Ben Wendel

Ben Wendel (born February 20, 1976 in Vancouver, Canada)is a Canadian-American jazz saxophonist, composer, bassoonist, and pianist. He is best known for being a founding member of the Grammy-nominated group Kneebody. He has also performed as a leader or sideman with artists such as Snoop Dogg, Ignacio Berroa, Daedelus, Taylor Eigsti, and Tigran Hamasyan.

Background

Ben was born in Vancouver, Canada, and raised in Santa Monica, California by a musical family.[1] He studied at the Eastman School of Music, where he met other future members of Kneebody. After graduation, he returned to Los Angeles,[2] where he freelanced and performed the first shows with Kneebody. Since then, he now lives in Brooklyn, New York. As a leader, he has released albums on Sunnyside Records, and has appeared on many others. He composes for film and won an ASCAP Jazz Composer Award as well a New Works grant from Chamber Music America. As a producer, he worked with Kent Nagano to produce concerts for the Festpeil Plus in Munich, Germany, and produces a new performing arts series at The Edye in Santa Monica, California. He was an adjunct professor of jazz at the University of Southern California.[3]

Discography

As leader

As sideman

Collaboration with Dan Tepfer

With Kneebody

With Todd Sickafoose

With Tigran Hamasyan

With Taylor Eigsti

With Otmaro Ruiz

With Tony Scott

With Daedelus

With Dakah Hip-Hop Orchestra

With Adam Rudolph

With Good Charlotte

With Marco Antonio Solis

With Michael Whittaker

With Atlantiquity

With Jason Mraz

With Austin Peralta

References

  1. ↑ Orenstein, Doron. "Ben Wendel -- Saxman, Composer, Freak of Nature".
  2. ↑ Murph, John (August 2009), "Ben Wendel: Intertwined Coasts", Downbeat, p. 24
  3. ↑ "USC Catalogue: The Schools: USC Thornton School of Music". Usc.edu. Retrieved 2012-03-04.

External links


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