ROBERT JOSPÉ QUARTET

THE NIGHT SKY

Independent Label

Robert Jospé, drums/percussion; Daniel Clarke, piano/keyboards/composer; Chris Whiteman guitar; Paul Langosch, acoustic bass.

The Latin strains of melodic beauty and infectious rhythm from the Robert Jospé Quartet immediately encourage me to find a dance floor.  The very first tune they play fills my listening room with spark and spice. Jospé’s drum beats, including his over-dub of congas, brings joy and excitement to this arrangement.  A tune called “Crooked Mile” is a straight line towards musical success and excellence.

The quartet’s energy does not let up.  Track #2 titled “Samba Sunrise” points the spotlight directly at band leader and drum master, Robert Jospé.  As he propels the band ahead, Daniel Clarke is masterful on piano.

Clarke is a multi-instrumentalist, a songwriter, composer, producer and music educator born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. He’s a graduate of the Commonwealth University’s Jazz Studies Program. His piano playing has been heard everywhere from the White House to worldwide touring and recording, as well as being part of the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics. He composed a song for this quartet project called “Southern Doodle Dandy.”

These musicians embrace the Latin theme with wide arms and excitement.  Bassist Paul Langosch began his pursuit of excellence playing the bass in 1969, studying with Albert Webster and the National Symphony.  His college studies were at Montogomery College in Rockville, MD, later continuing at American University in Washington, DC and University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. The bassist has worked with a number of icons including Zoot Sims, Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis, Mose Allison, Johnny Hartman, Phil Woods, Tal Farlow, Mel Torme and many more. In 1985, Tony Bennett hired him and he became part of Bennett’s trio for the next 20-years.

On a tune called “Desert Dream” Chris Whiteman is boldly featured on guitar. Whiteman was born in New Jersey and began his musical career at age ten, not playing guitar but playing trumpet in his school band. Three years later, a friend introduced him to the guitar. That quickly became his instrument of choice. Chris received both his Bachelor of Music (Studio Music & Jazz) and his Master of Music (Jazz Pedagogy) from the University of Miami.  On this funk arrangement, he adds bluesy licks to the Desert Dream song. In addition to leading his own group, this guitarist was a member of jazz vocalist, Veronica Swift’s band, and was musical director for Wyatt Michael, from NBC’s “The Voice” program.

Their song “Flashback” scratches the surface of fusion jazz, showing the diversity of Jospé and his tight-knit bandmates.  Title tune, “The Night Sky” appears as Track #6 and is arranged in a contemporary jazz style.  Langosch takes a solo bass excursion during this arrangement.  But it’s the drum solo by Jospé that sparkles and shines.  The quartet covers two familiar jazz tunes, “Some Other Time” (a Leonard Bernstein treasure) where Langosch sings the beautiful ballad’s melody on his bass instrument with tenderness and passion. They also cover a swinging rendition of “Take the A-Train.”

The beauty of Robert Jospé playing solo Hand Pan on the closing tune of “Silver Lining” is a lovely way to end a delightful album that features fifty-minutes of magnificent music.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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