Ben Wolfe

Bass
Artist Albums
Recently Added
10/11/2025
Smalls
Ben Wolfe Quartet
10/10/2025
Smalls
Ben Wolfe Quartet
07/19/2025
Mezzrow
Adam Birnbaum Trio
07/18/2025
Mezzrow
Adam Birnbaum Trio
07/06/2025
Mezzrow
Angela Roberts Quartet
04/19/2025
Mezzrow
Addison Frei Trio
04/12/2025
Smalls
Ben Wolfe Quartet
04/11/2025
Smalls
Ben Wolfe Quartet
11/02/2024
Smalls
Ben Wolfe Quartet
11/01/2024
Smalls
Ben Wolfe Quartet
10/19/2024
Mezzrow
Brandon Goldberg Trio
10/18/2024
Mezzrow
Brandon Goldberg Trio
02/10/2024
Smalls
Ben Wolfe Quartet
02/09/2024
Smalls
Ben Wolfe Quartet
11/18/2023
Mezzrow
Brandon Goldberg, Ben Wolfe & Jimmy Macbride
11/17/2023
Mezzrow
Brandon Goldberg, Ben Wolfe & Jimmy Macbride
05/06/2023
Smalls
Ben Wolfe Quartet
05/05/2023
Smalls
Ben Wolfe Quartet
10/01/2022
Smalls
Ben Wolfe Quartet
09/30/2022
Smalls
Ben Wolfe Quartet
03/05/2022
Mezzrow
YOTAM SILBERSTEIN, BEN WOLFE & JOHNATHAN BLAKE
03/04/2022
Mezzrow
Yotam Silberstein, Ben Wolfe & Johnathan Blake
02/26/2022
Mezzrow
Brandon Goldberg, Ben Wolfe & Aaron Kimmel
02/27/2020
Smalls
Mike Bond Quintet
01/11/2020
Mezzrow
Ben Wolfe, Yotam Silberstein & Aaron Kimmel
01/10/2020
Mezzrow
Ben Wolfe, Yotam Silberstein & Aaron Kimmel
09/08/2019
Smalls
Bruce Harris Quintet
08/27/2019
Mezzrow
JD Walter, Julius Rodriguez & Ben Wolfe
02/16/2019
Mezzrow
Monte Croft, Gary Fisher & Ben Wolfe
02/15/2019
Mezzrow
Monte Croft, Gary Fisher & Ben Wolfe
01/20/2019
Smalls
Angela Roberts Quintet
11/17/2018
Mezzrow
Donald Vega w. Ben Wolfe and Billy Drummond
11/16/2018
Mezzrow
Donald Vega w. Ben Wolfe and Billy Drummond
11/02/2018
Mezzrow
Joe Davidian "After-hours"
10/20/2018
Smalls
Adam Birnbaum Quartet
10/19/2018
Smalls
Adam Birnbaum Quartet
09/22/2018
Smalls
Andy Farber Septet
09/21/2018
Smalls
Andy Farber Septet
07/19/2018
Mezzrow
Monte Croft, Michael Weiss & Ben Wolfe
07/01/2018
Smalls
David Gibson Quintet
06/30/2018
Mezzrow
Jon Davis - "After-hours"
05/17/2018
Smalls
Ben Wolfe Quartet
04/15/2018
Smalls
David Gibson Quintet
04/14/2018
Mezzrow
Jon Davis - "After-hours"
04/10/2018
Mezzrow
Michelle Lordi Quartet
04/05/2018
Mezzrow
Monte Croft with Ben Wolfe & Anthony Wonsey
03/17/2018
Smalls
Donald Edwards Quintet
03/16/2018
Smalls
Donald Edwards Quintet
03/08/2018
Mezzrow
Jon Davis - "after-hours"
02/25/2018
Smalls
Nick Hempton Band
02/24/2018
Mezzrow
Jon Davis "After hours"
02/18/2018
Smalls
Andy Farber Septet
02/14/2018
Smalls
Vitaly Golovnev Sextet
12/20/2017
Mezzrow
Richard Johnson with Gregory Generet & Ben Wolfe
12/09/2017
Mezzrow
Jon Davis - after hours
12/07/2017
Mezzrow
Monte Croft with Anthony Wonsey & Ben Wolfe
11/19/2017
Smalls
Andy Farber Septet
08/31/2017
Mezzrow
Monte Croft w/ Anthony Wonsey & Ben Wolfe
07/29/2017
Smalls
The Donald Edwards Quintet
07/28/2017
Smalls
The Donald Edwards Quintet
06/10/2017
Smalls
The Lenny Robinson Quartet
06/01/2017
Smalls
The Nick Hempton Band
05/31/2017
Mezzrow
Lage Lund, Sullivan Fortner & Ben Wolfe
05/20/2017
Smalls
Lawrence Leathers - "After-hours"
04/20/2017
Smalls
The Thomas Marriott Quartet
02/16/2017
Mezzrow
Ben Wolfe & Pete Malinverni Duo
02/11/2017
Mezzrow
Orrin Evans w. JD Walter & Ben Wolfe
02/10/2017
Mezzrow
Orrin Evans w. JD Walter & Ben Wolfe
12/29/2016
Smalls
The Nick Hempton Band
11/03/2016
Mezzrow
Joey Caldarazzo w. Ben Wolfe & Donald Edwards
08/13/2016
Smalls
The Ryan Kisor Quartet
08/12/2016
Smalls
The Ryan Kisor Quartet
07/07/2016
Smalls
The Quincy Davis Quintet
07/06/2016
Smalls
The Quincy Davis Quintet
06/18/2016
Smalls
The Donald Edwards Quintet
06/17/2016
Smalls
The Donald Edwards Quintet
05/08/2016
Mezzrow
Joel Frahm w. Spike Wilner & Ben Wolfe
05/04/2016
Mezzrow
Ben Wolfe w/ Orrin Evans
04/17/2016
Mezzrow
Joel Frahm w/ Spike Wilner, Ben Wolfe
02/25/2016
Smalls
Sanah Kadoura - After-hours Jam Session
02/24/2016
Mezzrow
Adam Birnbaum & Ben Wolfe
11/28/2015
Smalls
The Lawrence Leathers Trio
11/16/2015
Mezzrow
John Stetch w/ Ben Wolfe
09/05/2013
Smalls
The Jaz Sawyer NYC4
01/18/2013
Smalls
The Tardo Hammer Trio
11/21/2012
Smalls
The Ben Wolfe Quartet
11/20/2012
Smalls
The Ben Wolfe Quartet
08/08/2012
Smalls
The Patrick Cornelius Group
03/22/2012
Smalls
The Sharel Cassity Group
03/03/2012
Smalls
The Ben Wolfe Quartet
03/02/2012
Smalls
The Ben Wolfe Quartet
05/21/2011
Smalls
The Ben Wolfe Quartet
05/20/2011
Smalls
The Ben Wolfe Quartet
04/23/2011
Smalls
The Greg Hutchinson Quintet
01/20/2011
Smalls
The Ron Blake Quartet
