With his latest release, 'Bulldog', Pacific Northwest blues titan Clint CD Woodbury finally steps out from the sideman shadows to prove why he’s a Washington Blues Society Hall of Famer. Backed by the lean, mean rhythm section of Robert Baker and Bill Ray, Woodbury delivers an eleven-track masterclass that snarls, swings, and occasionally bites.
The album provides a strong mix of three originals and eight reimagined covers that showcase Woodbury’s ability as a versatile vocalist, guitarist and songwriter. He launches the album by romping through the blues noir of Michael Pickett’s ‘Wicked Grin’ with a menacing edge.
Paying homage to the legends that inspired his music, Woodbury offering a muscular tribute to Albert King on ‘Born Under A Bad Sign’ and a psychedelic nod to Cream on ‘Politician’ (complete with guitar work mimicking arguing politicians). The real skill here lies in Woodbury’s ability to rework these classics and make them his own. He transforms Elvis’s ‘Little Sister’ into a swampy shuffle and converts James Brown’s ‘I Feel Good’ into a jazz-inflected, number that highlights his sophisticated phrasing.
Woodbury’s considerable guitar skills shine across the record as he effortlessly mixes blues, funk and rock, and backed by his punchy rhythm section, the trio deliver an authentic melodic sound that’s guaranteed to make the listener boogie.
The original tracks on the album stand up well alongside the classics. Woodbury’s observational skills are highlighted on ‘Gaslight Road’, while he shows a lighter side on the acoustic ‘Dollar Store Readers’ where he finds humour in the reality of old age.
Closing the record, ‘(Call Me The) Bulldog’ is a high-swagger humorous song that raises a smile or two as the lyrics unfold.
‘Bulldog’ is an infectious listen from beginning to end.