Sitting at the vanguard of the New Orleans drum legacy is Joe Dyson. As a mainstay drummer for almost two decades, Joe has worked with Donald Harrison, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Xian aTunde Adjuah, and Grammy Award winners Sullivan Fortner, Nicholas Payton, and Pat Metheny.

His musical talents have afforded him the opportunity to travel extensively across six continents. He has appeared on 35 albums, with his most recent releases including Pat Metheny’s Side Eye III+ (Primary Wave/Uniquity Music, 2026), Jaleel Shaw’s Painter of the Invisible (Changu Records, 2025), and Lauren Henderson’s Sombras (Brontosaurus Records, 2024).

In addition to touring and recording, Dyson has made appearances on the HBO hit series Treme. He can also be heard on the movie soundtrack to Rachel Getting Married by the late, Oscar-winning director Jonathan Demme.

He has taught combos, master classes, and given lectures throughout the U.S. and Europe, and currently holds a position as an adjunct professor at the New School for Jazz & Contemporary Music.

Moreover, Joe leads his own band, performing music from his debut album Look Within (Independent, 2021) and his upcoming release, Continuum.