Herlin Riley - second line style drumming

[cavulra]

That snare sounds heavenly, wow!

[rixpixstix]

Anybody that makes a comment that they dislike that video/audio is a nut job. That is truly a classic New Orleans style that no one can copy. Herlin Riley is one of New Orleans finest!

[Moosicles16]

1:08 too badass for drums.

[goldsmithexile]

This is really exquisite

[mexico992]

2:31 oh....there IS a bassist playing...

[goldsmithexile]

That was awesome! I love the variety in that little trap drum set.

[gmazel]

Tork!



[rv9810]

Saw Herlin play last night, the coolest guy to swing New Orleans.

[1larrydrums]

Who is that piano player? What a swingin session!!!!!!!

[rv9810]

Swingin a washboard.....yes.

[csrmanuel3]

is that nicholas payton on trumpet?

[peytonjmusic]

the trumpet player wasn't half bad as well!

[rockmusscarcella]

The joyfull of hear and play this music is simply amazing dude

[peytonjmusic]

herlin riley is an absolute beast

[permusikker]

you will just be in a good mood when you hear this music!!

especially the drum player :)

Greatings from Denmark

[imkontagious]

torkanowsky makes the piano sound like a banjo during that muted trumpet solo that was pretty sweet

[fign2345]

The best drummer that I've ever worked with. We played with Ahmad Jamal for a little over 4 years.

[TrabalRipoll]

This is the way in I would like to carry on living. With all this fabulous music beside me all the time. Excellent post!!!

[schnozz87]

This is the shiit!

[2010jazzyman]

He's just a beast!!

[57dogsbody]

I`m telling you Herlin is quite simply THE DOG`S BOLLOCKS !! That cat can make any ole thing GROOOOOVE .

[spacitydrummer4JC]

This video goes to show that you don't need twenty drums to make a song sound good.

[turnitback]

I have had it pointed out that the difference between Herlin Riley and the New Orleans drummers is not one of quality, but of style. Of course that is true, so my preceding post was off the mark.

[turnitback]

Thinking about it again, I wonder if this could be just TOO good. It is ultra-polished perfection that surely leaves the average drummer, including me, in awe. I hasten to add that I am no expert on the subject but I wonder if the old-time New Orleans drummers attained this level any more than their equipment could match today's equipment. I would be grateful to hear from those who know.

[turnitback]

Presumably this is much the same sort of setup that would have been used by the New Orleans musicians in the 1920s.

It's interesting to see a drummer using a minimal kit like this to such brilliant effect. I wonder how many more drummers got out on a gig these days without taking a hi-hat or tomoms (except as a table for the washboard).

[ande1718]

So Herlin Riley on drums, Nicholas Payton on Trumpet. Who are the other guys?

[emithband]

@ande1718 ...don't know the pianist,but I believe that's Chris Severin on upright bass...I played w' Chris in the late 80's into the '90's with Dr. John...Stevie Gurr...

[emithband]

@ande1718 ...and Dave Torkanowsky on piano...

[ArttalentsCom]

Now is that Funky !!! My that is so cool - spicy trumpet, such a great sound and that snare sure sure knows how to swing. Great piano solo!

Would love to see you guys

[CkSandwich]

I'm diggin' this.

[frenchadrian]

SUPERBOWL DAY!!!!!!!!

[JIMFISHES1]

I love his playing, I was fortunate enough to see him back in 88 while attending VSU, he was playing with Wynton Marsalis and the show was free (with a student I.D.)

[boogeymanhydrobudda]

I got to see a similar (i.e. free) concert with john clayton yesterday at my uni. blew me away. at one point riley was asked about his interpretation of the nawlins street beat. he showed us peice by peice the evolution of the street beat and how different players embellish it. such a deep and fascinating player.

[SinginTheBluesBlues]

I wonder why the other guys are wearing headphones and the drummer is not. What are they hearing that he isn't?

[phunkybis]

you are right good question i wonder why ?

