CD Reviews

"Muddyvishnu"

Terry Robb

PsycheDelta Records

This is an incredible recording by Terry Robb that displays his adeptness behind all things guitar. Muddyvishnu is a mostly instrumental album and explores realms far beyond just the blues. It reaches into the heavens on tracks that sound like they have been lifted directly from the solar system. All played with seemingly ease, which always seems to be the case when Terry straps on his instrument. Highly intricate material that you know must have taken endless hours to piece together, but in his hands and mind it is almost like it’s second nature. It is not a disc that is aimed toward blues, jazz or rock fans, but I can see its appealing to each.

Terry utilizes his main band for all but two tracks on this disc. Adam Scramstad on second guitar, Jeff Minnick on drums and bassist Dave Kahl. They flow together naturally on everything, having worked with each other so often that they seem to have an instinct on just where Terry is going at any moment. This may not always seem to be such an easy feat to those watching or listening to him play.

Terry wrote seven of the eleven numbers himself. Jeff Minnick penned one track, “Worried About It Now,” that features the sole vocals by Terry on the disc and the late cartoonist/musician John Callahan adds his words and voice to “Overdose” while Albert Reda and Dennis Carter provide the rhythm section. There are two cover tracks, “Idle Moments” by jazz master Duke Pearson, and an instrumental take on Tommy Johnson’s “Lonesome Home” which has a new life all its own that the blues man would probably never recognize as it stretches boundaries. Muddyvishnu closes with one of the two solo cuts by Terry, “The Refreshing,” offering a crisp acoustical rag that seems to be like a sorbet meant to leave you with a nice flavor in your mouth after consuming so much delectable courses beforehand. It is like a little lagniappe that fits just right with your appetite.

The variation of the selections is a huge collage that compliments one another and makes for some seriously enjoyable listening. In fact, the guitar playing is beautiful and magnificent. Spot on target with every note on every cut. Terry Robb lights a fire on his frets and delivers with emotion. Is it the efforts of a pure genius or is it maybe just magic? Whatever has sparked such creativity, I like it, give us more!

Total Time: 45:32

Muddyvishnu / But Yeah / Idle Moments / All Night And Morning Too / Lonesome Home / Worried About It Now / Ju Ju / Overdose / Sheriff Brown / Sweet Hip / The Refreshing

Reviewed by Greg Johnson