Ben Wendel is a grammy nominated

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

saxophonist, bassoonist, and pianist who is a founding member of the band Kneebody. He has worked with Snoop Dogg,

Ignacio Berroa Ignacio Berroa (born July 8, 1953 in Havana, Cuba) is a jazz drummer. In 1980 Ignacio left his country during the Mariel Boatlift, moved to New York and joined Dizzy Gillespie’s quartet in 1981, becoming the drummer of all the important band G ...

, Daedelus,

Taylor Eigsti Taylor Eigsti (born September 24, 1984) is an American jazz pianist and composer. Eigsti's trio features bassist Harish Raghavan and drummer Eric Harland. He is also a member of Eric Harland Voyager, Kendrick Scott Oracle, and Gretchen Parlato's ...

Gerald Clayton Gerald William Clayton (born May 11, 1984) is a Dutch-born American jazz pianist, composer and bandleader. Biography Clayton attended the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts; USC's Thornton School of Music, where he studied piano with ...

, and

Tigran Hamasyan Tigran Hamasyan ( hy, Տիգրան Համասյան; born July 17, 1987) is an Armenian jazz pianist and composer. He plays mostly original compositions, which are strongly influenced by the Armenian folk tradition, often using its scales and mod ...

Career

Wendel was born in

Vancouver Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...

, British Columbia, Canada and raised in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...

. Highlights include multiple domestic and international tours with artists such as

Antonio Sanchez Anthony Sanchez, Antonio Sanchez or Tony Sanchez may refer to: Sports * Antón (footballer) (1914–2005), Spanish footballer born ''Antonio Sánchez Valdés'' * Antonio Sánchez (boxer) (1905–?), Spanish boxer * Antonio Sánchez (footballer, ...

, Eric Harland,

, Snoop Dogg, and

Prince A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. T ...

. Ben is a founding member of group Kneebody. As a composer, he has received an ASCAP Jazz Composer Award, the 2008 and 2011

Chamber Music America Chamber Music America (CMA) is an American non-profit organization that provides small ensemble professionals with access to a variety of professional development, networking, and funding resources. CMA's regular initiatives include grants, awards, ...

New Works Grant, and the Victor Lynch-Staunton award by the Canada Council for the Arts. He co-wrote the score for John Krasinski's adaptation of

David Foster Wallace David Foster Wallace (February 21, 1962 – September 12, 2008) was an American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and university professor of English and creative writing. Wallace is widely known for his 1996 novel '' Infinite Jest'', whi ...

'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. 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 Quincy Delight Jones Jr. (born March 14, 1933) is an American record producer, musician, songwriter, composer, arranger, and film and television producer. His career spans 70 years in the entertainment industry with a record of 80 Grammy Award n ...

Herb Alpert Herb Alpert (born March 31, 1935) is an American trumpeter who led the band Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass in the 1960s. During the same decade, he co-founded A&M Records with Jerry Moss. Alpert has recorded 28 albums that have landed on the ...

and

Luciana Souza Luciana Souza (born 12 July 1966) is a Brazilian jazz singer and composer who also works in classical and chamber music. Her song ''Muita Bobeira'' was featured as a music sample on Windows Vista. Music career Grammy winner Luciana Souza is one ...

. Wendel has taught jazz at USC and the New School in New York City.

Discography

As leader

Source: * '' Simple Song'' (Sunnyside, 2009) * ''

Frame A frame is often a structural system that supports other components of a physical construction and/or steel frame that limits the construction's extent. Frame and FRAME may also refer to: Physical objects In building construction *Framing (con ...

'' (Sunnyside, 2012) * ''Small Constructions'' (Sunnyside, 2013) * '' What We Bring'' (Motema, 2016) * ''The Seasons'' (Motema, 2018) * '' High Heart'' (Edition, 2020) * '' All One'' (Edition, 2023) With Kneebody * ''Kneebody'' (Koch, 2005) * ''Low Electrical Worker'' (Jazz Engine, 2007) * ''You Can Have Your Moment'' (Winter & Winter, 2010) * ''The Line'' (Concord, 2013) – recorded in 2012 * ''Kneedelus'' (Brainfeeder, 2016) * ''Anti-Hero'' (Motema, 2017) * ''Chapters'' (Edition, 2019)

