This Classic episode goes back to 2021 with drummer Rich Rosenzweig. At the time, he was playing the drum chair for Company. Today, he is the drummer for Ragtime at Lincoln Center. Part One focuses on his early years, his training, and his path into the Broadway world.
What we cover in this episode
How Rich transitioned from piano lessons to drums.
Growing up in a home filled with music and support for the arts.
Group snare drum lessons in grammar school and early practice habits.
Playing in the basement, practicing with records, and discovering big band.
Hearing Buddy Rich, Basie’s band, and how those experiences shaped his sound.
Getting into jazz as a teenager and forming his first jazz groups.
Studying at UNC Chapel Hill and balancing music with a liberal arts education.
His obsession with film, film scores, and composers like Bernard Herrmann and Ennio Morricone.
Moving to New York with pianist Frank Kimbrough and building a freelance life.
Playing weddings, club dates, and the slow grind toward professional theater work.
Watching Ray Marchica play The Will Rogers Follies and learning what Broadway drumming really requires.
Subbing under conductor Eric Stern and facing a click track for the first time.
Landing his first Broadway chair on State Fair and what he learned from that experience.
Why Broadway drumming demands consistency, reading skills, groove, and a full understanding of the storytelling behind the music.
Why this episode matters
It gives a clear picture of how a Broadway drummer builds a career from scratch.
It highlights the mix of training, influences, timing, and relationships that shape a long career on Broadway.
It shows how jazz, film music, and classical Broadway scoring all feed into a drummer’s approach and musical identity.
It offers practical insight for anyone who wants to pursue theater drumming at a high level.
Part Two will be released next week.
