Timeline
1964
1966- Dublin School, Dublin, NH
Began playing drum set.
1966
First gig, two weeks, in Tours, France.
1967
Attended the Cambridge School of Weston in MA and met John D’earth.
1968
Attended Berklee School of Music summer session. Studied with Alan Dawson.
1969
Enrolled in New York University.
1969- Fire and Ice opening for the Allman Brothers, Cambridge Common, Cambridge, MA
1969
Joined Fire and Ice. Band members included Don Grolnick, John D’earth, Stuart Schulman, Ken Melville, Dick Carter.
1969
First recording (demo) with Fire and Ice at Vanguard Studios, West 23th Street, NYC.
1969
Formed jazz fusion band D with Don Grolnick and Ken Melville. Performed in NYC and provided backup for Andy Warhol superstar Ultra Violet.
1971
Rented first loft in Manhattan, 13th St. and 9th Ave. Became part of Free Life Communications, a NYC musicians collective.
Cosmology Album Cover
1971
Played first gig in Charlottesville, VA, with Cosmology at the Prism Coffee House. Met Dawn Thompson.
1971
Studied with Tony Williams.
1972-1981
Began full time professional career playing extensively in New York City and the metropolitan area. Played with Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Dave Liebeman, Bob Moses, John Abercrombie, John Schofield, Rick Laird, Will Lee, Stanley Clark, Steve Kahn, Steve Marcus, John D’earth, Emily Remler, Don Grolnick, Kenny Kirkland, Barry Rodgers, Bob Berg, Richie Beirach, Marc Copland, Stephen Gaboury, Lincon Goins, Jeff Golub and many other wonderful musicians.
1973
Became co-leader of Cosmology with John D’earth and Dawn Thompson.
1976- Busking in NYC Financial District with John D’earth and Jim Clouse
1976
Cosmology signs contract with Vanguard Records.
1977
Cosmology releases first LP.
1978
Received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to study bass and composition with Rick Laird, bassist with the Mahavishnu Orchestra.
1981
Summer move to Virginia. Rented house in Greene County with Cosmology and began playing more extensively in VA.
1985- TR3 with Tim Reynolds, Ron Pruitt, and Robert Jospé
1983
Released second Cosmology album.
1984-1995
Founding member of TR3 with Tim Reynolds. Toured the U.S for over 11 years and recorded and released three CDs: TR3, Shifting Currents, and Light Up Ahead.
1989 to present
Joined the performance faculty at the McIntire Department of Music at the University of Virginia to teach Jazz Drumming.
with Inner Rhythm 1990
1990
Released first CD, Inner Rhythm, as a leader and formed the Inner Rhythm Band. The CD of all original material was produced in NYC with producer and keyboardist Stephen Gaboury and included Michael Brecker, Dave Liebman, John Abercrombie, Jeff Golub, John D’earth, Lincoln Goins and Art Wheeler.
1990 – 2000
Played weekly Thursday night gig at Miller’s with Thompson D’earth Band.
1992
Receives first annual grant from the Virginia Commission for the Arts as a bandleader.
1992
Creates the World Beat Workshop with Kevin Davis and performs first school assembly program.
1993 to present
Continues to receive funding as a bandleader and for the World Beat Workshop.
1990- Performing at Miller’s in Charlottesville with John D’earth, and Leroy Moore on saxophone
1999
Released second CD, Blue Blaze.
1997
Founding member of the Free Bridge Quintet.
2000
Released first CD with the Free Bridge Quintet, Spanning Time.
2009- Inner Rhythm at the Virginia Wine Festival: Jeff Decker, Heather Maxwell, Bob Hallahan, Robert Jospé, Randall Pharr
2002
Released third CD, Time To Play.
2004
Released fourth CD, Hands On, for Random Chance Records.
2006
Released fifth CD, Heart Beat, for Random Chance Records.
2007
Released second CD with the Free Bridge Quintet, For The Record.
2008
Robert Jospé and Kevin Davis leading World Beat Workshop
Released EP, Inner Rhythm Now!
2008
Published Learn to Groove book and DVD for drum set and hand drums.
2008 to present
Began teaching “Learn To Groove” academic course at UVA.
2009 to present
Formed Rhythm and Resilience with Tussi Kluge and began teaching classes at the Albemarle County Regional Jail and as a community program.
Learn to Groove textbook by Robert Jospé
2010-2014
“Learn To Groove” course at UVA receives five year funding grant from John and Tussi Kluge foundation.
2011
Published second edition of Learn To Groove.
2012
Composed and performed a new piece with the UVA Percussion Ensemble entitled “Groove Passage”.
Performed concerts with Bobby McFerrin, Stanley Jordan and Cyrus Chestnut.
Received “2012 Artist and Educator of the Year” award from the Charlottesville Jazz Society.
Featured on PBS series ” Charlottesville Inside Out” with Terri Allard.
Featured on Jason Crane “The Jazz Session” national online radio show.
2013
“My Journey Into Jazz” published in “Realize Magazine” online magazine with curator Ellary Eddy. www.realizemagazine.com
2014
Forms the Robert Jospé Express Trio and Quartet with Butch Taylor on keys, Dane Alderson on bass and guitarist, Brian Mesko. In October the band released a double CD “Classics” and “Doin’ It Up”.
2018
Jospé became a full time faculty/lecturer at UVA teaching three levels of Learn To Groove, private drum set instructor and continuing as a member of the Free Bridge Quintet.
2019
Released “Just Lookin'” with the Robert Jospé Express Band and special guest John D’earth.