Highlights include multiple domestic and international tours with artists such as Ignacio Berroa, Tigran Hamasyan, Gerald Clayton, Eric Harland, Taylor Eigsti, Snoop Dogg and the late Prince. Ben is a founding member of the Grammy nominated group Kneebody.
In 2015, Ben Wendel released a music-video art project titled “The Seasons” inspired by a set of twelve piano pieces written and released each month by Tchaikovsky in 1876. Wendel’s modern take on the idea was to compose and release twelve original jazz chamber duets in video format on YouTube with modern luminaries like Joshua Redman, Luciana Souza, Eric Harland, Julian Lage, & Ambrose Akinmusire, among others. As the videos garnered acclaim among social networks, the project became an unexpected word of mouth success and was featured prominently in ‘The New York Times’ (Best of 2015), NPR’s ‘All Things Considered’, and the CBC.
In 2016, after viewing an expressionist painting by Lee Krasner at The Whitney Museum titled ‘The Seasons’, Wendel decided to expand upon the original duets project by reimagining the arrangements for a five-piece ensemble comprised of musicians: Aaron Parks (piano), Gilad Hekselman (guitar), Matt Brewer (bass) & Eric Harland (drums). The album was released on Motéma Music in October 2018 to critical acclaim.
Wendel’s latest project ‘High Heart’ was premiered at the ‘Winter Jazzfest 2019’ and featured incredible musicians such as Shai Maestro, Michael Mayo, Gerald Clayton, Joe Sanders & Nate Wood. Wendel says: “This project reflects my continued effort to create art that is personal and relevant in an increasingly impersonal time. The song titles refer to different challenges I’ve experienced while interfacing with a global audience”.
Line-Up:
Ben Wendel: tenor sax
Gerald Clayton: piano & Fender Rhodes
Joe Sanders: bass
Nate Wood: drums
