Lakecia Benjamin
High-energy alto saxophone that bridges the gap between spiritual jazz tradition and modern funk grit. Radiant, muscular, and deeply soulful music for moving forward.
High-energy alto saxophone that bridges the gap between spiritual jazz tradition and modern funk grit. Radiant, muscular, and deeply soulful music for moving forward.
Lakecia Benjamin plays the saxophone like she is trying to wake up the world. Her sound is bright, piercing, and undeniably joyful, carrying a weight that feels both ancient and completely contemporary. It is jazz that refuses to stay in a corner, instead spilling over into the realms of high-octane funk and lush neo-soul. When you listen, you can hear the lineage of the greats, but it is filtered through a New York City urgency that makes every note feel like a necessary statement.
What truly sets her apart is the sheer scale of her arrangements. She often leads large, formidable ensembles that sound like a modern-day 'army of funk,' blending complex polyrhythms with soaring, spiritual melodies. There is a sense of 'the big picture' in her work, where her alto sax acts as a narrator through dense, kaleidoscopic soundscapes. It is music that feels expensive and expansive, yet remains grounded in the raw, physical energy of a live performance.
Start with the album 'Phoenix' to hear her at her most realized. It is a masterclass in how to honor jazz history while pushing it into a cinematic, genre-blurring future. If you want something more groove-oriented, 'Retox' showcases her ability to command a dance floor without losing her technical edge.
Lakecia Benjamin is an American jazz, funk, and R&B saxophonist. Benjamin was born and raised in New York City. She grew up in a Dominican neighborhood in Washington Heights, Manhattan and played merengue, salsa, and Latin music. As a touring musician she has performed with Missy Elliot and Alicia Keys. She has performed on four continents, for President Barack Obama's 2009 Inauguration, and with Clark Terry, Reggie Workman, Rashied Ali, the David Murray Big Band, Vanessa Rubin, and James Blood Ulmer. She started the band Soul Squad to showcase her compositions.
Shares spiritual jazz, post-bop, funk, empowering (signature)
Shares spiritual jazz, funk, saxophone, upright bass (signature)
Shares spiritual jazz, funk, empowering, saxophone (signature)
Shares spiritual jazz, post-bop, voice as instrument, empowering (signature)
Shares spiritual jazz, neo-soul, funk, empowering (signature)
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