Vinnie Sperrazza

Vinnie Sperrazza is a Brooklyn-based jazz drummer, composer, bandleader, author, and educator, noted for his deep swing, versatility, and commitment to new music. Born in Utica, NY, Sperrazza moved to Brooklyn after completing his studies at William Paterson University, where he was mentored by pianist James Williams.

He’s composed for the groups Vinnie Sperrazza Trio, featuring Ethan Iverson and Michael Formanek, whose first album of Sperrazza compositions was released in March 2023, and Vinnie Sperrazza Apocryphal, featuring Loren Stillman, Brandon Seabrook, and Eivind Opsvik, with three albums of Vin’s originals since 2014.

Sperrazza is a part of several collectives, including Ember, with Caleb Curtis and Noah Garabedian with a new album out August 2023, the Choir Invisible, with Chris Tordini and Charlotte Greve, with two albums on Intakt Records, and PLAY, featuring Jacob Sacks and Masa Kamaguchi, regularly recording for Fresh Sound Records.
Additionally, he is a member of Matt Bauder’s Hearing Things, the Hank Roberts Sextet, Michael Formanek’s Drome Trio, and many other NYC-based groups. He tours regularly with the Mark Morris Music Ensemble, led by Ethan Iverson, playing Iverson’s scores and arrangements

Also a committed writer, Sperrazza’s Substack entitled Chronicles has been active since October 2022 and features nearly 200 in-depth articles focused on the history of jazz and jazz drumming, with deep dives on well-known and lesser-known figures. An experienced clinician and devoted private instructor, Sperrazza’s teaching emphasizes fundamentals and listening, core components upon which he’s built his musical life.