A few months ago, Modern Drummer started a series of feature interviews called the Gumbo Groove with Mark Griffith’s interview with Johnny Vidacovich. For this next part in the series, we feature a conversation between drummer and Professor of Percussion at Southern University, Herman Jackson, and Keeper of the New Orleans Flame, Herlin Riley. Herman’s career has ranged from Joe Tex, Professor Longhair, Chuck Berry, and Boz Scaggs to Clark Terry, Eddie Harris, Wynton, Branford, and Ellis Marsalis, and Kenny Barron. He can be heard on bassist Randy Jackson’s recent recording Randy Jackson’s Music Club. Herlin Riley has held prestigious (and longtime) gigs with the legendary Ahmad Jamal and Wynton Marsalis and is featured on over 30 recordings with Marsalis. Herlin has played on several other recordings as a sideman and has released quite a few records under his own name including his most recent Perpetual Optimism. Today, Herlin Riley […]

January 2025 Issue