BEN WENDEL

International premiere of a unique project by star saxophonist from New York. Jazz finds roots in activism. In challenging or bypassing conventions. A conversation with the status quo. Through improvisation, jazz is constantly exploring new forms of interaction. This quest, and the conversations that are found along the way, are central to REFLEX. In the series we invite musicians to create new work that reflects on the world and its society. For this new edition in the series we have invited a rising star of American jazz, saxophonist Ben Wendel, who will step out of his comfort zone especially for REFLEX. Ben Wendel is a versatile musician, who effortlessly switches between tenor sax and bassoon and from jazz to classical music, funk or West Coast hip-hop. The New York-based saxophonist made name with the progressive band Kneebody, with which he earned a Grammy nomination. Alongside jazz luminaries such as Joshua Redman and Jeff Ballard, he has collaborated with the likes of Prince, Snoop Dogg and producer/beat maker Daedelus. In recent years he launched ambitious projects such as Seasons, a series of duets on YouTube, and High Heart, in which he collaborated with peers such as Lage Lund and Shai Maestro. Line-up TBA -- (Text and image) https://www.bimhuis.nl/en/calendar/ben-wendel/