New Super Group Alert: Introducing Bernard Purdie & Friends

If you’re of the opinion the phrase “super group” is thrown around too easily, here’s one that shouldn’t offend: Bernard Purdie & Friends. The legendary drummer, known for his work on such classic singles as Aretha Franklin’s “Until You Come Back to Me,” the Five Stairsteps’ “O-o-h Child,” Hall and Oates’ “She’s Gone” and “Kid Charlemagne” by Steely Dan has put together a band that also features bassist Pete Shand of The New Mastersounds, Pimps Of Joytime frontman Brian J and Dumpstaphunk keyboardist Ivan Neville.

On September 30 Bernard Purdie & Friends will make their debut at the inaugural Bear Creek Bayou Music Festival at Mardi Gras World in New Orleans. But wait, there’s more…as per Offbeat, “Pretty” Purdie & Co. have “recorded a full album of original material at Brooklyn’s Vibromonk Studio over the summer. The group plans to release the record, which was co-produced by Brian J and Shand, in the spring of 2017.”

Bernard “Pretty” Purdie recently completed a series of four shows with jam scene festival staples Vulfpeck in which the band recruited the drummer to play on a number of his biggest hits including “Kid Charlemagne,” “MMMbop” and “O-o-h Child.”

Watch Walter Becker and Donald Fagen of Steely Dan discuss Bernard Purdie: