Ben Wendel
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Saxophone
- bassoon
- piano
Ben Wendel | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Wendel performing in 2022 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | February 20, 1976 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 2000s–present |
| Labels | |
| Member of | Kneebody |
| Website | benwendel |
Ben Wendel (born February 20, 1976) is a Canadian-American 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 Prince.[2][full citation needed]
Wendel was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and raised in Los Angeles.[3] 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.[4] As a composer, he has received an ASCAP Jazz Composer Award,[5] the 2008 and 2011 Chamber Music America New Works Grant,[6] and the Victor Lynch-Staunton award by the Canada Council for the Arts.[7] 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 the University of Southern California and The New School in New York City.[8]
In 2024, Wendel received a Grammy Award nomination of Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for his 2023 album entitled All One.[2]
