Vinnie Sperrazza
Vinnie Sperrazza is a Brooklyn-based jazz drummer originally from the Utica, New York area, raised in a music-loving family.
His latest release as a leader, Juxtaposition (Posi-Tone, 2017), features a world-class quartet with Chris Speed on tenor saxophone, Bruce Barth on piano, and Peter Brendler on bass. The album balances strong rhythmic and harmonic concepts with a gentle melodic sensibility, allowing Sperrazza’s leadership qualities as a composer, arranger, and musician to shine through in bold, engaging statements.
Since moving to Brooklyn in 2002, Sperrazza has steadily built a reputation as a distinctive voice on the drums. His leader discography includes Barcelona Holiday (Fresh Sound, 2009), 40Twenty (Yeah Yeah, 2012), and Apocryphal (Loyal Label, 2014). As a sought-after sideman, he appears on more than 40 albums, including Jacob Garchik’s Ye Olde, Mike McGinnis +9’s Road Trip, the self-titled debut from Hush Point featuring John McNeil, and Vincent D’Onofrio/Dana Lyn’s Slim Bone Head Volt.
Sperrazza’s artistry reflects a wide range of influences, including Sun Ra, Henry Threadgill, Anthony Braxton, Thelonious Monk, Andrew Hill, and Leonard Bernstein. Among his favorite drummers are “Papa” Jo Jones, Tony Williams, Max Roach, and Paul Motian.
An active touring musician, Sperrazza has performed with James Williams, Stew and The Negro Problem, the Sperrazza/Sacks/Kamaguchi Trio, Hearing Things, the New Old Timers, and Mother Octopus. His performance history includes concerts, clubs, and festivals across the United States, Canada, Japan, and Europe, with appearances at the North Sea Jazz Festival, NYC Winter Jazz Festival, and Tanglewood Jazz Festival. His work has received favorable coverage in The New York Jazz Record, All About Jazz, JazzTimes, DownBeat, and The New York Times.
Vinnie Sperrazza is a Brooklyn-based jazz drummer originally from the Utica, New York area, raised in a music-loving family.
His latest release as a leader, Juxtaposition (Posi-Tone, 2017), features a world-class quartet with Chris Speed on tenor saxophone, Bruce Barth on piano, and Peter Brendler on bass. The album balances strong rhythmic and harmonic concepts with a gentle melodic sensibility, allowing Sperrazza’s leadership qualities as a composer, arranger, and musician to shine through in bold, engaging statements.
Since moving to Brooklyn in 2002, Sperrazza has steadily built a reputation as a distinctive voice on the drums. His leader discography includes Barcelona Holiday (Fresh Sound, 2009), 40Twenty (Yeah Yeah, 2012), and Apocryphal (Loyal Label, 2014). As a sought-after sideman, he appears on more than 40 albums, including Jacob Garchik’s Ye Olde, Mike McGinnis +9’s Road Trip, the self-titled debut from Hush Point featuring John McNeil, and Vincent D’Onofrio/Dana Lyn’s Slim Bone Head Volt.
Sperrazza’s artistry reflects a wide range of influences, including Sun Ra, Henry Threadgill, Anthony Braxton, Thelonious Monk, Andrew Hill, and Leonard Bernstein. Among his favorite drummers are “Papa” Jo Jones, Tony Williams, Max Roach, and Paul Motian.
An active touring musician, Sperrazza has performed with James Williams, Stew and The Negro Problem, the Sperrazza/Sacks/Kamaguchi Trio, Hearing Things, the New Old Timers, and Mother Octopus. His performance history includes concerts, clubs, and festivals across the United States, Canada, Japan, and Europe, with appearances at the North Sea Jazz Festival, NYC Winter Jazz Festival, and Tanglewood Jazz Festival. His work has received favorable coverage in The New York Jazz Record, All About Jazz, JazzTimes, DownBeat, and The New York Times.