“I want to live in a world where my glass is always half full!” That’s the inspiring maxim of veteran New Orleans drummer Herlin Riley. On his second Mack Avenue Records release, ‘Perpetual Optimism’, the longtime anchor of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra preaches his silver-lined gospel on 10 tracks whose joyous spirit and contagious swing are sure to convert any listener to the bright side.

’Perpetual Optimism’ reunites the quintet of rising stars that Riley assembled for his Mack Avenue Records debut, ‘New Direction’. Since the release of that acclaimed album, all four of Riley’s bandmates - trumpeter Bruce Harris, saxophonist Godwin Louis, pianist Emmet Cohen, and bassist Russell Hall - have been making major waves across the modern jazz scene, attesting to the master drummer’s Art Blakey-like ear for talent and sage musical guidance.