Jano Rix, best known as one-third of Grammy Award-nominated trio The Wood Brothers, and his father, veteran drummer Luther Rix, whose career includes work with Bob Dylan’s Rolling Thunder Revue, Leonard Cohen, and Ten Wheel Drive among numerous others, have joined forces on record for the first time. Simply calling themselves RIX, the father/son duo will release their debut album, Legacy, Vol. 1, a collaboration more than 12 years in the making, on November 7 via RPF Records/Royal Potato Family. The collection’s first single, “Blow Wind Blow,” a rendition of the classic Huey “Piano” Smith song, adapted from the arrangement recorded by Dr. John on his 1972 recording, Gumbo, is out now (Listen/Share).
"This album celebrates the legacy, the shared feel, groove, songs and love of music that he passed down to me," says Jano. "We have everything from songs my dad wrote in the ‘70s, to songs we wrote together, to songs he passed down to me when I was little that I played on my Fisher Price record player like 'Blow Wind Blow.' It's just the two of us, singin’ and playin’ everything. There’s a certain feel we share. We’re excited to capture that and finally share it on record.”
RIX initially began recording in Nashville at Southern Ground Studios, shortly after it reopened under Zac Brown's ownership. From there, sessions unfolded slowly and organically. Whenever touring and gigging schedules aligned, the two would meet to track another song, add a vocal, or capture a live performance. This approach resulted in an album that is both loose and deeply locked-in, reflecting their easy musical rapport.
Legacy, Vol. 1 features a mix of Luther's vintage compositions—some dating back to the '70s, like the instrumental "Strangely Blue," written during his time in Ten Wheel Drive—alongside inspired covers. Highlights include first single "Blow Wind Blow," a Dr. John classic that traces back to Jano’s childhood listening to his dad's copy of Gumbo, and "All Kinds," a deep cut penned by singer-songwriter Dan Wilson, which Jano discovered during his years playing with the Gabe Dixon Band.
Throughout, the duo's feel and organic compatibility are front-and-center, whether on the humid funk ballad "Lovin' You Is Easy" or the melancholic island groove of "I Ain’t Dancin'.” Another standout, "Down And Nylon," is a stripped-down live performance captured at Brooklyn’s since shuttered Southpaw club with the duo slimmed down to just drums and keys. Across five-and-a-half minutes, the track sways from a rollicking New Orleans-style stomp to Band-like country funk. “Oop," a peppy three-minute soul-funk instrumental, saunters along amidst a stack of keyboards and piano that dart and race around the bedrock of Luther's percussion. "Sci-Fi Finale" wraps the proceedings with dubbed-out drumming and an ominous piano counterpoint, welcoming the weird as the record spins to a close.
Between them, Jano and Luther bring decades of musical experience. Luther's career has taken him from work with rock 'n' roll legends such as Dylan and Cohen to symphonies, Broadway pits, and Schoolhouse Rock! sessions. Jano’s multi-instrumental work has been central to The Wood Brothers' acclaimed Americana sound, while he has produced records for artists such as Seth Walker, Steve Poltz, Oliver Wood, Upstate, and Chris Kasper. Yet Legacy, Vol. 1 is their most personal statement, made not to chase trends or charts but to capture their shared love of music, document a unique family bond, and embrace the spirit of their shared groove.
"From the first note, we realized we feel time and groove in nearly the exact same way," says Jano. "I never have to think about how we’ll connect—it just happens. That’s rare, and it comes from a lifetime of hearing him play, sitting behind his drums at gigs, and sharing the same musical language. This was about honoring what we share."
"I always enjoyed playing with Jano, and I think he enjoyed playing with me," concludes Luther, laughing. "We always played well together, so it was natural to want to record it and put it out for people to hear."
RIX - Legacy, Vol. 1
Track Listing
1. Blow Wind Blow
2. I Ain’t Dancin’
3. Down And Nylon (Live at Southpaw)
4. All Kinds
5. Lovin’ You Is Easy
6. Melodica
7. Oop
8. Lazy Love
9. Strangely Blue
10. Folk Song
11. Sci-Fi Finale
Legacy, Vol. 1 is out November 7 on 180-gram vinyl and digital formats. Pre-order / Pre-save available here.
