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Chris DeRosa

Chris is a Brooklyn-based professional freelance drummer/producer/composer.

About Me

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 55 countries). Chris was born in New Haven, Connecticut but later moved to nearby Guilford where he took up the drums. 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 Educational Center For The Arts (ECA) High School and at 15 studied with University of North Texas famed Drum set Professor Ed Soph while he was on sabbatical in Connecticut.

By Chris’ senior year in High School he was performing with The Five Satins with whom he opened up for Chuck Berry at the Nassau Coliseum (at only 17). Prior to that his 1st steady professional gig was with a local New Haven, Connecticut top 40 band called Horizon at 15 years of age. Chris’ 1st professional recording session was with the Neapolitan singer Benny Del Mare for the album “Ménage A Te” recorded @Trod Nossel studio. 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 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 of both Jamaica and Cuba that continued to shape his sound and style.

Chris’ resume reads like a who’s who in music and has played/recorded with the likes of Deborah Harry and Chris Stein (Blondie), Skinner Box (King Django), Nadia Ali, Rick Ross, Cee Lo Green (30 Rock), H.R. (Bad Brains), Michael McDonald (30 Rock), Chris Rob (Stevie Wonder, Kanye West), Motorbaby, Melba Moore, Phil Perry, The Deep Down, Kim Fahy (The Mabuses), ECA Jazz Ensemble, The Turn, Nate Ouderkirk, E-trance, Dan Warner (Madonna, Pink, Shakira), Jonathan and Victor (Camper Van Beethoven), Nori Nori, Gedeon Luke (American Idol), Electrik Buddha, Nishi, Tony Scherr (Norah Jones, Al DiMeola), Fluffer, Salina Sias, Laura Dawn (Moby), Peninsulin, Raul Midon, Roland Ruby, The WMD’s, Masspike Miles, 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, Ben Stivers (MatchBox 20), Rob Decoup, Air-O-Sol, Matt Bonelli (BeeGee's), 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, KTQ, Chris DeRosa Group, Monkfish

Broadway Shows: Oh! Calcutta (National and International Tours), Grease, Songs Of Paradise, The Mikado, and such Producers as Giancarlo Vulcano (30 Rock), Daniel Rey (White Zombie, Ramones), Jose Luis Pardo (Cheo) (Los Amigos Invisibles), Steve Eigner (Nelly), J. Chris Griffin (Madonna, Kanye West, John Legend, Missy Elliott, Janet Jackson), Jon Brion (Fiona Apple, Aimee Mann, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), Stuart Epps (Elton John, Robbie Williams, Led Zeppelin), 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 Dance, University of Utah (Dept. of Dance), Columbia University (Barnard), Paul Taylor Dance Co. among others.

Chris has also performed at many churches some of which include Trinity Grace, Redeemer, Shekinah Glory Worship, Resurrection Brooklyn, The Journey, Infinity, Citilights, Emmanuel, and Grace Redeemer Church, Plymouth 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). Chris has performed on among others WPKN (Bridgeport), WXPN’s “World Cafe” (Philadelphia), WDST’s “Sessions” (Woodstock), Good Morning Cairo!, toured the Middle East for the Armed Forces, Egypt as a Jazz Cultural Ambassador for the U.S. State Department, and toured China in a Jazz Cultural Exchange Program.

As a creative drummer Chris has been featured in Modern Drummer, DRUM!, Hudson Music, Percfest, and The Black Page Magazine. Chris plays all styles of music (ie. 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.

A complete discography is located here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6uhdiFaJrOPIg2mwIFyJSl

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, Audix Microphones, MOTU Electronics, Roland, KickPort, Cympad, DrumClip, and RhythmTech Percussion.