Terry Robb & David Vest join forces for a bluesy CrissCross on their new full-length collaboration — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
Widely acclaimed guitarist Robb and lauded pianist Vest have individually crossed clubs, cities, and countries performing their rich and illustrious discographies to blues fans from north to south, east to west. Now the two musicians have joined forces for their debut album together. The fact that Vest and Robb sound like they’ve been joined at the hip for decades is a testament to how formidable both artists are. “Twelve originals, a mix of vocals and instrumentals,” is how the duo understatedly describe CrissCross. “In the tradition of Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell, Tampa Red and Georgia Tom, Lonnie Johnson and Blind John Davis.”
The leadoff single Long Gone Home is as rollicking and terrific as one could hope for, as Robb lays down an incredibly intricate bit of acoustic guitar work. It’s “unmatched virtuosity you almost take for granted because it’s never showy,” they say. Meanwhile, Vest, not to be outdone, matches him note for note on the piano as “a one-of-a-kind original who makes you believe it when he sings ‘Somebody must be walking on my grave.’ ” Far from the classic plodding of some great blues instrumentals, Long Gone Home has plenty of pep for its roughly 90 seconds. It’s a track that sees both Robb and Vest take boogie-woogie-leaning solos for great effect while their fellow musician keeps things rolling.
The song is just one standout from CrissCross. Other highlights include the fantastic boogie of Electra Jane, with Robb’s blazing fingerpicking complementing Vest’s toe-tapping, head-bobbing tickling of the ivories, each allowing the other to shine while forming a perfect chemistry together. Another keeper is the tranquil, contemplative Natural Facts, which welds classical music with the blues for surprisingly stellar results. It’s not your standard genre combination all that often, but both Robb and Vest tackle the song with verve and dexterity.
The tandem of Vest and Robb combines a wealth of experience and musicianship. Vest has shared the stage with the likes of Big Joe Turner, Bo Diddley and country legend Faron Young, among others. He has also won six Maple Blues Awards and five Muddy Awards. Meanwhile, Robb has worked with Diddley, Joe Cocker, Maria Muldaur, Johnny Winter and Steve Miller, among countless others. These collaborations are in addition to 19 Muddy Awards for Robb and membership in the Oregon Music Hall of Fame and the Cascade Blues Association Hall of Fame.
Vest was born in Alabama but has called Canada home for some time. On the other hand, Robb was born in Vancouver but has lived in Portland, Oregon for many years. In short, you have two blues legends with more than eight decades of experience combined. Put the two together, and as much as each has to offer individually, the sum is greater than the parts. Both Vest and Robb have individually had albums top various blues and roots music charts throughout their rich musical histories.
Listen to CrissCross below, find Terry Robb on his website, Facebook and Instagram, and get closer to David Vest on his website, Facebook and Instagram.
