The Terry Robb Band's new album 'Muddyvishnu', was how much the tune reminded me of the guitar savvy of the late Jimi Hendrix. High praise I know, but this album deserves high praise. Rock solid from start to finish, or should I say Blues solid? Jazz solid? Fusion is what defines this effort. And a seamless effort it is.

On the youtube link above Terry is interiewed on the street outside before a gig, in it he explains the title Muddyvishnu as "Muddy Waters meets Mahavishnu" (as in Mahavishnu Orchestra). The comparison of Terrys electric guitar playing to John McLaughlin, or even Jimi Hendrix for that matter is in no way a stretch. He's been described as a musician's musician, a guitarist's guitarist, and as evidenced by 'Muddyvishnu', such descriptions are wholly justified." - Andrew Stranglen 5/4/2012 - Delta Slider

"He played with Ramblin’ Rex Jacobosky, a Los Angeles blues musician who was friends with Frank Zappa and lived just outside of Corvallis, at the time. After a few years of touring with Ramblin’ Rex, Robb returned to Portland in the early 1980s to an exploding music scene that had risen during his absence.

One of the turning points in Robb’s musical career came when a friend gave legendary primitive guitarist and blues scholar John Fahey a copy of his demo tape. A friendship blossomed through their mutual love of Charlie Patton and soon Fahey had Robb producing his music and even performing on several of his recordings. Over the ensuing decades Robb continued to record and produce albums, while winning all the music accolades that the Northwest has to offer. He’s a member of the Oregon Music Hall of Fame and the Cascade Blues Association’s Muddy Award for Acoustic Guitar is named after Robb. He’s toured and performed with artists like Steve Miller, Curtis Salgado, Buddy Guy, and the Oregon Symphony Orchestra." - Bob Gersztyn 4/5/12 - Blues Wax - Blues Review

"Considered one of the top acoustic blues guitarists on the West Coast, Terry Robb is also an inventive and ever-evolving American primitive master. As an heir to the late, great John Fahey's musical legacy, Robb is an established icon in a pantheon that includes Robbie Basho, Leo Kottke, Peter Lang, John Renbourn, and Stefan Grossman....

Robb is that rare talent, a musician’s musician and an enormously popular performer. Onstage, his fleet fingers, wry humor, and intense focus mesmerize audiences. The passionate artistry of a Terry Robb event whether a solo acoustic performance or a high-energy show with his electric band often leaves new and longtime fans with mouths agape.
In his music-savvy hometown of Portland, Oregon, Robb is a celebrity in high demand as a performing and studio guitarist, and as a bandleader, composer, arranger, producer, and teacher. With years of real-world musical experience in his gig-bag, Robb brings this expertise to his most recent role as head of the Northwest’s new recording label, PsycheDelta Records." - Michael Limnois 4/11/12 - Greek Blues Society, Blues.Gr

"He has performed for, arguably, more Portland music lovers than any musician in history.

He is considered one of the top acoustic and electric blues guitarists west of the Mississippi.

He is versatile enough to tour with diverse acts that have included classic rock icon Steve Miller; Woodstock headliner Canned Heat; three time Grammy Award winner Los Lobos, an American Chicano rock band; folk and American roots influenced songster Maria Muldaur - who sings on one of his nine albums - and blues legend Buddy Guy.

He is, according to ZZ Top guitarist frontman Billy Gibbons, the “Master of the Stratocaster.” When Gibbons is in Portland, he seeks out Robb's performances.....

He has won - an unprecedented 28 times - the Cascade Blues Association's highest honor, the Muddy Award." - Tim Curran 10/09 - The Mid County Memo

"Robb proudly bears the title of American primitive master.

Music aficionados recognize American Primitivism as a transitional style ranging between country blues and early 20th century string band. It is distinguished by complex finger-picking, which Robb deftly applies to both popular and traditional genres.

He has been called an heir to the late John Fahey, the founder of American Primitivism, who pioneered the steel string acoustic guitar as a solo instrument and greatly influenced other musicians with his pure, minimalist approach.

In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Fahey 35th on the its list of The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. Robb connected with Fahey in the early 1980s and collaborated with him on several albums over the next decade.

Described as one of those rare artists who is both a musician's musician and a tremendously popular performer, Robb is in high demand as a performing guitarist, studio guitarist, bandleader, composer, arranger, producer and teacher." - Karl Klooster 12/10/11 - Yamhill Valley News Register

From reviews of Resting Place:
“A finely crafted CD that defies categorization. Robb has a clean soulful style of picking the steel-stringed acoustic guitar… creates a pure joyous feeling that certainly attests to the healing power of the blues.” – Living Blues

“This is a great acoustic blues record! Deft & accurate fingerpicking combines with a lot of soul to make a record that expresses the blues much better than a lot of the showier players out there... This guy is one of the best.” –KRFP, Moscow, ID

“From the first listen, Robb’s guitar playing can blow you away… Resting Place is an acoustic guitarist's heaven.” –Vintage Guitar

“Terry Robb’s performance is flawless and mind-bending... It ties the Blues bond between Memphis and Portland and makes you realize that wherever he plays, Terry Robb is a master.” —Cascade Blues Association BluesNotes

From reviews of other Terry Robb projects:
“What distinguishes this recording (Let Go) is Robb’s superb production – Robb is an extraordinary, sympathetic accompanist to John Fahey." -Kurt Loder, Rolling Stone Magazine

"Robb’s album (Jelly Behind the Sun) gets better with each listening." -Guitar Player Magazine

"I sure love the way Terry plays that acoustic slide." -Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top)

"Robb has a naturally relaxed voice with a slight edge – his beautiful fingerpicking on guitar shows his indebtedness to John Hurt." -Blues and Rhythm Magazine, England

"Robb leans toward tight rhythm sounds in his arrangements, leaving a lot of space for his ample guitar work – the product of a strong player who ignores clichés." -Blues Review

"(Hit It and Quit It) One of the best blues albums of the year!" -Southland Blues

"Steve Miller took the stage halfway through the Robb-Salgado set and joined in on acoustic guitar. He picked some and grinned a lot but mostly seemed content playing rhythm behind Robb’s searing blues fingerpicking. Terry is a virtuoso on the acoustic blues guitar." -The Oregonian, Portland, OR

"From the opening notes of the CD (Stop This World), Terry Robb’s mastery of acoustic blues guitar genres is in evidence. This release will hold up to repeated listenings in your CD player." -Holler, Colorado Blues Society, Boulder, CO

"Terry Robb is one of a small number of American preservationists & a guitar master up with the best. " - Bluesfreepress.com

- Various Sources