[DoramuBoy]

They may be monitoring through the headphones or playing to a click track.

[EddieLandsberg]

The piano player and bass player are important parts of the rhythm section and they may not have been able to hear each other playing clearly over the drums... Bass acoustics are strange... you can be standing in one part of the room and barely hear yourself, and in another and its pumping... I play organ (meaning LH bass and soloing) and you can go nuts if you're playing and can't hear your own bass or your RH (chords and solo) sound out of balance, even if the rest of the room is o.k.

[boogeymanhydrobudda]

I was gonna comment, but then I saw you had already said it first! upvote

[SinginTheBluesBlues]

Great playing! And the great thing about this video is, It's Not Out of Sync!!!! like so many others on YouTube. Way to go!

[TwoLevelBeats]

I remember as a kid having another drum video, and they previewed other videos in the beginning, they showed from 3:09 - 3:25 I used to watch that part over and over again because I couldn't afford the video.

[29dave]

Yep, me too. Back in the 1980s and 1990s on DCI videos (Weckl, Chambers, Chad Smith, etc.) they would show that preview. Also they would show the Gene Krupa video clip, which was awesome.

[TwoLevelBeats]

oh yea that Krupa part was awesome. Yea I had the Chad Smith video, wish my mom had bought me this one lol

[MultiFatboi]

that is good drumming last time i went to new orleans was super sunday mp3 fo life

[jazzmessenger8]

I have that same washboard- shit I didn't know those babies could swing like that!!

[shadeofgrey07]

Look at that perfect posture. He makes it look effortless

[kingoliver45]

baby Baby Dodds!!! Mr Payton sounds great. It seems as though he steped away from this kind of jazz and Is playing almoust smooth jazz. Ick!!! We want the swingin nick p back !!!

[ceasarelloie]

I've been fortunate to see this guy perform on numerous occassions.You got to see him to believe it....He smiles ALL the time.He makes folks smile as they watch him play........

[JYD1]

Brother, Got a Feel for it

[rudeass]

Look at him smiling, you can see that he is an talented artist who truely loves his craft.

[shadegrownpicker]

i love this guy!

[liljjjj]

This guy played @ my old church In New Orleans, I met him a few times!

[Ericdrummer1]

Nice dixieland drumming. Good feel****

[cgDrums91]

haha, this is "oh didn't he ramble"

nice interpretation, great style.

i like this^^

[klikonojazz]

Baby Dodds, Paul Barbarin and Cie Frazier would shurly like him !!

[tubagirl93]

herlin riley rocks!!

[schnozz87]

so many drummer would learn a thousand lessons from watching Herlin's style. Especially those press rolls, a personal fave of mine.

[Wavingclouds]

This is from a great instructional video by Herlin. I am jealous of zazou who got to see them live. But it is great to see this again here. Bless you guys for keeping the music real.

[dretety]

This guy "swings a band" like the Titanic hittin' an ice berg...

[demonicdev]

I like that similie!!

[Wavingclouds]

This is from an excellent instructional video by Mr. Riley. Should be required in any drummers library.

[tamadw]

where can it be bought?

[Wavingclouds]

It was a DCI release out of Miami. But I bet some drum shops still have it.

[skurukutoi]

now THATS music

[madchops82]

loving herlin's beat.  Check out my vids

[NBadedyr]

MAN, I love Payton! Nice clip!!

[bapyou]

OK. Two things:

1. I've got a HUGE smile on my face.

2. My foot keeps hopping!

Awesome! <;-)

[metBANS]

Looks like someone got some soul over there!

[BOPPPPER]

Genius drummer! Also, where can I get more of this band?

[zazou1942]

One month ago, I have seen this trio [Chris Severin (bass) David Torkanowsky (piano) and Herlin] at Snug Harbor in New Orleans. This trio used to play with Dianne Reeves in the 1990s.

[adamgoodhue]

Herlin Riley should be a household name!

[thresherpete]

The trumpeter is Nicholas Payton.