BIO

Brian Richburg Jr. is a drummer, producer, and composer whose sound captures the pulse of New Orleans while pushing its rhythmic legacy into the future. Known for his distinctive grooves and fearless creativity, Brian bridges the city’s deep-rooted traditions with the ever-evolving sound of modern music.

Raised in New Orleans, Brian began drumming at age four in his father’s church. His early passion and natural skill led him to study under NEA Jazz Master Donald Harrison Jr., whose mentorship profoundly shaped his artistic voice. During high school, Brian was named a National YoungArts Winner and U.S. Presidential Scholars Program candidate. Brian also was the recipient of the prestigious 2016 ASCAP Louis Prima Award. Even before graduating, he toured nationally with Grammy Award–winner Nicholas Payton.

Brian received scholarships to both Berklee College of Music and The Juilliard School, and has since performed and recorded with an impressive list of artists, including Wynton Marsalis, Jon Batiste, Chief Adjuah, Moses Sumney, Jack Harlow, Joss Stone, Donald Harrison Jr., Ellis Marsalis, Cautious Clay, and Samora Pinderhughes, among others.

As the founder of his band New Legaxy, Brian continues to expand the rhythmic language of his hometown—connecting the ancestral beats of New Orleans with the sounds of now. His recent performances include a guest appearance with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra for the premiere of Africa, and a featured spot in Lincoln Center’s Art Bath series.

With every project, Brian Richburg Jr. redefines what it means to carry the New Orleans tradition forward: not by preservation alone, but through innovation and groove.