Joel Ross

Acclaimed jazz vibraphonist and composer Joel Ross is recognized for his innovative approach to traditional jazz and the blues. Ross’s professional journey began with significant academic and performance milestones, including his enrollment at the Chicago High School for the Arts in 2009, where he studied under flutist Nicole Mitchell. Through the school’s partnership with the Jazz Institute of Chicago, he connected with established musicians such as Herbie Hancock, Gerald Clayton, and Stefon Harris. Following Harris’s recommendation, Ross secured a coveted spot in the Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet, studying under Harris for two years.

In 2013, he was selected for the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute All-Star Sextet, further solidifying his early career achievements. In 2015, Ross relocated to New York City to pursue studies at The New School, concurrently forming his acclaimed band, Good Vibes. His dedication to his craft was recognized with a Residency Commission from The Jazz Gallery in 2017. Ross made his recording debut as a leader with the album ‘KingMaker,’ released on Blue Note Records in 2019.

This critically lauded work earned him the top spot in the DownBeat Critics Poll Rising Star category for vibraphone the same year. The success of ‘KingMaker’ continued, culminating in Ross winning the 2020 Jazz International Edison Award for the album. Building on his momentum, Ross released his sophomore album, ‘Who Are You?,’ in 2020, followed by ‘The Parable of the Poet’ in 2022. His consistent excellence was further acknowledged through first-place honors in the Jazz Journalists Association Critics Poll for Mallet Instrumentalist of the Year in both 2020 and 2021.

Throughout his career, Ross has maintained a global touring presence, performing at major jazz festivals and renowned venues worldwide, and collaborating with a diverse array of artists.