Ben Wendel Last updated June 21, 2025 Canadian musical artist (born 1976)
Musical artist
Ben Wendel (born February 20, 1976) is a Canadian jazz saxophonist, bassoonist, and pianist who is a founding member of the band Kneebody . [ 1] He has worked with Ignacio Berroa , Tigran Hamasyan , Bill Frisell , Terence Blanchard , Antonio Sanchez , Gerald Clayton , Taylor Eigsti , Linda May Han Oh , Eric Harland , Moonchild , Louis Cole , Daedelus , Snoop Dogg , and the artist formerly known as Prince . [ 2] [ full citation needed ]
Career Wendel was born in Vancouver , British Columbia, Canada and raised in Los Angeles . [ 3] Highlights include multiple domestic and international tours with artists such as Ignacio Berroa , Tigran Hamasyan , Bill Frisell , Terence Blanchard , Antonio Sanchez , Gerald Clayton , Taylor Eigsti , Linda May Han Oh , Eric Harland , Moonchild , Louis Cole , Daedelus , Snoop Dogg and Prince . Ben is a founding member of the Grammy nominated group Kneebody . [ 4] As a composer, he has received an ASCAP Jazz Composer Award, [ 5] the 2008 and 2011 Chamber Music America New Works Grant, [ 6] and the Victor Lynch-Staunton award by the Canada Council for the Arts. [ 7] He co-wrote the score for John Krasinski 's adaptation of David Foster Wallace 's "Brief Interviews With Hideous Men". He worked with conductor Kent Nagano in producing concerts for the Festspiel Plus in Munich, Germany. From 2008 to 2015, he produced a multi-genre performance series at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica, California. [ 8] During that time he was appointed the head of their Jazz and Blues initiative. As part of this appointment, he helped to create an artistic council which included Quincy Jones , Herb Alpert and Luciana Souza . Wendel has taught jazz at USC and The New School in New York City. [ 9]
Most recently, Wendel has received a 2024 Grammy nomination for his 2023 album entitled "All One ."[ citation needed ] [ needs update ]
Ben Wendel demonstrating effects pedals in a masterclass, Centrum Jazz Port Townsend workshop, July 26, 2024 Discography As leader or co-leader Source: [ 10]
With Kneebody [ 11]
Kneebody (Koch , 2005)Low Electrical Worker (Jazz Engine, 2007)Kneebody Live: Volume One (2007)Twelve Songs by Charles Ives (w/ Theo Bleckmann) (2009)Kneebody Live: Volume Two/Italy (2009)You Can Have Your Moment (Winter & Winter , 2010)Kneebody Live: Volume Three/Paris (2011)The Line (Concord , 2013) – recorded in 2012Kneedelus (Brainfeeder , 2016)Anti-Hero (Motema, 2017)By Fire (2019)Chapters (Edition, 2019)Live at Le Crescent (2022)Reach (2025)As producer With Darryl Holter
2018: Roots and Branches 2015: Radio Songs 2012: Crooked Hearts 2010: West Bank Gone 2009: Darryl Holter With Kneebody + Daedelus
With David Cook
2023: Loyal Returns 2015: Scenic Design With Dan Tepfer
2011: Goldberg Variations/Variations As sideman With Jeremy Dutton
2023: Anyone is Better Than Here With Daedelus
2003: Meanwhile 2003: Live Airplane Food 2003: Invention (Plug Research) 2003: Tigerbeasts6 Inc. 2003: Adventure Time 2002: Spacesettings With Next.Ape
With Tom Ollendorff
With Terrace Martin
2023: Mind Your Business 2020: Terrace Martin's Gray Area With Nabate Isles
With Fabia Mantwill Orchestra
With Bruno Schorp
With Gerald Clayton
With Matt Brewer
With Romain Pilon
With Guilhem Flouzat
With Phil Donkin
With Linda Oh
With Philip Dizack
With Moonchild
With Todd Sickafoose
With Tigran Hamasyan
2015: Mockroot (Nonesuch ) 2014: Shadow Theater (Verve ) 2008: Arrata Rebirth 2006: Word Passion With Taylor Eigstei
2024: Bucket of F's 2008: Let It Come To You 2006: Lucky To Be Me (Concord Jazz ) With Otmaro Ruíz
With Dakah Hip-Hop Orchestra
2023: Unfinished Symphony 2004: Dakah Live @ Grand Performances 2002: Scion Sampler 2002: Live @ The North Beach Jazz Festival With Adam Rudolph
2004: Go Orchestra Web of Light ( Meta) 2002: Go: Organic Orcehstra Vol. 01 With Good Charlotte :
2007: Good Morning Revival With Marco Antonio Solís
With Michael Whittaker
With Atlantiquity
With Jason Mraz
2002: Waiting For My Rocket To Come With others
Christina Aguilera & Cher, Burlesque (RCA , 2010) Busdriver , Perfect Hair (Big Dada , 2014) Shane Endsley , 2nd Guess (Endsley Music, 2002) Joel Harrison , Infinite Possibility (Sunnyside, 2013) The Long Lost , The Long Lost (Ninja Tune , 2009) Ross McHenry , Nothing Remains Unchanged (First Word, 2020) Melissa Morgan , Until I Met You (Telarc , 2009) Jason Mraz , Waiting for My Rocket to Come (Elektra , 2002) Josh Nelson , I Hear a Rhapsody (Steel Bird Music, 2009) Austin Peralta , Endless Planets (Brainfeeder, 2011) References ↑ "Kneebody Biography, Songs, & Albums" . AllMusic . Retrieved September 26, 2023 . ↑ https://www.grammy.com/artists/ben-wendel/12816 ↑ "Ben Wendel's Big Love of Community" . downbeat.com . August 29, 2023. Retrieved September 26, 2023 . ↑ Jazz, All About. "Ben Wendel Musician - All About Jazz" . All About Jazz Musicians . Retrieved September 8, 2023 . ↑ Ruzinskaite, Gintare. "Ben Wendel (USA)" . Good Music Company . Retrieved September 26, 2023 . ↑ "Ben Wendel Group" . Chamber Music America . Retrieved September 26, 2023 . ↑ "Ben Wendel, saxophone | University of Chicago Presents" . chicagopresents.uchicago.edu . Retrieved September 26, 2023 . ↑ "ASCAP jazz composer award ben wendel - Google Search" . www.google.com . Retrieved September 26, 2023 . ↑ "Ben Wendel Quartet" . Festival Internacional de Jazz (in Spanish). Retrieved September 8, 2023 . ↑ "Ben Wendel" . Ben Wendel . Retrieved September 8, 2023 . ↑ "KNEEBODY" . KNEEBODY . Retrieved September 8, 2023 . External links
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