Herlin Riley and Friends
Dizzy's Club102 Columbus Circle, New York 10107
Herlin Riley and Friends brings Riley’s quartet to Dizzy’s Club for a late set built around the joyful spirit of New Orleans. The drummer leads a high-energy program that moves among his original music, jazz standards, blues, and soulful vocals. The billed “Friends” are not individually named, but the evening is presented as a quartet performance shaped by Riley’s melodic touch, masterful swing, deep tradition, and firm sense of groove.
Riley is a New Orleans drummer known for bringing melodic detail to the drum kit as well as for his swing. His career includes performances with Wynton Marsalis and Ahmad Jamal, two connections that place him in conversation with major figures in modern jazz. Here, that experience feeds a set designed less as a historical survey than as a living, celebratory expression of the New Orleans tradition: rhythm-forward, song-conscious, and open to standards and blues alongside Riley’s own writing.
Dizzy's Club offers a refined jazz experience with a seating capacity of about 140, where guests enjoy live performances from world-class musicians in a room that frames sweeping views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline. The venue features a full bar and a seasonal menu with sophisticated soul food, enhancing the evening beyond just the music. Shows are ticketed and typically run two sets per night, with late-night sessions available without reservation. The seating is generally first-come, first-served, encouraging early arrival for the best vantage points. The club’s location within Jazz at Lincoln Center places it in a lively cultural hub, making it ideal for a night that blends attentive listening with the pleasure of fine dining and cityscape views.