Jacob Wendt is a multi-instrumentalist, composer/arranger, and educator in the Los Angeles area. 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 propels the music while leaving space for others to speak — he is an authoritative yet never intrusive player. Jacob is an active performer whose original ensembles have headlined major venues across the East and West Coast (Jazz at Lincoln Center, Yoshi’s San Francisco, Fillmore Jazz Festival, Blue Whale, Catalina’s, Steamers, The Grape Ventura, Muckenthaler Cultural Center, Placentia Jazz & Art Festival).

Jacob is the founder and musical director of The Long Beach Jazz Jam, a series he has led since 2013. This session showcases hardbop music from the 1950’s and 60’s, with a focus on instrumental interpretation of melody and improvisation. Each month the house band presents a set of music with a different theme (either original music, or the work of a specific artist, band, or album). The session’s goal is to provide a fun and inviting atmosphere for younger musicians (introducing them to great jazz artists, musical concepts and history) while also maintaining a high-level performance setting for professional musicians. The Long Beach Jazz Jam has continuously proved to be a musically enriching space for young jazz musicians in the OC and LA area over the last decade. Although the house band uses charts to read through various arrangements, during the jam session portion no phones, iRealB, RealBooks, or other reading materials are allowed; American songbook tunes, standards, and well-known jazz compositions are the common repertoire.