Jazz Articles about Ben Wolfe

About Ben Wolfe

Radio & Podcasts

Ben Wolfe, David Janeway, and Ben Wendel

by Jerome Wilson
July 1, 2026

This episode features new music from Ben Wolfe, David Janeway and Ben Wendel as well as older work from Conrad Herwig, Carmen McRae and the late Abdullah Ibrahim (aka Dollar Brand).Playlist Henry Threadgill Sextett “I Can't Wait Till I Get Home" from The Complete Novus & Columbia Recordings of Henry Threadgill & Air (Mosaic) 00:00 Raoul Bjorkenheim and Krakatau “Foot Talk" from Ritual (Cuneiform) 1:01 Ray Russell Quartet “Can I Have My Paper-Back Back" from The Complete Spontaneous ...

Album Review

Ben Wolfe: Any Time After Now

Read "Any Time After Now" reviewed by Pierre Giroux

by Pierre Giroux
June 3, 2026

In this recording by bassist, composer and bandleader Ben Wolfe, titled Any Time After Now, there is a quiet assurance, with nothing straining for effect or feeling manufactured. Recorded in a single studio day alongside vibraphonist Joel Ross, pianist Sullivan Fortner, tenor saxophonist Chris Lewis and drummer Aaron Kimmel, the album spans ten tracks of original Wolfe compositions and exhibits a natural cohesion that reflects musicians deeply attuned to one another. The opener, “Any Time After Now," swings ...

Album Review

Ben Wolfe: Unjust

Read "Unjust" reviewed by Maurizio Zerbo

by Maurizio Zerbo
December 11, 2023

Sul piano compositivo e dell'organizzazione sonora, Unjust è uno dei più luminosi gioielli jazzistici degli ultimi anni. Contrabbassista di ragguardevole talento, Ben Wolfe ribadisce nel suo decimo progetto discografico la predilezione per architetture ariose ma arzigogolate, dimostrando come la scrittura jazzistica possa captare lo spirito dei tempi nel rispetto dei classici modelli di riferimento. A dimostrare come il contrabbassista statunitense non si accontenti di riprodurre le idee altrui, l'impasto sonoro del suo ottetto trascende le atmosfere post-boppistiche e ...

Album Review

Ben Wolfe: Unjust

by Dave Linn
May 19, 2023

The history of modern jazz contains only a handful of bass players who have both led their own groups and been visionary in their compositions and approach. Charles Mingus, Charlie Haden, Dave Holland, Jaco Pastorius and Christian McBride are those who come to mind. With the release of his 10th album, Unjust, Ben Wolfe shows he belongs in that group. Wolfe began his musical career as a classical bassist and studied at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in ...

Radio & Podcasts

Burt Bacharach, Joe Lovano & Ben Wolfe

by Joe Dimino
March 5, 2023

We begin the 792nd Episode of Neon Jazz with bassist Ben Wolfe's brilliant album Unjust. From there, we hear from Ben's long-time collaborator, Harry Connick, Jr. with their take on “Stompin' at the Savoy" from the When Harry Met Sally soundtrack. We also hear new music from Tarmu Jazz Quartet, Matt Greenwood, Matt Lockett and Daniel Latorre. Finally, we pay tribute to the legendary, Kansas City-born Burt Bacharach on a prolific run in music. Enjoy the jazz, my friends.

Album Review

Donald Edwards Quintet: The Color Of US Suite

Read "The Color Of US Suite" reviewed by Chris May

by Chris May
August 18, 2021

This is an album one really wants to love but ends up applauding more for its intention than its realisation. Drummer Donald Edwards has composed a suite which addresses the race hate which besmirches America and which, observed from the other side of the pond, seems to have become more bitter and entrenched with the passing years. On the opening “Little Hopes," a young girl identified as Sophia Edwards, possibly Edwards' daughter, relates with affecting simplicity her ...

Album Review

JD Walter: Dressed in a Song

Read "Dressed in a Song" reviewed by Victor L. Schermer

by Victor L. Schermer
February 28, 2020

JD Walter is a consummate vocalist who has devoted himself over many years to evolving a unique style that is nevertheless ensconced in the jazz tradition. The public relations sheet for this new CD states that “this is his first release since recovering from a life-threatening heart condition and surgeries on his heart and vocal cords." It states that this is a “comeback" record. That is a misnomer. In this recording, he takes the music to new levels of structure, ...