Ben Wendel

Ben Wendel
Wendel performing in 2022
Wendel performing in 2022
Background information
Born (1976-02-20) February 20, 1976 (age 50)
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
GenreJazz
OccupationMusician
Instruments
  • Saxophone
  • bassoon
  • piano
Years active2000s–present
Labels
Member ofKneebody
Websitebenwendel.com

Ben Wendel (born February 20, 1976) is a Canadian-American 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 Prince.[full citation needed]

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 jazz-fusion 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 the University of Southern California and The New School in New York City.

In 2024, Wendel received a Grammy Award nomination of Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for his 2023 album entitled All One.

Wendel demonstrating effects pedals in a masterclass at Centrum Jazz Port Townsend workshop, July 26, 2024

Discography

As leader or co-leader

Source:

With Kneebody

With ACT (Wendel, Harish Raghavan, and Nate Wood)

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 Guilhem Flouzat

With Phil Donkin

With Linda May Han 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 Evgeny Pobozhiy

With others

References

  1. ↑ "Kneebody Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Ben Wendel | Artist | GRAMMY.com". Grammy Awards. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  3. ↑ Woodard, Josef (August 29, 2023). "Ben Wendel's Big Love of Community". DownBeat. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Ben Wendel Musician - All About Jazz". All About Jazz. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  5. ↑ Ruzinskaite, Gintare. "Ben Wendel (USA)". Good Music Company. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Ben Wendel Group". Chamber Music America. July 26, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Ben Wendel, saxophone | University of Chicago Presents". chicagopresents.uchicago.edu. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Ben Wendel Quartet". canariasjazz.com. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Ben Wendel". Bandcamp. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  10. ↑ "KNEEBODY". kneebody.com. Retrieved September 8, 2023.