Grammy nominated saxophonist, founder member of Kneebody, Ben Wendel is undoubtedly a established star in the jazz, and music, firmament. Ben Wendel was born in Vancouver, Canada and raised in Los Angeles. Currently living in Brooklyn, NY, he has enjoyed a varied career as a performer, composer and producer. Highlights include tours, performances and/or recordings with artists such as Tigran Hamasyan, Moonchild, Louis Cole, Daedelus, Snoop Dogg and the artist formerly known as Prince. Ben is a founding member of the Grammy nominated group Kneebody – recently releasing a new EP Live at Le Crescent.
As a composer, he has received an ASCAP Jazz Composer Award, the 2008, 2011 and 2017 Chamber Music America “New Works Grant” and was awarded the Victor Lynch-Staunton award by the Canada Council For The Arts. He also co-wrote the score for John Krasinski’s adaptation of David Foster Wallace’s “Brief Interviews With Hideous Men.”
Ben has five solo albums under his belt, Simple Song (2009), Frame (2012), a duo project with French-American pianist Dan Tepfer entitled Small Constructions (2013), What We Bring (2016) The Seasons (2018), and High Heart (2020). Recently he announced his sixth album All One, with the new single Speak Joy (featuring Elena Pinderhughes). The new album will be released on April 21 (2023).