Kneebody
2026-09-19 19:00 - 20:15 (America/New_York) | Shepard Park, Canada Street, Lake George, NY, 12845, United States
Kneebody
In their almost two-decade history, the Grammy-nominated band Kneebody has created a genre and style all its own. Their sound is an explosive blend of rock energy and high-level, nuanced chamber ensemble playing, set within the frames of highly wrought compositions that balance adventurous, no-holds-barred improvisation.
Now, in 2025, Kneebody embarks on an exciting new chapter with the release of their highly anticipated album, Reach, set to drop on April 18 via GroundUP Music. This marks the band’s latest project as a quartet, featuring keyboardist Adam Benjamin, trumpeter Shane Endsley, saxophonist Ben Wendel, and the uniquely dynamic Nate Wood, who simultaneously handles both bass and drums. Reach exemplifies Kneebody’s continued evolution, pushing the boundaries of genre while delivering their signature blend of intricate composition and raw energy.
The album’s lead single, “Repeat After Me,” is already available for streaming, giving audiences a first taste of Kneebody’s refined yet adventurous approach. Saxophonist Ben Wendel describes the track as a “cheeky song” that channels a Morse code-inspired melody through shifting harmonies and groove-driven intensity. With Reach, the band showcases their ability to weave together complex rhythmic structures, fiery improvisations, and a profound sense of collective synergy.
Kneebody’s journey began in their late teens at the Eastman School of Music and CalArts, where they formed deep musical connections that ultimately converged into the band’s distinctive voice amid the vibrant Los Angeles music scene in 2001. Since then, they have garnered critical acclaim and built a dedicated international following. Their music defies classification, drawing from influences that include 1960s free-bop, 1970s jazz rock, 1990s hip-hop, and post-millennial indie rock, all infused with a classical post-minimalist sensibility.
Throughout their career, Kneebody has continuously innovated, earning a Grammy nomination for their 2009 collaboration with Theo Bleckmann on 12 Songs of Charles Ives. They have released a series of boundary-pushing albums, from The Line (2013) on Concord Records to Kneedelus (2015), a groundbreaking collaboration with electronic artist Daedelus on Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder label. Their discography also includes Anti-Hero (2017, Motéma Music), By Fire (2019), and Chapters (2019), their first full-length release as a quartet, featuring collaborations with Becca Stevens, Gretchen Parlato, Michael Mayo, Gerald Clayton, and Josh Dion.
With Reach, Kneebody is not just releasing an album—they are signaling a new era for the band. As they prepare to take the new music on the road, fans can expect an electrifying tour filled with their signature unpredictable energy, tight interplay, and spontaneous musical risk-taking. With a legacy of innovation and a future that continues to defy expectations, Kneebody remains at the forefront of modern creative music.

THEIR MUSIC

KneebodyWhen It All Comes Down

Learn More about Kneebody

Paul Winter Consort
2026-09-20 13:00 - 14:15
Paul Winter Consort
Paul Winter and his group, the Paul Winter Consort, have performed around the world, from New York’s Carnegie Hall to the Miho Museum in Japan. One of the earliest exponent’s of world music, the group has also pioneered a new genre of “earth music,” (described as “ecological jazz” by fans in Russia), interweaving classical, jazz and world music elements with voices from what Winter calls “the greatest symphony of the earth.”
Many of their recordings were made in outdoor locations, such as the Canyon album, which was featured in the documentary Canyon Consort.
The Consort has won four Grammy Awards, for Spanish Angel (1994), a live album recorded in Spain; for Silver Solstice (2005), which celebrates the annual Winter Solstice Celebrations in New York; Crestone (2007); and Miho: Journey to the Mountain (2010).
Since 1980. Paul and the Consort have been artists-in-residence at the world’s largest cathedral, New York’s St. John the Divine, where they have presented over 100 special events, including the annual Winter and Summer Solstice Celebrations, Carnival for the Rainforest, and their ecological mass, Missa Gaia/Earth Mass, which is performed annually each October as part of the Feast of St. Francis.

