Ben Wendel

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.

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.

In 2024, Wendel received a Grammy Award nomination of Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for his 2023 album entitled All One. Simple Song (Sunnyside, 2009) Frame (Sunnyside, 2012) Small Constructions (Sunnyside, 2013) What We Bring (Motéma, 2016) The Seasons (Motéma, 2018) High Heart (Edition, 2020) All One (Edition, 2023) Understory: Live at the Village Vanguard (Edition, 2024) Barcode (Edition, 2026)

With Kneebody Kneebody (Koch, 2005) Low Electrical Worker (Jazz Engine, 2007) Kneebody Live: Volume One (2007) Twelve Songs by Charles Ives (w/ Theo Bleckmann) (2009) Kneebody Live: Volume Two/Italy (2009) You Can Have Your Moment (Winter & Winter, 2010) Kneebody Live: Volume Three/Paris (2011) The Line (Concord, 2013) – recorded in 2012 Kneedelus (Brainfeeder, 2016) Anti-Hero (Motéma, 2017) By Fire (2019) Chapters (Edition, 2019) Live at Le Crescent (2022) Reach (2025) With ACT (Wendel, Harish Raghavan, and Nate Wood) ACT (2009) ACT II (2015)

As producer With Darryl Holter

2018: Roots and Branches 2015: Radio Songs 2012: Crooked Hearts 2010: West Bank Gone 2009: Darryl Holter

With Kneebody + Daedelus

2015: Kneedelus

With David Cook

2023: Loyal Returns 2015: Scenic Design

With Dan Tepfer

2011: Goldberg Variations/Variations

As sideman With Jeremy Dutton

2023: Anyone is Better Than Here With Daedelus 2003: Meanwhile 2003: Live Airplane Food 2003: Invention (Plug Research) 2003: Tigerbeasts6 Inc. 2003: Adventure Time 2002: Spacesettings With Next.Ape

2023: The Fourth Wall

With Tom Ollendorff

2023: Open House

With Terrace Martin

2023: Mind Your Business 2020: Terrace Martin's Gray Area

With Nabate Isles

2023: En Motion

With Fabia Mantwill Orchestra

2021: EM.PERIENCE

With Bruno Schorp

2021: The Depths

With Gerald Clayton

Tributary Tales (Motéma, 2017)

With Matt Brewer

2016: Unspoken

With Romain Pilon

2015: The Magic Eye

With Guilhem Flouzat

2015: Portraits

With Phil Donkin

2015: The Gate With Linda May Han Oh 2017: Walk Against Wind (Biophilia) 2013: Sun Pictures (Greenleaf Music) With Philip Dizack

2013: Single Soul

With Moonchild

2012: Be Free With Todd Sickafoose 2008: Tiny Resistors (Cryptogramophone) 2006: Blood Orange (Secret Hatch)

With Tigran Hamasyan 2015: Mockroot (Nonesuch) 2014: Shadow Theater (Verve) 2008: Arrata Rebirth 2006: Word Passion With Taylor Eigstei

2024: Bucket of F's 2008: Let It Come To You 2006: Lucky To Be Me (Concord Jazz)

With Otmaro Ruíz

2014: A Jazz Life

With Dakah Hip-Hop Orchestra

2023: Unfinished Symphony 2004: Dakah Live @ Grand Performances 2002: Scion Sampler 2002: Live @ The North Beach Jazz Festival

With Adam Rudolph 2004: Go Orchestra Web of Light (Meta) 2002: Go: Organic Orcehstra Vol. 01 With Good Charlotte:

2007: Good Morning Revival

With Marco Antonio Solís

2003: Trozos De Mi Alma

With Michael Whittaker

2006: Modern World

With Atlantiquity

2005: Kleeer

With Jason Mraz

2002: Waiting For My Rocket To Come

With Evgeny Pobozhiy

2022: Elements For Peace

With others Christina Aguilera & Cher, Burlesque (RCA, 2010) Busdriver, Perfect Hair (Big Dada, 2014) 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)