Joel Ross

The vibraphonist Joel Ross, born in Chicago and now based in Brooklyn, crafts a refined jazz approach rooted in post-bop conventions. Initially mentored by Stefon Harris, he first drew notice through sideman appearances alongside Marquis Hill and Makaya McCraven, then issued his 2019 Blue Note debut Kingmaker. Continuing as a participant in the In Common ensemble led by Walter Smith III and Matthew Stevens, Ross has produced increasingly expansive recordings such as the 2020 release Who Are You? and the 2022 album The Parable of the Poet. He also appeared on Meshell Ndegeocello's Grammy-winning The Omnichord Real Book prior to issuing the harmonically layered small-group project nublues in 2024.

Ross entered the world in 1996 and spent his formative years on Chicago's South Side, where both parents served as police officers. As one of twins, he and his sibling began drumming at age three and performed regularly in church by elementary school, the same venue where their father directed the choir. During his teenage years he transitioned to vibraphone upon entering the All City concert and jazz bands, which led to further engagements with ensembles at the Jazz Institute of Chicago and eventual enrollment at the Chicago High School for the Arts.

Through that school's connection to the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, Ross encountered numerous artists including Herbie Hancock, Gerald Clayton, and Stefon Harris, the last of whom encouraged him to audition for the Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet at the University of the Pacific in California. After securing the position he spent two years refining his abilities under Harris before transferring to the New School, where he assembled the Good Vibes group and completed his studies. In 2016 he captured first place in the BIAMP PDX Jazz Festival "Jazz Forward" Competition.

Now operating from Brooklyn, Ross has collaborated with artists such as Makaya McCraven, Peter Evans, and Marquis Hill. He joined Walter Smith III and Matthew Stevens on the 2018 album In Common, then reached the Top Ten of the Billboard Jazz Albums chart the following year with his Blue Note debut Kingmaker as a leader. Subsequent projects involved Melissa Aldana, Rob Mazurek, Jason Palmer, and additional musicians. In 2020 he issued his second Blue Note recording Who Are You?, which included harpist Brandee Younger and saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins among its contributors.

Following further work with Smith and Stevens on 2022's In Common III, Ross presented his own extended suite The Parable of the Poet. The next year he performed on Meshell Ndegeocello's The Omnichord Real Book, which received the 2024 Grammy for Best Alternative Jazz Album. Also in 2024 he released his fourth album nublues, featuring saxophonist Wilkins together with pianist Jeremy Corren, bassist Kanoa Mendenhall, drummer Jeremy Dutton, and flutist Gabrielle Garo.