CD Review – The CD Woodbury Band “Monday Night”
They call themselves The CD Woodbury Band but make no mistake this five piece band of seasoned pro’s is a fully collaborative unit and their new studio album Monday Night proves that the value of the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. This strong ten song set was recorded by Chip Butters at the REC Room studios; the band pays tribute to the happenings in this unique environment of live performance space and recording facility on the second line flavored “Monday Night.” CD calls out the vocal line “If the music makes me ,I’m gonna feel alright,” then the sax and guitar answer with a clever dual harmony line while the rhythm section cooks below then revving up to the solo trade off’s and dynamic twists and turns of a hyper danceable groove. Thus is the essence of the CD Woodbury band lead by the deft guitar work of journeyman Mr. Woodbury, who sings lead vocals on six tracks and hands the lead to sax man Mike Marinig and Drummer Don Montana for a couple each.
The hard luck narrative of “Pawn Shop,” feels genuine and autobiographical as Woodbury laments having to pawn his beloved Gibson 335 to pay the bills while the band churns on a classic slow blues adding clever ascending progressions to the form while he cries out one last time on that fat tone guitar. Montana gives us his best Gene Kruppa leading the band into the swinging “Ring A Ding,” captured in a natural aesthetic that makes the listener feel like you’re sitting right in the middle of the band. Marinig shows off his love of Steely Dan, on his witty progressive groover “Pleasure’s All Mine.” The real highlight of the album may be the final track “SauBall Blues,” a slow burner that features some skillful brush work from Montana, something of a lost art these days, the tasteful piano of Chris Kliemann, and slinky solos from Marinig and Woodbury.
Monday Night may be the right time and this album should propel the CD Woodbury Band, who has laboring the trenches for some time, right up to the next level.
Rick J Bowen