As a child, one of my earliest memories is watching Mardi Gras parades and having the drum section pass by and just having that visceral feel of air moving as the bass drum was getting pounded or the snare drum was getting smacked.

I think that’s a reason why New Orleanians tend to kind of focus on rhythm a lot more than a lot of other places in the world. Rhythm is a very foundational thing. Even when your parents go out to see Mardi Gras parades before you’re born, you hear it in the wom...