THE CHARLES RUGGIERO QUARTET :
Charles Ruggiero - drums
Justin Flynn - sax,
Andy Calabrese - keys and
Peter Chwazik - bass
Charles Ruggiero is a professional drummer, producer, artist, and bandleader. Born a “rock & roller” he quickly became fascinated with jazz and began forging the love for that music into a career in the early 1990’s. He honed his skills in those early years alongside Joshua Redman, Peter Bernstein, Ryan Kisor, Brad Mehldau, Myron Walden, and Chris Potter, eventually earning the drum chair in Chuck Mangione's band playing (for a time) alongside the legendary drummer Steve Gadd. "He taught me so much, and he never uttered one word about music." says Ruggiero.
Late in the year 2000, former MTV/VH1 vee-jay, Abby Gennet, asked Charles to play on a demo of a few of her songs, and the rock-n-roll band SLUNT was born. In only their second year they were on tour with Marilyn Manson. The following years found them on tour with Motorhead, and Paul Stanley (KISS) and releasing two albums on Repossession Records. After SLUNT Charles found himself on Ozzy Ozbourne's Ozzfest tour, replacing drummer Matt Sorum (Guns and Roses/Velvet Revolver) as a member of Circus Diablo - a band which also featured Billy Duffy (The Cult), Brett Scallions (FUEL), Billy Morrison (Billy Idol), and Ricky Warwick (The Almighty).
2007 was a big change - Ruggiero moved to Los Angeles. Working as a session drummer, making pop and rock records, he also got back to his jazz roots, working with the finest musicians in LA including Larry Goldings, Eric Reed, Bob Reynolds, Tom Scott, Kenny G., and 80's icon Molly Ringwald. A three year return to NYC in 2013 found Ruggiero making his debut as a bandleader with his album “Boom Bang, Boom Bang!” receiving both critical and public acclaim. Now home again in his adopted Los Angeles, Charles continues to thrive. Touring and recording regularly. In 2022, his seventh recording as a leader “Drummer. Composer.” reached #19 on the jazz charts and made the list of top 100 jazz albums of the year!