JAZZ OF FOUR CONTINENTS

BEN WENDEL GROUP (USA)

The New York Times says, “The Seasons, a vividly imagined collection of duets by the saxophonist and bassoonist Ben Wendel, was one of the standout jazz records of 2015. But it was never released in album form, and took an entire year to hear in full.” Inspired by Tchaikovsky’s work of the same name, Wendel composed twelve original pieces, each one written for and dedicated to a musician he deeply admires. From Joshua Redman, to Eric Harland, Julian Lage, Ambrose Akinmusire, and more, Wendel performed each piece with those artists and released a series of duet videos over the course of twelve months. Now, Wendel reimagines his critically acclaimed The Seasons project for the road with an all-star ensemble and a long-anticipated album on the way. A Grammy Award nominee, Wendel is a founding member of the band Kneebody and has received an ASCAP Jazz Composer Award and two Chamber Music America New Works Grants.

A literate and adaptable multireedist whose original music puts a premium on lyricism… A wide-open sensibility, about as tuned to Bach and Bjork as Monk and Shorter….The New York Times

Perhaps the best and most-known saxophonist consistently active on both coasts…..LA Weekly

He has a keen ability to balance intellectual curiosity with emotional and melodic impact…DownBeat

A striking and distinctive player bursting with ideas…….Ottawa Citizen

A composer with restless sonic ear……The Los Angeles Times

Saxofonista u nás již velmi dobře známé a populární kapely Kneebody Ben Wendel se svým vlastním kvartetem, ve kterém excelují také pianista Taylor Eigsti, kontrabasista Harish Raghavan a bubeník Kendrick Scott. Ben Wendel nedávno vydal album dvanácti originálních kompozic, duetů se spřátelenými hudebníky (Joshua Redman, Eric Harland, Julian Lage, Ambrose Akinmusire a další), které natočil v průběhu dvanácti měsíců a tento dlouho očekávaný počin mu vynesl skvělé kritiky nešetřící superlativy. Ben Wendel získal již nominaci na Grammy, také skladatelskou ASCAP Jazz Composer Award a již dvakrát prestižní Chamber Music America New Works Grants.

Hudební žurnalisté o jeho hudbě napsali, že je vzdělaná, originální, lyrická a citlivá, obsahující poselství J.S.Bacha, Björk i Th. Monka. Vyvažuje v sobě intelektuální zvědavost i emocionální výboje, melodickou invenci i skladatelskou odvahu.

Ben Wendel - sax

Shai Maestro - p

Harish Raghavan - b

Nate Wood - dr

Admission seating CZK 450, standing CZK 300.

Band website: www.benwendel.com