Ben Wendel

Last updated
Ben Wendel
Ben Wendel Nasjonal Jazzscene 2022 (205733).jpg
Ben Wendel performing in 2022
Photo: Tore Sætre
Background information
Born (1976-02-20) February 20, 1976 (age 48)
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Saxophone, bassoon
LabelsMotema, Brainfeeder, Concord, Sunnyside
Website benwendel.com

Ben Wendel is a Grammy nominated 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

Contents

Career

Wendel was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and raised in Los Angeles. [2] 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. [3] As a composer, he has received an ASCAP Jazz Composer Award, [4] the 2008 and 2011 Chamber Music America New Works Grant, [5] and the Victor Lynch-Staunton award by the Canada Council for the Arts. [6] 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. [7] 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. [8]

Most recently, Wendel has received a 2024 Grammy nomination for his 2023 album entitled "All One."

Discography

As leader and Co-Leader

Source: [9]

With Kneebody [10]

As Producer

With Darryl Holter

With Kneebody + Daedelus

With David Cook

With Dan Tepfer

As sideman

With Jeremy Dutton

With Daedelus

With Next.Ape

With Tom Ollendorff

With Terrace Martin

With Nabate Isles

With Fabia Mantwill Orchestra

With Bruno Schorp

With Gerald Clayton

With Matt Brewer

With Romain Pilon

With David Cook

With Guilhem Flouzat

With Phil Donkin

With Linda Oh

With Philip Dizack

With Moonchild

With Todd Sickafoose

With Tigran Hamasyan

With Taylor Eigstei

With Otmaro Ruíz

With Dakah Hip-Hop Orchestra

With Adam Rudolph

With Good Charlotte:

With Marco Antonio Solís

With Michael Whittaker

With Atlantiquity

With Jason Mraz

With others

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References

  1. "Kneebody Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  2. "Ben Wendel's Big Love of Community". downbeat.com. 2023-08-29. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  3. Jazz, All About. "Ben Wendel Musician - All About Jazz". All About Jazz Musicians. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  4. Ruzinskaite, Gintare. "Ben Wendel (USA)". Good Music Company. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  5. "Ben Wendel Group". Chamber Music America. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  6. "Ben Wendel, saxophone | University of Chicago Presents". chicagopresents.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  7. "ASCAP jazz composer award ben wendel - Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
  8. "Ben Wendel Quartet". Festival Internacional de Jazz (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  9. "Ben Wendel". Ben Wendel. Retrieved 2023-09-08.
  10. "KNEEBODY". KNEEBODY. Retrieved 2023-09-08.