Jano Rix is best known as the multi-talented drummer and instrumentalist for The Wood Brothers, the Grammy-nominated trio consisting of Jano and siblings Oliver and Chris Wood. Jano joined the group in 2010 and for the past 15 years has helped elevate the band to the top of the Americana and roots music scene. But his work with The Wood Brothers is only part of the story.
Jano’s formal musical education was developed at the University of Miami where he studied jazz piano performance. Perhaps his most important and influential musical education, however, was developed outside the classroom and at the feet of another accomplished drummer and percussionist: his father.
Luther Rix is a man the most ardent of musical fans have almost certainly heard, but perhaps not heard of. That is because he does not seek the limelight, but rather propels others into it, such as Bette Midler, Mary Travers (Peter, Paul and Mary), Leonard Cohen, Ten Wheel Drive, and most notably, Bob Dylan as part of Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue.
Over twelve years of recording in the making, Luther and Jano have finally put the finishing touches on their debut album Legacy, Vol. 1. The album features eleven tracks, blending original compositions with a couple of carefully selected covers. Some originals, like “Strangely Blue,” date back to Luther’s tenure with Ten Wheel Drive in the 1970s, while the covers include “Blow Wind Blow,” a Huey “Piano” Smith song reinterpreted from Dr. John’s Gumbo album, and “All Kinds” by singer-songwriter Dan Wilson.
Overall, the album exudes a distinctive New Orleans undertone, evident in both piano arrangements and rhythmic grooves. Echoes of artists such as Harry Connick Jr., Allen Toussaint, and Dr. John can be heard, yet those stylings merely serve as inspiration for the album’s sound rather than a direct imitation.
Above all else, though, the album is fantastic. There is a connection between Jano and Luther that is more than familial. As Jano has noted, he and his father “feel time and groove in nearly the exact same way.” It shows. If the love created and shared through a father-son bond could be heard, it would be this album.
Standout tracks include the tender and beautiful “All Kinds” sung by Jano, the funky “Blow Wind Blow” sung by Luther, and “Down and Nylon” – a live track recorded at Brooklyn’s Southpaw club. Jano cites the latter as his favorite, with Luther describing it as “just smoking.” It sure is. The song captures a lively New Orleans vibe with keys that shuffle and dance between Jano’s falsetto and Luther’s drums. It is funky, but with a cool restraint.
There are also several standout instrumental tracks on the album, two of which absolutely rip, namely “Melodica” and “Oop.” Another is “Strangely Blue,” a slow, burning instrumental that evokes a noir-like image of a silent walk beneath the flickering glow of old streetlights that cast long shadows along an empty street.
Legacy, Vol. 1 is out now on the independent record label, Royal Potato Family. You can grab your copy on vinyl here.
Meanwhile, Jano is currently on tour with The Wood Brothers to support their latest release, Puff of Smoke. To find tour dates near you and to learn more about the latest release, head to the band’s website.
