Chronicles

Sam Newsome

Tonight, Tuesday April 14th, at 7 PM, I’ll be playing duo with Sam Newsome at Barbès.

Apr 14 • Vinnie Sperrazza

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Listening to the Billy Hart Quartet

Apr 13 • Vinnie Sperrazza

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A History of Jazz Drumming, Chapter Two: Cut Through All Obstacles, 1910-1917.

Drumsets in theaters; jasm to jazz; Buddy Gilmore, Art Hickman, Tony Sbarbaro; the future.

Apr 2 • Vinnie Sperrazza

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March 2026

On Musa al-Gharbi and CD players

I’ve been thinking about Musa Al-Gharbi’s recent post about why taxing “the rich” and “making them pay their fair share” obscure the truth of our…

Mar 8 • Vinnie Sperrazza

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Albert Murray: The Omni-Americans

BTW Chapter Two will be ready next Monday March 16th, a week late but better for it.

Mar 6 • Vinnie Sperrazza

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February 2026

Jason Moran; Ian Frazier; Brahms Intermezzo No. 2

Feb 24 • Vinnie Sperrazza

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Playlist For A History of Jazz Drumming, Chapter One

Here’s a playlist to accompany A History of Jazz Drumming, Chapter One, some audio illustrations of the main points.

Feb 16 • Vinnie Sperrazza

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From 1685 to 1901

Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Eubie Blake, Sonny Greer, Zutty Singleton, Baby Dodds, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong.

Feb 4 • Vinnie Sperrazza

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January 2026

A History Of Jazz Drumming: Chapter One

The USA in 1895; Meet The Drumset; Congo Square; New Orleans drummers; Buddy Bolden plays "Make Me A Pallet" in 1904.

Jan 26 • Vinnie Sperrazza

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Chapter One drops on Monday

I'll be writing furiously til the last minute.

Jan 23 • Vinnie Sperrazza

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Max Roach on Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Max Roach and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Jan 19 • Vinnie Sperrazza

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Introduction: We Need A History

I'm publishing the first chapter of a general history of jazz drumming on Monday, January 26th.

Jan 12 • Vinnie Sperrazza

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