VIBRAPHONIST JOEL ROSS RELEASES EXPANSIVE NEW ALBUM THE PARABLE OF THE POET OUT NOW ON BLUE NOTE RECORDS

Posted on: April 15, 2022

VIBRAPHONIST JOEL ROSS RELEASES EXPANSIVE NEW ALBUM

THE PARABLE OF THE POET OUT NOW ON BLUE NOTE RECORDS

ALBUM-LENGTH SUITE COMPOSED BY ROSS FEATURES HIS 8-PIECE PARABLES BAND WITH IMMANUEL WILKINS, MARIA GRAND, MARQUIS HILL, KALIA VANDEVER, SEAN MASON, RICK ROSATO & CRAIG WEINRIB PLUS SPECIAL GUEST GABRIELLE GARO

WATCH ROSS ON “FIRST LOOK” WITH DON WAS

DOWNLOAD HI-RES COVER ART

Vibraphonist and composer Joel Ross returns with stunning conviction on The Parable of the Poet, an expansive album-length suite composed by Ross which embodies his collaborative spirit and finds him exploring new territory with his 8-piece Parables band featuring Immanuel Wilkins on alto saxophone, Maria Grand on tenor saxophone,Marquis Hill on trumpet, Kalia Vandever on trombone, Sean Mason on piano, Rick Rosato on bass, Craig Weinrib on drums, and special guest Gabrielle Garo on flute. The Parable of the Poet is out now on exclusive D2C color vinyl, CD, and digital formats, with black vinyl to follow on May 20.

Ross’ vision for the music is at once explicit and mysterious. Each title of the 7-movement suite references an emotional decision or experience for Ross, and he seeks to express themes present in parable tellings and retellings, while leaving each story’s particulars open to interpretation. Ross rarely includes narrative explanations of anything he plays. He leaves his own motivations unvoiced, allowing both listeners and bandmates their unique, experiential readings of the music. “I’m just so interested in what the listener receives, what they take from it,” he says, “the same as you would from any parable.”

Watch Ross discuss The Parable of the Poet with Blue Note President Don Was on the latest episode of “First Look.”

The track listing for The Parable of the Poet is as follows: