Canadian saxophonist Ben Wendel (b. 1976) is one of a new wave of soloists
promoted by the Sunnyside label. The mainstay of the group Kneebody, which he
formed in 2001 and with which he recorded four studio albums, Ben Wendel has
collaborated on numerous sessions, notably for pianist Tigran Hamasyan and
singer Jason Mraz. His first album as leader, Simple Song (2009), earned the
composer an ASCAP trophy. The tenor saxophonist and professor of jazz at the
University of Southern California released his second album Frame in 2012.