Joel Ross
Acting
Biography
Joel Ross is an American musician. He started out playing percussion, but since he thought his brother was a better drummer, Joel turned to the vibes. Stefon Harris invited him to try out for his Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet at University of the Pacific in Nor Cal..
Known For
"Betye Saar: Drifting Toward Twilight" covers renowned American artist Betye Saar’s large-scale work “Drifting Toward Twilight”— commissioned by The Huntington Library, Art Museum, & Botanical Gardens — a site-specific installation that features a 17-foot-long vintage wooden canoe and found objects, including birdcages, antlers, and natural materials harvested by Saar from The Huntington’s grounds. This film renders a portrait of Betye's process at 96 while also reflecting on her life, career, and memories of Pasadena.
Betye Saar: Drifting Toward Twilight
American drummer/producer Makaya McCraven joins forces with special guests Brandee Younger and Joel Ross, plus a quartet of outstanding musicians at the North Sea Jazz festival in Rotterdam, NL. As a drummer, Makaya McCraven established his name by collaborating with Archie Shepp and Yusef Lateef, among others. But also as a band leader and producer, one of the most requested percussionists from Chicago is constantly pushing his boundaries. Vibraphonist Joel Ross and harpist Brandee Younger, two special musicians who earned their own spurs in the jazz world, play a major role in that awe-inspiring work.