Ben Wendel

Ben Wendel is a Grammy nominated jazz saxophonist, bassoonist, and pianist who is a founding member of the band Kneebody. 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

Career
Wendel was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and raised in Los Angeles. 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. As a composer, he has received an ASCAP Jazz Composer Award, the 2008 and 2011 Chamber Music America 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'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, Herb Alpert and Luciana Souza. Wendel has taught jazz at USC and the New School in New York City.

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

As leader
Source:


 * Simple Song (Sunnyside, 2009)
 * Frame (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 Tigran Hamasyan
 * Red Hail (Plus Loin Music, 2009)
 * World Passion (Plus Loin Music, 2009)
 * Shadow Theater (Verve, 2013)
 * Mockroot (Nonesuch, 2015)

With Adam Rudolph
 * 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
 * Sun Pictures (Greenleaf Music, 2013)
 * Walk Against Wind (Biophilia, 2017)

With others
 * Christina Aguilera & Cher, Burlesque (RCA, 2010)
 * Busdriver, Perfect Hair (Big Dada, 2014)
 * Gerald Clayton, Tributary Tales (Motema, 2017)
 * Taylor Eigsti, 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 (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)