_Azumi Oe_

Legendary drummer Bernard “Pretty” Purdie will introduce his new supergroup, Bernard Purdie & Friends, when the collective plays New Orleans’ Bear Creek Bayou Music Festival on September 30.

The group consists of Purdie, Dumpstaphunk keyboardist Ivan Neville, New Mastersounds bassist Pete Shand and Pimp’s of Joytime guitarist Brian J. As OffBeat reports, the quartet has also recorded a full album this summer, utilizing Brooklyn’s Vibromonk Studio and the production talents of Brian J and Shand. That record is expected to be released in the spring.

Purdie has worked with countless artists in his storied tenure as a drummer and studio musician, including Aretha Franklin, for whom he was musical director in the early-‘70s, James Brown, Steely Dan, Dizzy Gilespie, B.B. King, Hall & Oates, Herbie Hancock and more.

Below, watch a video of Purdie playing with another group of Friends at this year’s Fiya Fest at New Orlean’s Mardi Gras World, the same venue where Bear Creek Bayou will take place at the end of this month. At the previous event, Purdie took the stage with a band that included bassist Oteil Burbridge, Meters guitarist Leo Nocentelli, vocalist Erica Falls and more.