Chris DeRosa

Chris DeRosa is a Professional Freelance Drummer/Producer/Composer who currently lives in New York City, although his experience has taken him to many parts of the world (over 45 countries). Chris was born in New Haven, Connecticut but for a time lived in nearby Guilford where he took up the drums at 11. At a very young age Chris was mesmerized by the sounds of the ecm record label he would hear pouring out of his radio on WPKN’s late night Jazz program. He was fortunate enough to get a scholarship to attend the ACES Educational Center for the Arts (ECA) High School and at 16 studied with NTSU famed Drum set Professor Ed Soph while on sabbatical in Connecticut.
By Chris’ senior year in High School he was playing and performing with The Five Satins with whom he opened up for Chuck Berry at the Nassau Coliseum (at 18 years of age). Prior to that his 1st steady professional gig was with the local New Haven, Connecticut top 40 band Horizon (at 15 years of age). Chris’ 1st professional recording session was with the Neapolitan singer Benny Del Mare (at 17 years of age) for the album “Ménage A Te” recorded @Trod Nossel studio in Hamden, Connecticut. This recording led to Chris performing at many concerts and outdoor festivals throughout the Connecticut region with L’anima Benny’s backup band.
As a well-versed Seasoned Drummer Chris has studied at both the Berklee College of Music where he received the prestigious Buddy Rich Jazz Masters scholarship and at the University of Miami where he was the recipient of the Bowman Ashe scholarship for artistic and academic achievement. There he also received his Studio Music/Jazz Performance degree. While in Miami Chris was further influenced by the rhythms from both Jamaica and Cuba that continued to shape his sound and style.
Chris’ resume reads like a who’s who in music, he has played/recorded with the likes of Deborah Harry and Chris Stein (Blondie), Skinner Box, Nadia Ali, Rick Ross, Motorbaby, Raul Midon, Masspike Miles, Melba Moore, Phil Perry, The Deep Down, The Congregation Of Vapors, Kim Fahy (The Mabuses), ECA Jazz Ensemble, The Turn, Nate Ouderkirk, E-trance, Ben Stivers (MatchBox 20), Jonathan and Victor (Camper Van Beethoven), Nori Nori, Tony Scherr (Norah Jones, Al DiMeola), Fluffer, Laura Dawn (Moby), Peninsulin, Yoshiaki Masuo (Sonny Rollins, Jack DeJohnette), Jon Cowherd, Leo Traversa, Vibrolush, Jefferson Thomas, Ariya, Paul Mark & The Van Dorens, Magnet (Replacing Moe Tucker of the Velvet Underground), The Five Satins, Jed Davis, Jesse Malin, FlyinFisch, Air-O-Sol, Matt Bonelli (Bee Gees), Collider, Ivan Julian (The Voidoids, Matthew Sweet), Mark White (The Spin Doctors), Yale University Big Band, Ron Dziubla (Ricky Martin, Chayanne), Willie Ruff, Bill Brown Quartet, Jeff Baker (a.k.a King Django), Matthew Brubeck, Chris DeRosa Group, Monkfish.
Broadway Shows: (National and International Tours), Grease, Songs Of Paradise, The Mikado, and such Producers as Daniel Rey (White Zombie, Ramones), Steve Eigner (Nelly), Jon Brion (Fiona Apple, Aimee Mann, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), Roger Fife (Tricky), Kramer (Urge Overkill, Ween, Butthole Surfers, Daniel Johnston), and “General” George Fullan (The Rolling Stones, Cyndi Lauper, Taking Back Sunday, Twisted Sister, Dream Theater, and Cheap Trick).
In The World Of Dance Chris Has Performed, Composed, or Accompanied Barbara Feldman Dance Co., Gus Solomons Jr., Ron Brown/Evidence, Elisa Monte Dance, David Brown, Andrea E. Woods (Souloworks), Kun-Yang Lin, Ellis Wood Dance, Kosad, Peridance, David Dorfman Dance, Bebe Miller, Ana Marie Forsythe, Mark Morris Dance Group, Sean Curran, Gina Gibney Dance, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Douglas Nielsen, Doug Varone And Dancers, Larry Keigwin, Kevin Wynn, Donald Byrd, Jennifer Muller, 2nd Avenue Dance Co., The Island Moving Company, Joy Kellman, Dance Space Inc., Zeynep Tanbay, Jose' Limon Dance Foundation, Nicholas Leichter (nicholasleichterdance), Columbia University (Barnard), Paul Taylor Dance Company., University of Utah Dept.of Dance among others.
Chris has also performed at many churches some of which include Trinity Grace, Redeemer, The Journey, Infinity, Citilights, Emmanuel, and Grace Redeemer Church and has Taught/Lectured at Marymount Manhattan College (Adjunct Professor), The NYACK School Of Music (Guest Lecturer), and at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts (Staff Musician, Guest Lecturer).
As a creative drummer Chris has been featured in Modern Drummer, DRUM!, Percfest, Hudson Music, and The Black Page Magazine. Chris plays all styles of music (i.e. Gospel, Rock, Jazz, Latin, Afro-Cuban, Pop, Punk, Brazilian, Samba, Bossa Nova, Funk, Hip Hop, Country, Soul, Neo-Soul, R&B, Blues, Reggae, Dance Hall, One Drop, Rock Steady, Ska, Mento, Soca and Solo Drumming Among Others) and has released many offerings as both a leader and a sideman. Chris has performed live concerts on WPKN (Bridgeport), WXPN’s (Philadelphia) “World Cafe”, WDST’s (Woodstock) “Sessions” among others. Chris has also toured the Middle East for the Armed Forces in support of our troops, and toured China as part of a Jazz Cultural Exchange.
Chris Is A Member Of BMI, The Harry Fox Agency, and The University Of Miami & Berklee College of Music Alumni Associations. Chris Is Endorsed By Vic Firth Drumsticks, Sabian Cymbals, Evans Drum Heads, Brady Snare Drums, CymPads, RhythmTech, and Grover Pro Percussion.

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