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Ledley King and Lawrence Dallaglio make appearance at Populous event
3 years ago
Joel Ross is an acclaimed jazz vibraphonist and composer recognized for his innovative approach to traditional jazz and the blues.
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Request A ShowThrough ChiArts' partnership with the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, Ross got to meet kindred spirits at other high schools around the country, jam with...
The vibraphonist-composer released his anticipated Blue Note debut KingMaker to eruptive critical acclaim. He's topped the DownBeat Critics Poll Rising Star category for vibraphone and in 2017, he became one of the youngest artists to receive a coveted Residency Commission from The Jazz Gallery.
Vibraphonist Joel Ross has an illustrious history of musical higher education, from church band to Stefon Harris's Brubeck Institute.
On a new album with his quintet, Good Vibes, the musician, 25, asks a big question: What should swing rhythm sound like in the 21st century?
Catch vibraphonist Joel Ross and band on the tail of his fourth release for Blue Note Records, which puts an accessible new spin on traditional jazz and the...
The school's partnership with the Jazz Institute of Chicago served as a conduit for Ross to meet older musicians such as Herbie Hancock, Gerald Clayton, and...
Joel Ross, Lauded Young Vibraphonist, Excels On Blue Note Debut 'KingMaker' The vibraphonist has a "love-hate relationship" with his...
Multi-instrumentalist Gabrielle Garo, Ross's partner, is a frequent guest on flute. “You have to get your instrument out of the way,” says Ross,...
Joel Ross, who Blue Note called “the most thrilling new vibraphonist in America,” and he exceeded all expectations.
Joel Ross was born in 1995 on the South Side of Chicago. He began his musical journey playing drums at age three in his father’s Baptist church, alongside his twin brother. His early exposure included gospel and R&B, as well as classic jazz records from artists like Milt Jackson, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, and John Coltrane. At age ten, Ross joined a middle school band, transitioning to xylophone while his brother played drums. His educational path continued through involvement with All City concert and jazz bands and the Jazz Institute of Chicago.
In 2009, Ross enrolled in the Chicago High School for the Arts, studying under flutist Nicole Mitchell. Through the school’s partnership with the Jazz Institute of Chicago, he met established musicians such as Herbie Hancock, Gerald Clayton, and Stefon Harris. At Harris’s recommendation, Ross secured a spot in the Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet, where he studied under Harris for two years. He later moved to New York City in 2015 to study at The New School, forming his band Good Vibes. Ross completed his degree virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic after initially pausing his studies.
Ross’s career progressed with his recording debut as a leader, “KingMaker,” released on Blue Note Records in 2019, followed by “Who Are You?” in 2020, and “The Parable of the Poet” in 2022. His latest album, “nublues,” released in February 2024, explores the historical and spiritual aspects of the blues beyond its traditional form. Ross has toured and performed globally, collaborating with a wide range of artists and appearing at major jazz festivals and venues. He has been recognized with numerous awards, including multiple first-place honors in the DownBeat Critics Poll for vibraphone and the 2020 Jazz International Edison Award for “KingMaker.”
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