As sideman

With Daedelus * ''Invention'' (Plug Research, 2002) * ''Of Snowdonia'' (Plug Research, 2004) * ''Love to Make Music To'' (Ninja Tune, 2008) With

* ''Red Hail'' (Plus Loin Music, 2009) * ''World Passion'' (Plus Loin Music, 2009) * ''Shadow Theater'' (Verve, 2013) * ''Mockroot'' (Nonesuch, 2015) With

Adam Rudolph Adam Rudolph (born September 12, 1955) is a jazz composer and percussionist performing in the post-bop and world fusion media. In 1988, Rudolph met jazz musician Yusef Lateef, and the two would go on to collaborate and perform together for t ...

* ''Go: Organic Orchestra 1'' (Meta, 2002) * ''Web of Light'' (Meta, 2002) With Todd Sickafoose * ''Blood Orange'' (Secret Hatch, 2006) * ''Tiny Resistors'' (Cryptogramophone, 2008) With

Linda Oh Linda May Han Oh (born 25 August 1984) is an Australian jazz bassist and composer. Biography Oh was raised in Western Australia. When she was 11, she started to play the clarinet and at the age of 13 bassoon. She went to Churchlands Senior Hi ...

* ''Sun Pictures'' (Greenleaf Music, 2013) * ''Walk Against Wind'' (Biophilia, 2017) With others *

Christina Aguilera Christina María Aguilera (; ; born December 18, 1980) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality. Known for her four-octave vocal range and ability to sustain high notes, she has been referred to as the " Voice of ...

& Cher, ''Burlesque'' (RCA, 2010) *

Busdriver Regan Farquhar (born February 12, 1978), better known by his stage name Busdriver, is an American rapper and producer from Los Angeles, California. He has collaborated with rappers such as Myka 9, Milo, Nocando, Open Mike Eagle, 2Mex, and Ra ...

, ''Perfect Hair'' (Big Dada, 2014) *

, ''Tributary Tales'' (Motema, 2017) *

, ''Lucky to Be Me'' (Concord Jazz, 2006) * Shane Endsley, ''2nd Guess'' (Endsley Music 2002) * Joel Harrison, ''Infinite Possibility'' (Sunnyside, 2013) *

The Long Lost The Long Lost is a collaboration between American musicians Daedelus and Laura Darlington. The pair are also husband and wife. They dated in high school after initially meeting as members of their high school orchestra, as well as partners in t ...

, ''The Long Lost'' (Ninja Tune, 2009) * Ross McHenry, ''Nothing Remains Unchanged'' (First Word 2020) *

Melissa Morgan Melissa Morgan (born 1980) is an American jazz singer. Music career Morgan was born in New York City, and grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey, where she attended Teaneck High School. She began studying piano at age four. During high school she b ...

, ''Until I Met You'' (Telarc, 2009) *

Jason Mraz Jason Thomas Mraz (; born June 23, 1977) is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. He rose to prominence with the release of his debut studio album, ''Waiting for My Rocket to Come'' (2002), which spawned the single " The Remedy (I Won't ...

, ''Waiting for My Rocket to Come'' (Elektra, 2002) *

Josh Nelson Josh Nelson is an American jazz pianist and composer. Nelson produced his independent debut album ''First Stories'' at age 19. His second album, ''Anticipation (Josh Nelson album), Anticipation'', was released in 2004 with all his compositions. ...

, ''I Hear a Rhapsody'' (Steel Bird Music 2009) *

Austin Peralta Austin Topper Peralta (October 25, 1990 – November 21, 2012) was an American jazz pianist and composer from Los Angeles, California. He was the son of film director and Z-Boys skateboarder Stacy Peralta. Early life Austin Peralta was bor ...

, ''Endless Planets'' (Brainfeeder, 2011)

References

* *

External links

Official site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wendel, Ben 1976 births Living people American jazz musicians Canadian jazz musicians Eastman School of Music alumni Musicians from Santa Monica, California Musicians from Vancouver Musicians from Brooklyn Jazz musicians from New York (state) Jazz musicians from California Kneebody members Motéma Music artists Concord Records artists Sunnyside Records artists Edition Records artists