JACOB WENDT is a musician, composer, music director, and educator in the Los Angeles area. A native of Northern California’s Bay Area, Jacob started playing the piano at the age of six. His musical curiosity led him to study multiple instruments during his youth, including the guitar, bass, tuba, drum set, and percussion.
Although heavily influenced by Jazz and R&B drumming greats of the 1950’s and 60’s, his sound is unique; balanced, supportive, and interactive, with a driving energy that serves the music while leaving space for others to speak — he is an authoritative yet never intrusive player. His original ensembles have headlined major venues across Northern and Southern California (Blue Whale, Yoshi’s, Fillmore Jazz Festival, Catalina’s, 123 Farm Jazz Festival, The Sound Room, The Grape, Jazz Under Ground, The Harmony Room).
To date he has released three albums as a leader: Jacob Wendt Quartet (2011) Silver Street (2024) and The Gallery (2026). An additional album as co-leader, Carter-White-Wendt (2013) and a collection of original compositions, Jacob Wendt Sextet: Live at the Blue Whale (2020).
The Gallery (Cohearent Records, 2026) is Wendt’s forthcoming release for the label owned by world-renowned mastering engineer, Kevin Gray. The album presents six original compositions. captured through a fully all-valve signal path — from microphones to cutterhead — for the warmth and immediacy that define Cohearent's audiophile pressings. Recorded May 18 and 19, 2026.
Pre-order The Gallery vinyl LP:
https://www.theingroove.com/products/pre-order-jacob-wendt-the-gallery-cohearent-records-lp
Silver Street (Hayden Records, 2024) is Wendt’s debut; a critically-acclaimed, self-produced hardbop album. In the spirit of classic recordings released by Blue Note during the 1950’s & 60’s, the album features all original compositions influenced by jazz greats such as Horace Silver, Sonny Clark, Lee Morgan, Wayne Shorter, and Hank Mobley. Silver Street personnel includes Harry Ostrander (trumpet) Jimmy Emerzian (tenor) Doug Carter (piano) and David Reynoso (bass).
Purchase Silver Street vinyl LP:
https://www.theingroove.com/products/pre-order-jacob-wendt-silver-street-lp
Download Silver Street on Bandcamp:
https://jacobwendt.bandcamp.com/album/silver-street
Michael Fremer’s review of Silver Street on Tracking Angle:
https://trackingangle.com/music/drummer-composer-arranger-jacob-wendt-takes-bn-love-to-a-higher-level
Mazzy’s Music (Norman Maslov) review of Silver Street:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Pl40BCOTtc
Bellisario Sonic review of Silver Street:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVYQwuF2HHc
Interview with The Jazz Bums: