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ALBUM OF THE DAY
6 FEBRUARY 2026
Gospel Music
JOEL ROSS
Released 30 January 2026
Blue Note Records
****-
A vividly spiritual jazz suite that frames tradition and faith through taut ensemble interplay and deeply personal compositional insight.
Vibraphonist Joel Ross has become one of the most compelling voices of his generation on Blue Note, building a reputation for music that marries technical sophistication with emotional clarity. Based in New York and Chicago, Ross leads his band Good Vibes with understated authority, expanding harmonic possibility without sacrificing narrative feel. His previous albums, including nublues (2024), reflected a deepening engagement with blues, melody, and accessibility.
With Gospel Music, Ross turns his attention to the wellspring of his musical upbringing, the Black church and the spiritual traditions that inform jazz and gospel alike, crafting a work rooted in reflection, community, and creative generosity.
Gospel Music, Ross’s fifth Blue Note album, is a suite-like exploration of faith, hope, and human connection. Conceived as a “sonic interpretation of the biblical story,” it unfolds with meditative depth and structural ambition, using an expanded sextet to bring its themes into focus. The addition of alto saxophonist Josh Johnson and tenor saxophonist Maria Grand enriches the ensemble palette, allowing Ross to balance melodic leadership with textural nuance. Tracks such as “Wisdom Is Eternal (For Barry Harris)” open with intricate, hymn-like motifs that carry forward into pieces that examine creation, fall, and redemption with compositional rigor. Elsewhere, the music opens space for dynamic interplay, the horns weaving around Ross’s exuberant vibraphone lines, rhythm section anchors that shape pulse and pause.
Critics note that the record weaves complexity into accessibility, marrying intricate jazz thinking with a clear spiritual message. It’s a profound, generous statement that respectfully navigates tradition while outlining a personal journey of belief and artistic purpose.
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Joel Ross Home Page
Blue Note Records
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Album titles link back to Sun Never Sets On Music's review page for all albums.
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