Garaj Mahal founding drummer Alan Hertz has officially left the group. Hertz has departed in order to focus on his work with jazz guitarist Scott Henderson in his trio. In turn, Garaj Mahal has announced that drummer Sean Rickman will complete the quartet. Rickman, who most recently appeared with Dapp Theory, also has gigged with Steve Coleman and Me’Shell Ndegeocello over the years. GM bassist Kai Eckhardt has known Rickman for some time and the two have shared the stage on multiple occasions. The group recently released w00t and will support the disc with a West Coast tour that begins on September 18 in Portland, OR at the Fez Ballroom.