JUNE 5-16 | 41ST ANNUAL SAN FRANCISCO JAZZ FESTIVAL
Jun 12, 2024
Joe Henderson Lab
PLEASE NOTE:
This page is an archive of a past production
Please visit our calendar for all upcoming SFJAZZ shows.
Original show description below.
New York bassist/composer and bandleader Ben Wolfe’s music has been described as “Mingus and Miles Davis meet Bartok and Bernard Herrmann” (The New York Times). Acclaimed by some of the jazz world’s most respected critics for his “wit and cool intelligence” and signature “innovative, melding of hard-swinging jazz quartet, outstanding guest soloists and classical string quartet.”, Wolfe continues to produce works that draw top-flight reviews from fans and jazz journalists alike. The acclaimed bassist and his all-star quartet of bandleaders and master instrumentalists including saxophonist Nicole Glover, pianist Orrin Evans, and drummer Aaron Kimmel play music from his recent album Unjust and his upcoming August release The Understated. with an all-star quartet
There is no doubt that after decades as one of the most sought-after bassists in jazz, performing and recording with top names such as Wynton Marsalis, Harry Connick Jr., Diana Krall and many others, award-winning composer Ben Wolfe is clear about his creative direction.
Ben Wolfe has distinguished himself through a significant catalogue of original music, including well over one hundred songs across ten albums, several extended works, and the film score for Matthew Modine’s 2008 short I Think I Thought. Ben says “Much of the music I’ve composed; particularly the music that includes strings, I think of as chamber music within a jazz context.”
As the son of San Antonio Symphony violinist Daniel Wolfe, he is a two-time recipient of Chamber Music America’s New Works: Creation and Presentation Program Grant through the Doris Duke Foundation and has released ten albums to date of his original music, with his eleventh due out in August of 2024 – He also plans to release his first four extended compositions in 2025.
Ben’s 2023 release Unjust, is his tenth as a leader and features all original compositions. “This project was a gathering of musicians I believed would find common ground with each other and would also find some magic within the ensemble. I very much enjoyed the process and I’m extremely proud to present Unjust.”
The acclaimed bassist and his all-star quartet play music from his recent album Unjust and his upcoming August release The Understated.
Ben Wolfe swings with authority.
Wynton Marsalis
Ben Wolfe swings with authority.
Wynton Marsalis
Personnel
Ben Wolfe bass
Nicole Glover tenor saxophone
Orrin Evans piano
Aaron Kimmel drums
’Unjust’ is a brilliant work of melodic ensemble writing and superb playing by a stellar intergenerational crew
downbeat
Personnel
Ben Wolfe bass
Nicole Glover tenor saxophone
Orrin Evans piano
Aaron Kimmel drums
’Unjust’ is a brilliant work of melodic ensemble writing and superb playing by a stellar intergenerational crew
downbeat
Watch & Listen
Ben Wolfe
Unjust
Ben Wolfe
The Heckler
Ben Wolfe
Unjust
Ben Wolfe
The Heckler