Kneebody

Experimental ensemble Kneebody emerged in the early 2000s with a progressive, jazz-based sound that also touched upon rock, funk, and electronic-influenced music. Although each member of Kneebody is an adept jazz improviser, they often take a compositional, group-oriented approach to their music and albums. 2008′s Low Electrical Worker, 2013′s The Line, and 2017′s Anti-Hero have found them drawing inspiration from ’70s fusion artists, Krautrock innovators, and more contemporary post-rock bands.
Formed in 2001, Kneebody originally featured keyboardist Adam Benjamin, trumpeter Shane Endsley, bassist/guitarist Kaveh Rastegar, saxophonist Ben Wendel, and drummer/bassist Nate Wood. Initially, Benjamin, Endsley, Rastegar, and Wendel met as students at the Eastman School of Music in the ’90s. Benjamin eventually transferred to CalArts where he struck up a friendship with Wood. After college, the bandmates all relocated to Los Angeles where Kneebody came together. They released their debut self-titled album on trumpeter Dave Douglas’ Greenleaf label in 2005, drawing praise for their inventive instrumental sound. It was a style they further developed on 2008′s Low Electrical Worker and 2009′s Twelve Songs by Charles Ives, the latter of which was a collaboration with vocalist Theo Bleckmann that picked up a Grammy nomination for Best Classical Crossover Album.
You Can Have Your Moment arrived on the Winter & Winter label in 2010, followed by The Line on Concord in 2013. Two years later they teamed with left-field hip-hop and electronica producer Daedelus for the collaborative LP Kneedelus, a Brainfeeder release. Their ninth studio album, Anti-Hero, arrived on Motema in 2017. In 2019, they issued Chapters which featured guest contributions by Gretchen Parlato, Michael Mayo, Gerald Clayton, and others. ~ Matt Collar