"**** DownBeat Magazine 4 Stars"

“Blue Blaze…uncommonly fresh and expansive…Jospé has recast and in some cases reimagined the tunes of Horace Silver, Lee Morgan, Blue Mitchell, Kenny Durham and Wayne Shorter. The results are always entertaining and often surprising.”

Mike Joyce, Washington Post

Robert Jospe directs a wild ride on Blue Blaze, scanning emotions and time zones, from the pensive to the positively buoyant. He makes big noise on traps, playing flourishes over and under the time. His tune "Night Out" has some nice dissonant horn lines and an upbeat swing that suits the shadings of guitarist Royce Campbell. Wayne Shorter's "Infant Eyes" is gorgeous, and Jospe makes the drums speak with mallets.

The septet interprets the classic Lee Morgan tune, "Calling Miss Khadija," letting it flow like a slow stream, adding colors all along the way. Jospe plays a swinging Latin funk with a half-time feel, mixing samba and Stax, and many of his horn arrangements reflect his highly informed rhythmic sense."

**** Down Beat Magazine, June 2001

Jospe and his septet shine on this tight, upbeat album. The mixture of jazz, R&B and island influences is delightful and Jospe's grooving, tasteful drumming complements the emphasis on ensemble work." --

Modern Drummer, Nov. 2000