Joel Ross Gospel Music (US)

Since 1984, the Tampere Jazz Happening has coincided with All Saints’ Day, a Christian holiday celebrated on a Saturday which commemorates saints and martyrs and on which Finnish people light candles in memory of their loved ones who have passed. The organisers of the Jazz Happening did not choose this date for religious reasons, however. It was more of a coincidence, and ultimately a lucky one. Until 2016, Finnish law required almost all shops to stay closed on that day. All Saints’ Day intended for private and communal reflection as well as the Friday and Sunday surrounding it were an excellent time to pause at the joyful tidings of new jazz in the darkest time of the year.

In a perfect world, the concert featuring the latest project of vibraphonist, composer and band leader Joel Ross at this year’s Jazz Happening would have fallen on All Saints’ Day, although the following day is also quite suitable.

The Gospel Music concert, which concludes this year’s Happening events at Pakkahuone, upcycles biblical themes, and the live performance may serve as a kind of Sunday evening devotional. The names of Ross’s pieces, including Trinity (Father, Son, And Holy Spirit), Protoevangelium (The First Gospel) and Repentance, The Sacred Place and perhaps most importantly, A Little Love Goes A Long Way also strongly hint at religious themes. As a Christian, Ross stresses the importance of loving and serving others.

Of course, the music composed by him may not be immediately recognised as ‘spiritual’, at least not without background information. In particular, it does not meet the expectations created by the word gospel. Despite this Joel Ross (b. 1996), who was born and raised in Chicago, is still a committed ‘follower of Jesus’. He started performing actual gospel music before his teens in the Baptist church of his home town, where his father, a police officer, led the choir. In fact Gospel Music released last January is probably Ross’s most personal album to date, with an even greater emotional charge than on his previous albums.

This is the third time Ross will be performing in Finland with his own band. The bassist and drummer of the quintet are the same musicians with whom he performed his music at the Tampere Jazz Happening of November 2023. And that day did indeed fall on All Saints Day.