Herlin Riley & Friends

Herlin Riley - Drums

Charles Elam (Chucky C) – Saxophone, Vocals, Flute, Harmonica

Kyle Roussel – Piano

Max Moran – Bass

Herlin Riley

Herlin Riley is a native of New Orleans, and a member of a very musical family (the Lastie Family). Today he’s considered to be one of the most premier and prolific drummers in the world. The range of his musical experiences and drumming skills make Herlin a “first-call” for performers, recording artists and teaching engagements throughout the country and the world.

Herlin started on the drums when he was three years old, played trumpet throughout high school, then went back to drums after college. Soon thereafter he began getting more calls to play drums than trumpet, so in the early 80’s, Herlin switched to playing the drums exclusively and was called to London, Australia and Europe to play in a 1920’s musical style called “One Mo Time”. Immediately upon his return, Herlin received got the call to play with trumpeter Al Hirt’s band, and 5 years with jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal followed.

In 1988, Herlin was invited to play with Wynton Marsalis’ Quintet, which augmented to a septet and later became The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. As a member of the LCJO, Riley played a large role in developing the drum parts for Wynton’s Pulitzer Prize-winning album “Blood On The Fields”. Herlin has also played and/or recorded with Harry Connick Jr., Jon Batiste, George Benson, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Dianne Reeves, Cassandra Wilson, Ruth Brown, Dr. John, Cubanismo, McCoy Tyner, John Clayton, Dee Daniels, Ambrose Akinmusire, Junko Onishi, Yutaka Shiina, Rufus Reid, Ellis Marsalis, Steve Turre, Branford Marsalis and many more. Locally, Riley and fellow New Orleans drummers Shannon Powell and Jason Marsalis formed a group called The New Orleans Groove Masters. The Groove Masters recorded a single entitled “Get Back” during the COVID pandemic in 2020.

Herlin is also an educator and lecturer in jazz drumming and percussion; he was an adjunct professor at the Bienen School Of Music at Northwestern University, The Julliard School Of Music in New York, and in The University Of New Orleans’ Jazz Studies program. He has released four recordings as a leader: Watch What You’re Doing and Cream Of The Crescent on the Criss Cross Jazzlabel, and New Direction and Perpetual Optimism on the Mack Avenue label.

Herlin Riley has been called “The Baron Of The Boom Boom and the Pulse that keeps the life flowing through any body of work”.

Kyle Roussel

Kyle Roussel is a dynamic example of a modern New Orleans musician forging his own path while collaborating with a variety of musical masters. A graduate of the famed New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and the University of New Orleans began playing the piano at age nine; studying classical music before moving on to perform in church and explore jazz in his teenage years. These days, Kyle is equally adept in the worlds of jazz, classical, funk, gospel, rhythm and blues, and rock- his diverse influences shaping his personal musical identity and providing inspiration at every turn. Kyle currently performs all around the US, with other engagements taking him all over Europe, Asia, South America, Australia, and Africa with stalwarts such as Irma Thomas, Jon Batiste, Tyler Perry, Christian Scott, The Headhunters, Terence Blanchard, Lauren Daigle, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, John Boutte, Kermit Ruffins, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band,  Donald Harrison Jr., Herlin Riley, Delfeayo Marsalis, Victor Goines, Tank and the Bangas, Shannon Powell, James Rivers, Bonerama, Glen David Andrews, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Mia Borders, Topsy Chapman, Roland Guerin, Khris Royal and Windell Brunious. One thing is clear to anyone who is paying attention: Kyle Roussel has only just begun to leave his mark on the world of music. Stay tuned.

Chucky C

Charles Elam III, a/k/a Chucky C, is the kind of journeyman saxophonist who can easily take the lead role in a back-up band for a headlining artist or MC an opening set and leave listeners wondering, “Just who IS that saxophone cat? He’s pretty darn good all on his own.” And it’s true, whether backing a well-known recording artist or fronting his own combo, Chucky C is truly a standout.

Chucky’s list of performing and recording credits is pretty amazing, and includes local and international heavyweights like Percy Mayfield, O.V. Wright and Syl Johnson; Edie Brickell, Maria Muldaur, and Bo Diddley; Irma Thomas, Marva Wright, Marcia Ball, Tracy Nelson, Aaron Neville and many more.

Max Moran

Max Moran is a Louisiana-born musician and composer who has become a first-call bassist across several genres in New Orleans’ thriving music scene. Known for his versatility on electric bass, upright bass, and synthesizer, Moran provides a solid, soulful foundation to a number of classic and progressive bands. Performing since the age of thirteen, Max Moran spent over ten years as the bassist of jazz master Donald Harrison and has also shared the stage with artists such as Davell Crawford, Leo Nocentelli (The Meters), Bernie Worrell (Parliament/ Funkadelic), and Grammy nominees Christian Scott and Jamison Ross.

His band Neospectric features a rotating cast of over a dozen of New Orleans' most exciting and virtuosic young instrumentalists whose collective sideman credits include Jonathan Batiste, Big Sam's Funky Nation, and Solange.

Moran also co-leads the award-winning Bridge Trio along with drummer Joe Dyson and pianist Conun Pappas. The Bridge Trio has performed at prestigious venues such as The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, has released two self-produced albums, and has received awards from National Public Radio.

As a student of mentors Donald Harrison and Alvin Batiste, and as a full scholarship student at the Berklee College of Music, Moran has gained an understanding that allows him to excel in a diverse array of musical settings with creativity and stylistic authenticity. Moran has also studied with Pulitzer nominated composer and educator, Roger Dickerson, whose former students include Jay Weigel and Terrance Blanchard. Having honed his composing skills under the tutelage of Dickerson, Moran has scored award winning short films, podcasts and commercials, some of which have been featured in national film festivals and on PBS and other networks.

Herlin Riley & Friends

Saturday, April 30, 2022

Doors: 7:30PM

Show: 8:00PM

Tickets: $35

Café Istanbul

2372 St. Claude Avenue

New Orleans, LA

The Fine Print:

By purchasing a ticket to this event, the buyer agrees to be filmed, videotaped and/or otherwise recorded for possible inclusion in webcast, digital download, DVD and/or CD release, and/or any other exploitation of the event without limitation or compensation of any kind, and agrees to allow organizers to use his/her image and/or likeness without limitation or compensation of any kind.

ALL SALES ARE FINAL. LINEUP SUBJECT TO CHANGE. WRISTBANDS WILL NOT BE REPLACED ONCE ISSUED. NO REFUNDS OR EXCHANGES.

By purchasing this ticket, you confirm to the maximum extent permitted by law that (1) you understand and voluntarily assume all risks associated with attending this performance, including but not limited to COVID-19, and (2) you covenant not to sue Café Istanbul Nightfest, Poolside Presents, Herlin Riley or any related persons or entities in connection with any such risks.

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