Tenor and baritone saxophonist Ben Abarbanel-Wolff (b. 1974) grew up in Washington, D.C. He began piano lessons at the age of five, and switched to saxophone at age ten. Ben studied saxophone at the University of Michigan, the New School for Social Research, and Bennington College, where he earned his Master's degree. Ben has studied with: Reggie Workman, Roscoe Mitchell, Charles Gayle, Donald Sinta, Matthew Shipp, Roswell Rudd, Rob Brown, Gary Louie and Charlie Persip. At Bennington College, Ben studied intensively with master drummer and healer Milford Graves.

In 2001, Ben moved to Berlin, Germany, where he has been active in the city's jazz, funk, and african music scenes. He performs regularly with: Karl Hector & the Malcouns, Ulrich Gumpert Quartet and Workshop Band, the Baltic Soul Orchestra, and the Poets of Rhythm. He is a founding member and musical director of the Afrobeat Academy. Last but certainly not least, Ben is the saxophonist in the band of Xavier Naidoo, Germany's number one soul superstar.