It’s not an overstatement: New Orleans drummers have profoundly influenced the world’s groove. They are an elite breed of musical samurai, the “Jedi” of 20th century music, working behind the scenes to keep the “Dark Side,” a.k.a. bland, soulless music, at bay.

Idris Muhammad is one of the most influential drummers to come out of this tradition. From his teenage days in the ’50 playing with Art Neville and the Hawkettes to current collaborations with some of the world’s finest jazz artists...