Small Constructions

Small Constructions
Studio album by Ben Wendel & Dan Tepfer
Released	March 12, 2013 (2013-03-12)
Recorded	October 7–10, 2011
Studio	Yamaha Artist Services, New York
Genre	Jazz
Length	51:20
Label	Sunnyside
Producer	Ben Wendel Dan Tepfer
Ben Wendel chronology
Frame (2012) Small Constructions (2013) Act II (2015)
Dan Tepfer chronology
Goldberg Variations/Variations (2011) Small Constructions (2013) First Meeting: Live in London, Volume 1 (2014)

Small Constructions is a studio album by saxophonist Ben Wendel and pianist Dan Tepfer, released on March 12, 2023, by Sunnyside Records. ^{[1] [2]}

Reception

The All About Jazz review stated: "The use of overdubbing on several tracks, the multiplication of instruments, and even daring combinations... helps greatly expand the tonal palette available to the musicians, who nevertheless maintain restraint, good taste, a respect for form, and, why not, elegance." ^[3] Chris Barton of the Los Angeles Times commended the album for its "restless invention", writing: "While still a duet, the album lives up to its name with some judicious multi-tracking, [...] proving again that even with only two voices, there are seemingly endless avenues to harmony." ^[4] Adding to this, Nate Chinen of TheNew York Times called the album a "breakthrough for both its musicians". ^[2]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
All About Jazz	[3]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Ben Wendel except where noted.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Still Play"		5:24
2.	"Pannonica"	Thelonious Monk	4:02
3.	"Jean and Renata"		5:39
4.	"Line up"	Lennie Tristano	4:21
5.	"Line"		2:00
6.	"Nines"	Tepfer	6:23
7.	"Gratitude"	Tepfer	6:04
8.	"Ask Me Now"	Monk	5:54
9.	"Rygabag"	Tepfer	2:02
10.	"Darn That Dream"	Jimmy Van Heusen Eddie DeLange	3:04
11.	"Variation 1 In D Minor"	George Frideric Handel	3:59
12.	"Oblique Strategy"	Wendel Tepfer	2:28
Total length:			51:20

Personnel

Music

• Ben Wendel – saxophone, bassoon, melodica, piano (12)
• Dan Tepfer – piano, Rhodes piano, alto saxophone (12)

Production

• Christopher Drukker – graphic design
• Nate Wood – mastering, mixing
• Vincent Soyez – photography

References

1. "Dan Tepfer / Ben Wendel - Small Constructions | Album | AllMusic". AllMusic . Retrieved December 11, 2025.
2. Chinen, Nate (March 8, 2013). "Sons of Opera Moms Go Far Afield". The New York Times . Retrieved December 11, 2025.
3. AAJ Italy Staff (August 19, 2013). "Ben Wendel - Dan Tepfer: Small Constructions". All About Jazz (in Italian). Retrieved December 11, 2025.
4. Barton, Chris (April 2, 2013). "Jazz Review: Ben Wendel/Dan Tepfer's 'Small Constructions'". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved December 11, 2025.

External links

• "'Line Up', performed in-studio at WGBO, February 22, 2013, Tepfer and Wendel" on YouTube