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 (Yoshi’s, Fillmore Jazz Festival, Catalina’s, The Grape, Jazz Under Ground). To date he has released one album as a leader (Jacob Wendt Quartet, 2011) another as co-leader (Carter-White-Wendt, 2013) and a collection of original compositions (Jacob Wendt Sextet: Live at the Blue Whale, 2020). A new Jacob Wendt Quintet album will be released in 2024 featuring all original music and arrangements (with Harry Ostrander, Jimmy Emerzian, Doug Carter, and David Reynoso).
As a student of the University of California, Irvine, Jacob received a Bachelors of Music degree in jazz studies, where his research and studies included music performance and composition. With an interest in world music studies, he also received a certificate of Ethnomusicology while studying with Dr. Robert Garfias in the Anthropology department.
At The California Institute for the Arts Jacob was a teaching assistant for drummer/educator Joe La Barbera, and on several occasions led his History of Jazz course independently. As a graduate student at California State University, Fullerton, he created and organized the CSUF Lab Band; each week would feature a different topic or theme (record label, composer, album) and a discussion would be held about the subject’s history and significance before playing through related music. Jacob graduated in May 2022 with a Masters of Music degree in jazz studies and commercial music
As an educator, he maintains a private studio of drum set, percussion, guitar, and piano students in the Los Angeles area with a wide range of ages and levels - (classes/clinics are offered in individual and group settings.)
As an educator, he maintains a private studio of drum set, percussion, guitar, and piano students in the Los Angeles area with a wide range of ages and levels - (classes/clinics are offered in individual and group settings.)
Jacob leads and performs with The Long Beach Jazz Jam, currently in its TENTH year running and hosted at The Auld Dubliner in downtown Long Beach. The house band plays original music and pieces that Jacob has transcribed from various jazz albums - a collection of over 250 charts! The LBJJ has been the premier jazz jam session in Long Beach for over a decade.
Jacob has served on the Board of Directors for the JAZZ ANGELS - Long Beach's non-profit, youth-based music education program. He is also a jazz director at Arrowbear Music Camp (Summer 2024 session is June 16-22! check the Arrowbear website for more info).
Jacob occasionally works as an accompanist at El Camino College in Torrance, working with students in the applied music program and the dance department.