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 <a href="spotify:artist:09Kh7SI4OfdA3RUTiZFHbQ">Shane Endsley</a>, bassist/guitarist <a href="spotify:artist:6UKgK94NWmwrunY0qdVMKr">Kaveh Rastegar</a>, saxophonist <a href="spotify:artist:0gaASCUAMqvXxGFDYaNFca">Ben Wendel</a>, and drummer/bassist <a href="spotify:artist:7naYSK1hW7hTZJtrhCrLvR">Nate Wood</a>. Initially, Benjamin, <a href="spotify:artist:09Kh7SI4OfdA3RUTiZFHbQ">Endsley</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6UKgK94NWmwrunY0qdVMKr">Rastegar</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:0gaASCUAMqvXxGFDYaNFca">Wendel</a> met as students at the Eastman School of Music in the '90s. Benjamin eventually transferred to CalArts where he struck up a friendship with <a href="spotify:artist:7naYSK1hW7hTZJtrhCrLvR">Wood</a>. After college, the bandmates all relocated to Los Angeles where Kneebody came together. They released their debut self-titled album on trumpeter <a href="spotify:artist:3SQrLX0O6RbBjmSIkwCgJb">Dave Douglas</a>' <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Greenleaf%22">Greenleaf</a> 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 <a href="spotify:artist:0BaPQJfbkwN3y4n7qALgRZ">Theo Bleckmann</a> 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 <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Concord%22">Concord</a> in 2013. Two years later they teamed with left-field hip-hop and electronica producer <a href="spotify:artist:1YRGQOk4Mk9EpM6nTJhXtK">Daedelus</a> for the collaborative LP Kneedelus, a <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Brainfeeder%22">Brainfeeder</a> release. Their ninth studio album, Anti-Hero, arrived on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Motema%22">Motema</a> in 2017. In 2019, they issued Chapters which featured guest contributions by <a href="spotify:artist:76Gi1qoWLrIerL5FcL0TZb">Gretchen Parlato</a>, Michael Mayo, <a href="spotify:artist:5mYw31MXiGnqTMliAcl7m8">Gerald Clayton</a>, and others. ~ Matt Collar, Rovi