Westport resident Bob Lasprogato has been drumming professionally since
1959 when he took his first "road gig" at age 17. Bob has performed in every
type of musical venue from jazz to theatrical musicals, like "Gypsy", "Dames
at Sea" and most recently, "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum".
Bob has also from time to time been a member of the "Orchids" oldies band
and has performed with Symphonic orchestras.
Throughout his 40 plus years of performing, Mr. Lasprogato has first and foremost remained a master jazz drummer, appearing with the great pianist Ellis Larkins, guitarist Sal Salvador, trumpeter Buck Clayton, saxophonists Carmen Leggio, Ken Peplowski, Seldon Powell, Harold Ousley, vocalist Stella Marrs and other luminaries of the jazz world.
In the mid 1980s, Bob took over the drum chair with "Big" Bill Bissonette's "Easy Riders Jazz Band." The group toured Europe, guesting at jazz clubs and festivals such as "Le Petite Journal Montparnasse" in Paris, France, "Jackie's Ragtime Club" in Ninove, Belgium and "Festa New Orleans Music", Ascona, Switzerland. They also recorded several CD's, two of which are listed in a Jazz compendium of "must have" 1000 jazz CD's.
Bob ultimately formed his own jazz group, "Uptown Jazz", and for the last
20 years has appeared all over Connecticut and Westchester. The group was
a mainstay of jazz in the late 80's at the Inn at Longshore. Mr. Lasprogato
and his musicians, among the finest in Connecticut, has brought jazz to The
Inn at Ridgefield, Cobb's Mill Inn, Ridgefield's Sidewalk Sale Days, Westport/Weston
First Night, the Danbury Fair Mall and other clubs and concerts too numerous
to mention. As might be expected of a man whose life has been music, Bob
continues to make appearances with "Uptown Jazz", and according to him, "never
wants to stop playing drums". Bob and the band have recently recorded and
released their first CD.
In addition to his many years as a jazz musician, Bob spent nine years as a top rated radio host on Stamford's jazz radio station WJAZ, and was the popular mid-day host on Ridgefield's radio station, WREF. He also spent two years hosting and producing his own cable television show called "Jazz Profiles" in Bridgeport, CT.