05/26/2010
Smalls
The Ben Wolfe Quintet
05/25/2010
Smalls
The Ben Wolfe Quintet
12/07/2009
Smalls
The Ben Wolfe Quartet
12/20/2008
Smalls
The Ben Wolfe Sextet
12/19/2008
Smalls
The Ben Wolfe Sextet
03/22/2008
Smalls
The Ben Wolfe Quartet
03/21/2008
Smalls
The Ben Wolfe Quartet
Upcoming Shows
   New York bassist/composer and bandleader Ben Wolfe’s music has been described as “Mingus and Miles Davis meet Bartok and Bernard Herrmann” (Ben Ratliff - The New York Times). With acclaim by some of the jazz world’s most respected critics, Wolfe continues to produce works that draw top-flight reviews from fans and jazz journalists alike.   Ben’s 2024 release The Understated is his eleventh as leader and features all original compositions. Nicole Glover who plays tenor saxophone on the record says in her liner notes “This record succeeds in bringing Ben’s beautiful music to life through extremely conscientious group playing. Nothing is forced or pushed; everything that needs to be stated is stated.”   “The Understated is a beauty.” (Carlo Wolff, Downbeat)   In many ways, The Understated is a continuation of his previous release the critically acclaimed Unjust. “Unjust is a brilliant work of melodic ensemble writing and superb playing by a stellar intergenerational crew.” (Bill Milkowski, Downbeat). It’s balance – of elegance and propulsion, of accessibility and edge - distinguishes it from most conventional jazz. Its details reward repeated listening.” (Larry Blumenfeld, Wall Street Journal)   There is no doubt that after decades as one of the most sought-after bassists in jazz, performing with top names such as Wynton Marsalis, Harry Connick Jr., Diana Krall and many others, award-winning composer and bandleader Ben Wolfe is clear about his creative direction… “Much of the music I’ve composed; particularly the music that includes strings, I think of as chamber music within a jazz context.”   An award-winning composer, Ben is a two-time recipient of Chamber Music America’s New Works: Creation and Presentation Program Grant through the Doris Duke Foundation. First received in 2004, Ben was able to use this funding to compose his extended work “Contradiction: Music for Sextet.” He received the grant in 2020 and composed “Nonet”. Both of these extended works have been recorded for future release.   Wolfe has distinguished himself through a significant catalogue of original music, including over one hundred songs across eleven albums, several extended works, and the film score for Matthew Modine’s 2008 short I Think I Thought. The New York Sun hailed his work on this film as, “a standout music score.”   Wolfe’s early career included Grammy award-winning, platinum-selling collaborations with both Harry Connick Jr. and Diana Krall, including Harry’s 1988 soundtrack album When Harry Met Sally, and Diana’s 1999 release When I Look in Your Eyes. He appeared alongside both artists on numerous world tours.   Wolfe’s ongoing and close association with Wynton Marsalis; during which Marsalis recorded as a guest on two of his albums, has seen Ben appear on a number of Wynton’s releases, and included a stint in the Wynton Marsalis Septet and membership in the Jazz at Lincoln CenteOrchestra (JLCO), where he performed with jazz luminaries such as Joe Henderson, Doc Cheatham, Jon Hendricks, Harry “Sweets” Edison, and Billy Higgins, among many others. Contemporary jazz greats with whom he has also worked and recorded include Branford Marsalis, Orrin Evans, Eric Reed and Benny Green.   Ben Wolfe’s full list of recorded original albums as a leader:   • The Understated, Resident Arts Records ( 2024) • Unjust, Resident Arts Records ( 2023) • Fatherhood, Resident Arts Records (2019) • The Whisperer, Posi-Tone (2015) • From Here I See, MAXJAZZ/Mack Avenue Records (2013) • Ben Wolfe Quintet: Live at Smalls, SmallsLIVE (2011) • No Strangers Here, MAXJAZZ/Mack Avenue Records (2008) • My Kinda Beautiful, Planet Arts Records (2004) • Murray’s Cadillac, Amosaya Music (2000) • Bagdad Theater, Mons Records (1997) • 13 Sketches, Mons Records (1996)     Ben maintains a busy schedule, performing and touring on the international stage. Currently a member of the teaching faculty at The Julliard School in New York City, Ben is helping to shape and mentor the jazz scene’s next generation of outstanding talent.     “Ben Wolfe swings with authority!”- to quote Wynton Marsalis.