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Youngbloods, Vibes: Joel Ross, Sasha Berliner and Simon Moullier

Youngbloods 2023 vibes, from left to right: Joel Ross, Sasha Berliner, Simon Moullier
Graphics: Jackie Lay for NPR
Youngbloods 2023 vibes, from left to right: Joel Ross, Sasha Berliner, Simon Moullier

In 2022, we introduced our first installment of Youngbloods, a new class of jazz artists paving their way, and more importantly, pushing the music forward.

Our inaugural class featured five exciting artists, all under the age of 30. For our second season, we spotlight six artists divided between vibes and brass, presented amongst their peers.

This episode, we tell the story behind three trailblazing vibraphonists: Joel Ross (28), Simon Moullier (29), and Sasha Berliner (25) .

Surprisingly, all three mallet swingers got their start banging on drums before moving over to aluminum plates. We trace their individual trajectories toward jazz stardom; Ross from Chicago, Moullier from Nantes in France, and Berliner from the Bay Area.

Coming up, a brass-centered Youngbloods program featuring three fiery horn players: Giveton Gelin, Kalia Vandever, and Summer Camargo.

Set List:

  • Joel Ross, "Kingmaker" (Joel Ross)
  • Joel Ross, "Prayer"  (Joel Ross)
  • Simon Moullier, "Lush Life" (Billy Strayhorn)
  • Simon Moullier, "Pfrancing" (Miles Davis)
  • Sasha Berliner, "Polaris"  (Sasha Berliner)
  • Sasha Berliner, "Jade" (Sasha Berliner)

Credits:

Sarah Geledi and Trevor Smith, writers and producers; Ron Scalzo, episode mix; Nikki Birch and Mitra Arthur: video producers; Suraya Mohamed, project manager; Keith Jenkins, vice president of visuals and strategy at NPR Music. Anya Grundmann, executive producer; Christian McBride, host.


Copyright 2024 WBGO

Sarah Geledi
Sarah Geledi left her job in advertising in Montreal to pursue a career in music in New York City. She fulfilled that mission, producing content for the JAM Festival at WBGO, segments for The Checkout, and programs for WWOZ and PRI's Afropop Worldwide. She also served as a producer for NYC Winter Jazzfest before landing the "job of her dreams," producing radio for Jazz Night in America.
Trevor Smith
Trevor joined the WBGO Development Department in April of 2017 and currently handles grant writing and institutional giving initiatives as the Coordinator of Corporate and Foundation Relations.Since graduating from Berklee College of Music in 2011, Trevor has worked extensively in the jazz community in fundraising, events, and artist management capacities.