Terry Robb and his 19 Best Acoustic Guitar awards play KVMR’s intimate Community Room
The Union, Activities and Events | April 11, 2019
Steve Baker
Special to Prospector
“OK, now here’s a guy who has won awards so many times in a row that they finally gave up and named the darned thing after him.
That’d be Terry Robb, who nabbed the Muddy Award for Best Acoustic Guitar for 19, count ‘em, 19 years in succession from its inception in 1992 to 2011, from the Cascade Blues Association in the blues-crazy Portland, Oregon area, where the Canadian-born musician grew up and lives.
So they gave in and renamed it, duh, the Terry Robb Acoustic Guitar Muddy Award. No surprise, in 2017, he won the Muddy Award for Lifetime Achievement. The award name is safe. You can only win it once.
Anyway, that Terry Robb guy is off on tour in support of his forthcoming new album, “Confessin’ My Dues,” including a Nevada City date this Sunday (April 14) in an intimate house concert date at the KVMR Community Room (population 30) and on a live broadcast 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. (89.5 FM, 105.1 FM Truckee, kvmr.org streaming).
Tickets are available online at kvmr.org/events for the performance at the station in downtown Nevada City.
For a guy who played early on with stalwarts of the Frank Zappa Band, Captain Beefheart, Canned Heat and then impressed guitar wizard John Fahey (so much so that Fahey had him produce some of his own most critically acclaimed albums) — well, what the heck is he doing here?
RADIO BELIEVER
“Terry’s always been a believer in community radio,” said concert producer and KVMR blues broadcaster Thom Myers. “You don’t know how lucky we are he’s able to do this.”
And just how special it’ll be simply to be in that audience. Again, 30 max, up close and personal, watching and listening to a member of the Oregon Music Hall of Fame.
“Finger gawkers flood to his shows … unquestionably, Robb ranks right up there with the heavy hitters, a player of dazzling skill and technique,” said Living Blues critic Frank Matheis. “He could go to any guitar festival and show them a few chords.”
Sure, but …
“From classic masters to current blues wizards, we’ve rounded up an inspiring assembly of blues masters really laying it down on acoustic guitar … Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, Tommy Emmanuel … and Terry Robb,” noted the Acoustic Nation column in Guitar World.
Hey, this guy is beginning to sound pretty darn good, even if it’s only print.
BLUES REVUE REVIEW
Well, ask Genevieve Williams of Blues Revue.
“Whether sliding or fingerpicking, his technique is clean and articulate; no matter how busy the material gets,” she wrote. “It never sounds crowded or overblown.”
He’ll be playing and talking about pieces on the his latest “Confessin’ My Dues” album as well. That’s where he’s hoping it’ll “captivate listeners with its melodic and rhythmic invention and musical virtuosity,” according to Robb’s website, aptly titled terryrobb.com.
“Sonically, I wanted the album to both be both intimate and powerful,” recalled Robb. “From jazz enthusiasts to blues aficionados, to lovers of Americana and instrumental guitar, ‘Confessin’ My Dues’ offers something for everyone.”
Drawing from the well of country blues to Coltrane, ragtime to Hendrix, Americana to American Primitivism, “Confessin’ My Dues” represents a lifetime of musical experiences and influences for Robb. “I wanted a modern take on familiar themes without leaving tradition behind,” said Robb.
“Every release that Terry Robb puts out is a cause to celebrate,” added Greg Johnson, president of the Cascade Blues Association. “There are not many guitarists in the blues or any genre that you can come by that are as detailed and clever with their creativity. ‘Confessin’ My Dues’ is yet another example of Terry Robb doing what he does best – leaving us with a sense of awe and joy with every note he plays. It’s a winning formula that continues to lead the pack.”
And, repeat, it’s in the KVMR Miss Rumphius’ Community Room this Sunday night and broadcast live on KVMR 89.5 FM as well.”