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Puga, drums, Dan Ferguson, keyboards; Bob Trenchard, bass; Andy Roman, tenor and alto sax;
Nick Flood, baritone and tenor sax; Mike Middleton trumpet and Frank Otero, trombone.

Sitting in the producer’s chair is Zac Harman, who also provides guitar on three numbers. The
first of the ten numbers here is the warmly welcoming, brass driven ‘Skin Game’, Derricks’
suitably flowing mellow vocals are a splendid match for the raw, urging and ringing guitar
work, while the entwining vocals and music invitingly draw you in. On ‘Hello Mojo’, the party
continues with a somewhat loose rumba beat while Derrick’s attractively percolating
keyboards allow splendid solos from saxophonist Peter Neumer and trombone player Steve
Duncan. The strutting keyboard and punchy brass driven ‘Broken Promise’, features a suitably
melancholy mood changing harmonica from Derrick. An emotive, late night, regret filled floor
sweeper is ‘Baby I’m Lost’; the slow burning tale of woe is heightened by thoughtfully
restrained vocals and harmonica throughout. ‘The Colour Of An Angel’, is a fine, laid-back soul
filled ballad, where Derrick’s almost floating, mellow vocal is cushioned upon splendidly,
slightly burring, burning organ work. A very interesting cover is the old Kinks number ‘Who’ll
Be The Next In Line’, this is delivered as a captivatingly, strolling city blues, with sweet mellow
striding horns leading you along.

Lost love lives!

Brian Harman

Breezy Rodio—Underground Blues—Windchill / Bloos
Records BLO-15

Originally from Rome, Italy, singer/guitarist Fabrizio (Breezy)
Rodio began his American blues journey in the early 2000’s when
he arrived in New York but, found the allure of blues in Chicago
irresistible. His club circuit, playing came to the attention of
guitarist Guy King who soon became his mentor. He later was
invited to join Linsey ‘The Hoochie Man’ Alexander’s band; his
evident skills so impressed that he became Linsey’s bandleader.
His debut album ‘Playing My Game Too’ was released in 2011.

This is his latest release, one in which renowned Texas guitarist Anson Funderburgh sits in the
producer’s chair, Anson, also plays on two numbers. Joining Breezy, vocals/guitar and Anson in
the Wire recording studios in Austin, Texas, are Johnny Bradley; bass, Daniel C. Tabion; piano
and organ, Lorenzo Francocci; drums and Josh Fulero on harmonica. ‘Half Way In The Devil’s
Gate’, is the first of the fourteen numbers here. The rich deep hypnotic sound that emanates
from Anson’s slow paced guitar is almost a jazz groove; as it draws you in, the slowly bubbling,
singeing organ work and low down vocal pours over your ears, relaxing and easing your mind.

The late night tramping percussion and jolly rolling and falling piano feel of ‘C.H.I.C.A.G.O.’, is
complimented by a very weary, breathy melancholy harmonica that is well underpinned by a
richly evocatively tightly ringing guitar. ‘Underground Blues’, is a lively, tightly wound stinging
guitar piece, the tramping percussion is evocatively interspersed with a burning, howling
harmonica and organ partnership, while Breezy almost, delivers a narration type vocal. The
warmly slow burning blues of ‘Lightning Strike’, features some splendidly measured, thoughtful
rich resonating guitar work. The jaunty rolling and tumbling harmonica and piano led
instrumental ‘Asymptomatics’, takes you right back to the Chess label of the fifties, this could
almost be a Willie Dixon number in its swinging levity. Whereas ‘Let Me Go’, is quite simply a
slow, burning guitar and organ plea to be left alone to suffer heartache in silence. Friendo,’ is an