Breezy Rodio If It Ain't Broke Don't Fix It Delmark Records

Breezy Rodio continues his upward climb with his second Delmark release, If It Ain’t Broke Don’t Fix It. The former guitatist for Linsey Alexander penned 10 of the 16 tracks and shows remarkable strides in his songwriting and performing, mixing Chicago blues with jump, swing, and jazz. Backed by a stellar unit that includes Sumito “Ariyo” Ariyoshi (piano), Dan Tabion (organ), Light Palone (bass), Lorenzo Francocci (drums) with a superb horn section (Constantine Alexander – trumpet, Ian Letts (alto/tenor sax), and Ian “The Chief” McGarrie (baritone sax), Rodio turns in his best effort to date.

The title track opens the disc, and it’s an intriguing combination of James Brown funk and Chicago blues shuffle (featuring harp from Simone “Harp” Nobile) with a ever-shifting tempo that works really well. “From Downtown Chicago to Biloxi Bay” is an easygoing shuffle with more great harp from Nobile, excellent fretwork from Rodio and Kid Andersen, and backing vocals from Corey Dennison. Rodio does a fine job with B.B. King’s splendid slow blues, “A Woman Don’t Care.” The mid-tempo “I’m A Shufflin’ Fool” is solid (with harp from Quique Gomez), and “A Minute Of My Kissing” is a rowdy old school rocker. “Look Me In The Eye” is a smooth, stylish swinger.

The soulful ballad “Desperate Lover” is next, and is followed by the autobiographical cut “Los Christianos,” a narrative which recounts Rodio’s time living in the Christianos district in Copenhagen. “Led To A Better Life” is a gospel-flavored tribute to the late Mike Ledbetter, who tragically passed away in early 2019. Rodio and Dennison share spirited lead vocals, with Rodio and Monster Mike Welch both taking inspired guitar solos. The ballad “Green And Unsatisfied” is another slow burner about a failing relationship, and the retro instrumental, “The Breeze,” finds Rodio channeling Albert Collins with some icy guitar work.

Rodio does a fine job, both vocally and on guitar, on the second B.B. King cover on the album, “I’ll Survive,”  and the jaunty “Pick Up Blues” features more tasty harp from Gomez. Meanwhile, “Dear Blues” serves as a tribute to all the blues artists who have inspired Rodio over the years as he plays guitar in the styles of Collins, Walker, and B.B. King during the song.

The Toots Hibbert reggae classic, “I Need Your Love,” gets a delightful soul ballad treatment, before Rodio closes with the lively “Another Day,” written by Earl Thomas.

A well-crafted set that never lags, If It Ain’t Broke Don’t Fix It should easily keep Breezy Rodio’s forward momentum going and earn him some well-deserved attention from blues fans.

--- Graham Clarke