Maurizio Spista
Drummer - Teacher - Arranger - Composer
Maurizio Spista is a renowned Professional Italian Jazz -Jazz fusion Drummer - Arranger - Composer , Teacher, with over 40 years of experience in the international music scene. His career stands out for an intense live activity on tour, studio recordings and collaborations
Born in Italy and currently based in New York, he has developed an artistic path that blends contemporary jazz, jazz funk,fusion ,afro jazz,
and world music, collaborating with renowned Artists,Singers, musicians and productions across Europe, the United States, the Middle East, and Africa
His style combines groove, improvisation, and sound exploration, maintaining a personal signature that bridges jazz roots with modern languages.
Master's Degree in Drums & Percussion Instruments at the STATE Conservatory of Music, G.Martucci - Salerno (Italy), Graduate in Jazz Music performance - jazz studies at the STATE Conservatory of Music, graduate Educational Teacher Trainer degree and and diplomate in Accounting . He has obtained the prestigious US Music Teaching Certification at Berklee College of Music, a world-class institute of Music Education and Music Performance
In addition to his activity as a drummer, he teach and trains new generations of drummers and musicians at Long Island W. College in New York (CUNY - College University Of New York) and from the next academic year 2025/2026 he will also be Director of the Music Department at the aforementioned College.
Over the course of his long career he has developed a creative and personal musical language, the result of a solid technical training and a tireless passion for rhythmic exploration. His versatility allows him to move with ease between different genres, from jazz to jazz funk Fusion, Pop, Rock , soul, Funk, blues to Neo jazz ,Afro- Latin jazz , Ethno world music and Experimental music, collaborating with famous artists ,musicians and young emerging talent
Maurizio Spista's passion for music began at a young age, leading him to pursue a career as an pro Drummer, Teacher , Arranger, Composer , of appreciated versatility and experience. With very long , solid experience and dedication to his craft, Maurizio has honed his skills and is committed to sharing his knowledge with students of all levels. His unique approach to music education, drumming classes, arrangement, and composition sets him apart in the industry.
Maurizio's expertise and genuine love for music make him a trusted and respected figure in the music community. Over the years, along his professional career, he played and
collaborated on tour and studio with producers, musicians and reference artists, deepening, experimenting and practicing various genres of music
He has been studying and collaborating with Enrico Lucchini , A. Buonomo ., Cuono correra
,and attending various ,
clinics, stage-masterclasses held by Dave Weckl, Steve Gadd, Chad Smith, Billy Cobham, Peter Erskine, Vinnie Colaiuta, Dom Famularo, Greg Bissonnette, Steve Smith, B. Blade and John Riley.
From 1980 on wards he began his professional activity working and collaborating on
tours and recording studios with various famous Italian national and artists including Fausto Leali, Little Tony, Riccardo Fogli, Francesco Calabrese, Dori Ghezzi, Tiziana Rivale, Lena Biolcati, Mia Martini, Nuovi Angeli, Ricchi e Poveri , Rocky Roberts , Aleandro Baldi, Righeira, Loredana Bertè,Ivana Spain , Antonella Ruggiero of Matia Bazar ,Jenny B. and International Artist including Tanya Houston, Belen Thomas, Gloria Gaynor, Norma Jordan, Dee Dee Jackson , Sarah Gillespie , Cheryl Porter, Karl Potter and others
He has participated in various television shows among which "Sotto le stelle"(Rai
Uno),"Grand Prize TV" (Rai Tre), "Fantastico 2 (Rai Uno with Pippo Baudo), "Saturday
Il mercato del sabato " (Rai Uno with Luisa Rivelli), "Beauty at the Beach " Bellezze al
bagno ( Mediaset - Rete 4, with G.Mastrota and and Eather Parisi), "Piacere Rai Uno",Festival di Napoli, Diretta TV Premio Caruso -RAI 1, Concerto del Cuore, Festivalbar Special, Summer Live tour , MTV live
He collaborated with "Tiger film company – Cecchi Gori Production " for the movies
soundtracks including "Perdiamoci di vista", directed by Carlo Verdone.
He has written music and soundtracks for "Over Travel" Rai documentaries production
and he is author The author of music for Theater works including the Music Comedy "Ritorno ad Atlantide". awarded at the International Music comedy competition in italy.
In 1996 he wrote and arranged LP/ CD songs of the singer of Algerian origin "
Hisabel Dhazir, welcomed by French- Algerian critics as the best ethnic-european songwriter.
In 1997 he performed with the orchestra, directed by Tony de Vita and M° Martelli,
accompanied by various artists including Renzo Arbore and Marisa Laurito, Demis Roussos, Gloria Gaynor and others
In 2000 he has participated in the Sound's Good Heineken Jazz Festival with George
Evans band, where he had the opportunity to play with Tommy Hunt, Steve
Grossman, Bill Thomas, Jay Clayton, Paul Orta, Tanita, Tikaram, Bill Laswell, Jimmy
Owens, Ray Barreto, Trilok Gurtu, and many more
In the same year he founded the project " U.F.J - Urban-Funky Jazz Project",
beginning a long collaboration of 10 years with Karl Potter, a renowned New Jersey percussionist, ''The Icon of Ethno-world jazz groove''
He has collaborated with various productions and record labels such as "Dingo Music"
" Baby records “, "Sound Record", "Diddle Studios", "Top Record", "Free Sound", CBS, Universal ,
"Milano MUsic, MTR Music , MM music, MD record CSM sound ,Replay Recording Studio etc.
With the educational-cultural project "The Percussion : Djembè - Marimba - drum set "
performs didactic activities by holding Masterclass ,seminars and concerts at Public schools & Cultural Institute
He was involved in the artistic and educational direction of the Musical Cultural
Association "Art Music Academy" in Roma italy, where he was the president, also curating
artistic and cultural projects, in particular with the "Sunu Art Spectacle Associations" and "Golf
North Production" of Dakar -Senegal which includes in them the most important
North Africans musicians and percussionists, direct descendants of the GRIOT caste, of the ancient and prestigious Sing Sing family.
From 2008 to 2011 he was Head teacher of Department Drums & Percussion and
Artistic Director of MD Music Academy - Angri, Salerno - Italy
In 2012/2013, besides the various engagements and artistic projects, he interacts with
the major exponents of the AFRO music of the "Mbalax" genre produced by "Youssou N'Dour".
From 2014 to 2016 he has been Music Drum Teacher Specialist at IMI - International Music Academy and BISAD - British
International School of Abu Dhabi and Dubai - UAE
in 2017 , he moved in New York where currently he live , teach and play jazz funk fusion, Funk, soul , sharing jazz projects as jazz organ trio with Akiko Tzuruga (Hammond jazz Organ) and Vinny Valentino ( El. guitar ), with various professional Jazz , soul funk singers , artists and Musicians of NY Jazz and international scene
Lately he is started collaborating with professional studio recordings \, labels and Music production ( Universal - Warner bros - Capitol, Virgin ) and promoting a his jazz fusion
Project "Maurizio Spista Evolution 4et" a new realize Album recorded with well Known NY worldwide Musicians ( Vinny Valentino - Guitar, John Benitez - Bass and Bob Franceschini - Sax )
He is C.E.O Founder of the MS Media Music Group Academy LLC, www.msmediamusicgroup.com , providing educational programs, certified online lessons, courses, music labs, and international masterclasses.
Vision
Maurizio Spista carries forward a path that combines performance and education, with the aim of spreading music as a universal language. His mission is to inspire new generations of musicians while continuing his artistic research as an international performer.