THEIR MUSIC

Paul Winter ConsortIcarus

Learn More about the Paul Winter Consort

Ekep Nkwelle
2026-09-20 15:00
Ekep Nkwelle
Her voice has captivated legendary jazz figures such as Wynton Marsalis, Kenny Barron, Dianne Reeves, the late Russell Malone, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Cyrus Chestnut, earning her multiple opportunities to collaborate with these luminaries.
A dynamic performer, Ekep has left her mark on world-renowned stages such as the Nice Jazz Festival, Umbria Jazz Festival, Newport Jazz Festival, Carnegie Hall, NPR’s Tiny Desk, and SFJAZZ.
After earning her Master’s Degree in 2023, she received the Juilliard Career Advancement Grant, nominated by Marsalis, in recognition of her talent and potential. In addition to performing, she is committed to arts education, having attended Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Howard University, and The Juilliard School. Her involvement with key organizations like The National Jazz Museum in Harlem, Jazz Houston, and The Woodshed Network highlights her dedication to cultural engagement and giving back to her community.

HER MUSIC

Ekep NkwelleMoody’s Mood for Love (Live at Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society)

Learn More about Ekep Nkwelle

Miguel Zenón Quartet
2026-09-20 17:00 - 18:15
Miguel Zenón Quartet
Grammy Winner, Doris Duke Artist and Guggenheim and MacArthur Fellow Miguel Zenón represents a select group of musicians who have masterfully balanced and blended the often-contradictory poles of innovation and tradition. Widely considered one of the most groundbreaking and influential saxophonists and composers of his generation, he has also developed a unique voice as a conceptualist, concentrating his efforts on perfecting a fine mix between jazz and his many musical influences.
Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Zenón has released eighteen recordings as a leader, including his latest, the Grammy-nominated Vanguardia Subterránea: Live at The Village Vanguard (2025) and the Grammy-winning album El Arte Del Bolero Vol. 2 (2023). He has worked with luminaries such as The SFJAZZ Collective, Charlie Haden, Fred Hersch, Kenny Werner, David Sánchez, Danilo Perez, The Village Vanguard Orchestra, Kurt Elling, Joey Calderazzo, Steve Coleman, Ray Barreto, Andy Montañez, Jerry Gonzalez & The Fort Apache Band, The Mingus Big Band and Bobby Hutcherson.
In April 2008 he received a fellowship from the prestigious John Simon Guggenheim Foundation. Later that year he was one of 25 distinguished individuals chosen to receive the coveted MacArthur Fellowship, also known as the “Genius Grant.” In 2011 he founded Caravana Cultural, a program which presents free-of-charge Jazz concerts in rural areas of Puerto Rico. In 2022 he received an Honorary Doctorate from La Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the highest honor bestowed by the institution. In 2024 he received a Doris Duke Artist Award from the Doris Duke Foundation.
Zenón has been featured in publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe and The Chicago Tribune. In addition, he topped both the Jazz Artist of the Year and Alto Saxophonist of the Year categories in the 2014 JazzTimes Critics Poll and was selected as Alto Saxophonist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association in 2015, 2018, 2019 and 2020 (when he was also recognized as Arranger of the Year). In 2023 he was recognized by the same organization as the Composer of the Year.
As a composer he has been commissioned by SFJAZZ, NYO Jazz, The New York State Council on the Arts, Chamber Music America, Logan Center for The Arts, The Hyde Park Jazz Festival, The John Simon Guggenheim Foundation, MIT, Spektral Quartet, Miller Theater, The Hewlett Foundation, Peak Performances, PRISM Quartet, Kinetic Ensemble and many of his peers. Zenón has given hundreds of lectures and master classes at institutions all over the world and is an Associate Professor in the Music & Theater Arts Department at MIT.
Zenón lives in New York City with his wife Elga and their daughter.

HIS MUSIC

Miguel Zenón & Luis PerdomoEn La Oscuridad

Learn More about Miguel Zenón
