
Ben Wendel, Understory: Live at the Village Vanguard Review
Ben Wendel An Exploration of Jazz Tension, Release, and Freedom
by Nolan DeBuke
Ben Wendel’s Understory: Live at the Village Vanguard is a live documentation of the saxophonist’s continuing journey through the sonics of modern jazz. Released on October 4, 2024, by Edition Records, this album captures Wendel’s unyielding quest for fresh expressions while remaining grounded in the traditions that birthed the genre. Recorded at the iconic Village Vanguard—where the walls echo with the history of Evans, Coltrane, and Davis—Wendel and his stellar quartet embody the Vanguard’s spirit of innovation while delivering a live album that pulses with life, tension, and release.
The core of this album lies in its lineup. Joining Wendel are the pianist Gerald Clayton, bassist Linda May Han Oh, and drummer Obed Calvaire—a dream team of contemporary jazz artists whose chemistry elevates the performance into the realm of legendary live recordings. What makes this album particularly special is the balance between meticulous composition and unrestrained improvisation, with each musician pushing boundaries while maintaining an uncanny ability to listen and respond.
The Village Vanguard has long been a crucible for transformative jazz performances, and Understory: Live at the Village Vanguard continues this tradition. Following his Grammy-nominated All One, Wendel’s first live album takes full advantage of the space’s intimate and storied atmosphere. There’s a sense of dialogue between past and present here—a thematic continuation of his prior work, High Heart, where Wendel explored the tension between artistic poles: high art vs. low art, digital vs. analog. Understory: Live at the Village Vanguard zooms in further, picking apart the tension within Wendel himself as an artist. While embracing the jazz idiom, he also seeks to transcend it, weaving in sonic elements from post-rock, classical music, and modern electronic textures.
Understory: Live at the Village Vanguard opens with “Lu,” an exploration of rhythmic and melodic evolution. Wendel’s solo introduction lays the groundwork, establishing a motif that is rhythmically charged and harmonically rich. When Oh and Calvaire enter, they create a groove with Afro-Cuban and Caribbean influences, adding layers of propulsion that propel the track forward. Clayton’s piano solo is a highlight, playing off the rhythmic vitality of the piece. Wendel’s use of effects here further cements his sonic identity, exploring new textures while maintaining an organic connection to the acoustic tradition.
The energy continues with “Proof,” an up-tempo tune that showcases the quartet’s ability to navigate tutti melodies and rapid shifts in feels. Clayton’s solo here is adventurous and elegant, effortlessly threading the needle between tradition and modern sonorities. Wendel’s solo, however, is the real climax—his sheets of sound seem to arc and snake through the harmonic landscape, delivering bursts of creative energy that elicit gasps from the audience. This track exemplifies the ensemble’s deep interconnectedness, with each musician keenly attuned to the others’ improvisational inclinations.
In “On the Trail,” the quartet ventures into more folklike territory. Wendel’s melody floats over a looping rhythmic figure shared by Clayton and Oh, creating a hypnotic sense of movement. The interplay between swing and straight-eighth feels during the solos offers a fascinating contrast, showcasing Calvaire’s ability to fluidly switch rhythmic gears while keeping the groove intact. This track highlights the ensemble’s versatility, with the switch to swing halfway through, adding a refreshing change in texture before returning to the main ostinato and theme.
“Scosh” taps into a funky ’70s groove, where Wendel’s use of saxophone effects blends seamlessly with Clayton’s syncopated piano rhythms. The band delivers an irresistibly funky atmosphere while maintaining the sophistication and complexity that characterizes Wendel’s compositions. The playfulness of this piece—particularly in Wendel’s multi-octave explorations—adds a vibrant color to the album, showing the quartet’s ability to balance technical mastery with sheer enjoyment of the groove.
Slowing down the tempo, “Jean & Renata” offers a moment to relax. The interaction between Oh’s bass and Wendel’s saxophone creates a compelling counterpoint, with Clayton adding lush harmonic colors that evoke a European jazz aesthetic. This track stands out for its lyricism and the spaciousness it offers each player, particularly in Oh’s beautifully structured solo. Wendel’s compositional voice shines here, as he melds multiple influences—from Afro-Caribbean rhythms to chamber music-like harmony—into a coherent, emotionally resonant piece.
A bluesy shuffle underpins “I Saw You Say,” where Oh’s wordless vocals float along with the melody, adding another layer to this already richly textured ensemble. The composition plays with counterpoints and tight ensemble passages that build to an energetic peak, offering a rhythmic palette full of surprises. Oh’s ability to seamlessly integrate her voice into the ensemble’s sound adds an extra dimension, and her vocal textures reinforce the emotional depth of the piece.
“Tao” serves as the closing statement—a release of all the pent-up energy accumulated throughout the performance. Clayton’s funky, mid-tempo groove sets the tone for this more relaxed but still electrifying number. The open harmonic structures and the quartet’s loose, flowing interplay make this feel like a final exhale, a culmination of the quartet’s journey through Wendel’s elaborate sonic landscape. The track is a fitting end to a performance that is intellectually stimulating and emotionally satisfying.
Understory: Live at the Village Vanguard is a very enjoyable live jazz album—it is a statement of purpose from Ben Wendel. The interplay between structure and spontaneity, tradition and innovation, is balanced throughout. Wendel’s compositional voice is distinct, but it is his collaborative spirit—nurtured by his stellar ensemble—that truly makes this album soar. The legendary setting of the Village Vanguard lends an air of gravitas, but Wendel and his band bring something new to the table: a forward-thinking, harmonically rich vision of what jazz can be from a leading voice in contemporary jazz.
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