Chris DeRosa
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Chris DeRosa | |
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| Born | New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, fusion, rock, reggae, pop, soca, samba |
| Occupation(s) | Drummer, composer, producer |
| Instruments | Drums, percussion |
| Years active | 1990s-present |
| Website | chrisderosa.com |
Chris DeRosa is an American drummer, composer, and producer based in New York City. Active since the 1990s, he has performed and recorded in styles including jazz, fusion, reggae, rock, and singer-songwriter music.
DeRosa has worked with artists including Deborah Harry, Chris Stein, Nadia Ali, Rick Ross, Raul Midon, Melba Moore, CeeLo Green, Michael McDonald, and H.R. of Bad Brains.[1]
His performances have been discussed in publications such as Modern Drummer, DRUM! Magazine, China Daily, and The New York Times, highlighting his versatility and work in dance and cultural performance.[2][3][4][5]
Some recordings featuring DeRosa have appeared on television and film soundtracks, including episodes of 30 Rock.[6][7]
In 2025, a track featuring DeRosa, “Don’t Judge Me” by CC and the OGs, reached number one on the World Indie Music Chart.[8]
Early life and education
DeRosa was born in New Haven, Connecticut and raised in Guilford. He began playing drums as a teenager and attended the Educational Center for the Arts (ACES) high school. During this time, he studied privately with jazz drummer Ed Soph in Connecticut. While still in high school, he and fellow student Jon Brion performed with the Yale Jazz Ensemble under the direction of bassist and educator Willie Ruff.
He later attended the Berklee College of Music, receiving the Buddy Rich Jazz Masters Scholarship, noted in the New Haven Register in 1983.[9] He continued his studies at the University of Miami, earning a degree in Studio Music and Jazz Performance on the Bowman Ashe scholarship.[1]
Career
DeRosa began his professional drumming career in Connecticut before relocating to New York City, where he established himself as a versatile performer across many genres.
In 2003, DRUM! Magazine highlighted DeRosa’s performances with Armed Forces Entertainment Services during tours across Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., and Pakistan.[3]
That same year, Modern Drummer featured his “Drums for Dancers” setup, highlighting his hybrid approach to percussion for live dance accompaniment.[10]
In 2011, Modern Drummer covered DeRosa’s work with the ensemble Monkfish during a U.S. cultural diplomacy tour in Egypt, including workshops in schools and hospitals, as well as live television and radio performances.[2]
During the early 1990s, DeRosa appeared in national advertising campaigns for Manny’s Music and Brady Drums.[11][12]
The New York Times reviewed a dance production that included DeRosa in the live ensemble.[4]
A brief feature on DeRosa’s work with Debbie Harry appeared in the Italian percussion magazine PercFest.[13]
Writing and teaching
DeRosa was interviewed in The Black Page Drum Magazine and authored a two-part feature titled “Taking Care of Yourself,” on injury prevention and physical balance for drummers.[14][15] Portions were later republished by Hudson Music.[16]
He has contributed articles to All About Jazz on drumming and live performance reviews.[17]
As an educator, DeRosa has taught privately, conducted workshops, and served as musical advisor, guest lecturer, and co-improvisation instructor at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts Dance Department (1997–2007). He also created and taught the course “Music Training for Dance” at Marymount Manhattan College and lectured at Nyack College’s School of Music in SoHo.[1]
Discography (selected)
- Aquaman Jones – Spatial Funk
- Benny Del Mare – Menage A Te
- Chris DeRosa – Live In Miami
- Chris DeRosa – ism
- Chris DeRosa – Inner Voicings
- Chris DeRosa – Broadway Jam
- Chris DeRosa – With Hand And Tongue
- Chris DeRosa – Shadows
- Chris DeRosa – Photographs
- d'atlee – d'atlee
- E-Trance – E-Trance
- FlyinFisch – Always Dreaming
- Jed Davis – The Cutting Room Floor
- Jed Davis – Line In The Dirt
- Jefferson Thomas – Barbarian's Ballroom
- Jefferson Thomas – Heavy Rotation
- Mike Power – Observations
- Renee Ruth – HyperBlue
- Renee Ruth – Spirals
- Roland Ruby – Damn You Roland Ruby!
- Tom Humbert – Closer To The Heart Of God
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Chris DeRosa resume". ChrisDeRosa.com. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Chris DeRosa's Monkfish in Egypt". Modern Drummer. January 2012. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Chris DeRosa slamming for our boys in the Mid-East". DRUM!. Vol. 12, no. 3. Enter Music Publishing. May–June 2003. p. 34.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "In Performance/Dance: A Newport Staple Appears in New York". The New York Times. May 11, 2002. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
- ↑ "City Life: Chris DeRosa performance". China Daily. January 4, 2007. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
- ↑ "30 Rock – CeeLo's "B.J. and the Bear"". NBC. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
- ↑ "30 Rock – Michael McDonald's "Saved by the Bell"". NBC. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
- ↑ "World Indie Music Chart – Week of October 2025". World Indie Music Charts. Retrieved 2025-10-27.
- ↑ "Local Drummer Wins Buddy Rich Scholarship". New Haven Register. New Haven, Connecticut. 1983.
- ↑ "Drums for Dancers". Modern Drummer. Modern Drummer Publications. April 2007. p. 192. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
- ↑ "Manny's Music advertisement featuring Chris DeRosa". Retrieved 2025-10-16.
- ↑ "Brady Drums advertisement featuring Chris DeRosa". Retrieved 2025-10-16.
- ↑ "PercFest – Chris DeRosa feature". Retrieved 2025-10-31.
- ↑ "Interview: Chris DeRosa" (PDF). The Black Page Drum Magazine. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
- ↑ DeRosa, Chris (May 2010). "Taking Care of Yourself" (PDF). The Black Page Drum Magazine. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
- ↑ Chris DeRosa (14 June 2010). "Drumming and Spinal Health". Hudson Music. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
- ↑ "Articles by Chris DeRosa". All About Jazz. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
External links
This article "Chris DeRosa" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical. Articles taken from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be accessed on Wikipedia's Draft Namespace.