New York bassist, composer, and bandleader Ben Wolfe has been hailed as one of the most distinctive creative voices in modern jazz. His music—described by The New York Times’ Ben Ratliff as “Mingus and Miles Davis meet Bartók and Bernard Herrmann—balances elegance and propulsion, accessibility and edge, with a clarity that rewards repeated listening.”
Wolfe’s 2024 release, The Understated, is his eleventh album as a leader and features all original compositions. A follow-up to his critically acclaimed record Unjust, the album showcases Wolfe’s signature: melodic ensemble writing, expressive subtlety, and a chamber-like approach to jazz. DownBeat calls the record “a beauty.”
A first-call bassist for decades, Wolfe has toured and recorded internationally with Wynton Marsalis, Harry Connick Jr., Diana Krall, Branford Marsalis, Eric Reed, Benny Green, and many others. His early credits include Grammy-winning, platinum-selling albums like When Harry Met Sally and Krall’s When I Look in Your Eyes. He also performed with the Wynton Marsalis Septet and was a member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, sharing stages with legends such as Joe Henderson, Doc Cheatham, Jon Hendricks, and Billy Higgins.
As an award-winning composer, Wolfe is a two-time recipient of Chamber Music America’s New Works grant from the Doris Duke Foundation, creating extended works such as “Contradiction: Music for Sextet” and “Nonet,” both slated for release. His portfolio includes over 100 original compositions across 11 leader albums, along with film scoring work praised by The New York Sun as “a standout music score.”
Ben leads several distinctive ensembles, featuring top jazz veterans, and upcoming young talents, presented in a range of formats, from Quartet to Sextet, featuring trumpet, saxophone, and vibraphone. He also performs with his trio sometimes featuring piano and other times piano-less, with vibraphone or saxophone. He’s appearing at Lena’s as a Trio.
Today, alongside his international performing career, Wolfe is on the faculty at The Juilliard School, mentoring the next generation of jazz innovators.
As Wynton Marsalis puts it: “Ben Wolfe swings with authority!”
The Peak Jazz Series is made possible by the generous support of Joseph & Luann Conlon in memory of Corrine Simonds.
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