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Lakecia Benjamin

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Voted by 2020 Downbeat Critics Poll Rising star Alto Saxophonist and Up and Coming Artist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association ,Charismatic and dynamic saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin fuses traditional conceptions of Jazz, HipHop, and Soul. Benjamin’s electric presence and fiery sax work has shared stages with several legendary artists, including Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, The Roots, and Macy Gray. As the bandleader of Lakecia Benjamin and Soul Squad, she melds the vintage sounds of James Brown, Maceo Parker, Sly and the Family Stone, and the Meters with soaring, dance-floor worthy rhythms. Benjamin’s grooves take the classic vibe to a whole new level with sultry alto saxophone creating something special on every cut – be it a smoldering late-night ambiance, or a forceful jazz intensity, or even the tight funk multi-horn harmony sections.

A streetwise New York City native born and raised in Washington Heights, Lakecia Benjamin first picked up the saxophone at Fiorello LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts. From there she joined the renowned jazz program at New York’s New School University. However, even at that early stage, Benjamin was already playing with renowned jazz figures like Clark Terry and Reggie Workman, which introduced her to opportunities to play and tour with an array of artists such as Rashied Ali, the David Murray Big Band, Vanessa Rubin and James “Blood” Ulmer. With her deep jazz roots, she was soon in demand as an arranger and horn section leader, landing stints with such acclaimed artists as Anita Baker.

Currently Lakecia Benjamin’s latest album “Pursuance” is an intergenerational masterpiece that takes one on a journey through the lineage of the music with the works of John and Alice Coltrane. Benjamin pays homage to those who have come before by featuring innovative bandleaders of her generation, such as, Reggie Workman (Coproducer and playing ), Ron carter , Gary Bartz, Dee Dee Bridegwater, Meshell Ndegecello, Regina carter, Bertha Hope, Last poets, Greg Osby, Steve Wilson, John Benitez, Marc Cary, Marcus Gilmore, Keyon Harrold, Marcus Strickland, Brandee Younger, Georgia Anne Muldrow, and Jazzmeia Horn.


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Radio & Podcasts

New Year, New Releases, Part 2 -- Review of 2023 Recordings & More

Read "New Year, New Releases, Part 2 -- Review of 2023 Recordings & More" reviewed by Mary Foster Conklin


The first broadcast of 2024 includes new releases from Mark Winkler plus a single from Rachel Z, Part 2 of my favorite recordings of 2023 with birthday shoutouts to Naama Gheber, Myra Melford, Carol Sudhalter, Georgia Mancio, Christine Tobin, Susannah McCorkle and Rachel Z, among others. Thanks for listening and please support the artists you hear by seeing them live and online. Purchase their music so they can continue to distract, comfort, provoke and inspire.Playlist Lakecia Benjamin “Jubilation" ...

Album Review

Lakecia Benjamin: Phoenix

Read "Phoenix" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi


A dodici anni dal debutto funk di Retox e dopo il sentito omaggio a John e Alice Coltrane di tre anni fa (Pursuance: The Coltranes) la sassofonista newyorchese realizza il disco della prima maturità, dimostrando di saper padroneggiare le molte influenze assimilate dall'infanzia. Influenze che partono dalla musica latina che ascoltava nel quartiere di Washington Heights e attraversano la Black Music nella sua interezza, da Sly Stone, James Brown, Charlie Parker e i boppers fino a John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter ...

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Album Review

Lakecia Benjamin: Phoenix

Read "Phoenix" reviewed by Jerome Wilson


The previous album by saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, Pursuance: The Coltranes, (Ropeadope, 2020) was a multifaceted tribute to the music of both John Coltrane and Alice Coltrane. Her new album takes on societal and human issues with similar diversity but in a more compact and organized manner. It moves from a socially aware mix of soul, R'n'B, and jazz fusion in its first half to full-blown spiritual jazz in its second. The album begins with the sound of sirens ...

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Album Review

Lakecia Benjamin: Phoenix

Read "Phoenix" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic


True to her nature, saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin keeps the flame to the dynamite on her smoking follow-up to the wildfire of Pursuance (Ropeadope, 2020), her still hot-to-the-touch dedication to the music and spirituality of John Coltrane and Alice Coltrane. Co-produced with maximum female power by Benjamin and Terri Lyne Carrington, the torrential riptide “Amerikkan Skin" ambushes one's consciousness via the urgency of police sirens only to give way to the equally urgent dictum of radical thinker, activist, educator ...

Album Review

Somi: Zenzile: The Reimagination Of Miriam Makeba

Read "Zenzile: The Reimagination Of Miriam Makeba" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi


Il legame musicale e simbolico con l'Africa resta centrale nella produzione artistica di Somi, la vocalist e cantautrice statunitense dai genitori africani giunta al successo con gli album The Lagos Music Saloon e Holy Room. Il suo nuovo progetto è dedicato a Miriam Makeba, che avrebbe compiuto 90 anni il 4 marzo, data di pubblicazione del presente album. I brani in scaletta, tutti presi dallo storico repertorio della cantante, sono condivisi col musical Dreaming Zenzile, che Somi ...

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In Pictures

The Tenth Annual John Coltrane international Jazz & Blues Festival

Read "The Tenth Annual John Coltrane international Jazz & Blues Festival" reviewed by La-Faithia White


A collection of photos from the tenth annual John Coltrane International Jazz & Blues Festival in High Point, North Carolina from September 4th 2021 to September 5th 2021, featuring Marcus Anderson, Kenny Lattimore, Blood Sweat and Tears, Julian Vaughn, Lakecia Benjamin, Kurt Elling, Galactic featuring Anjelika Jelly Joseph} Tito Puente Jr., Melina Almodovar, Christone KingFish Ingram, Al Strong and the NC Coltrane Jazz All-Stars. ...

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Album Review

Lakecia Benjamin: Pursuance: The Coltranes

Read "Pursuance: The Coltranes" reviewed by Jerome Wilson


Over the years, there have been many recorded tributes to John Coltrane but saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin takes the concept farther by paying homage to the work of both John and his wife, Alice Coltrane. Benjamin plays their compositions in a wide range of settings with a large cast of musicians, including a couple who actually worked with one or both of the Coltranes. There are treatments here that hew close to the spiritual and mystical force of the ...

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Performance / Tour

Celebrity Series Of Boston Announces 2023/24 Season

Celebrity Series Of Boston Announces 2023/24 Season

Source: Stephanie Janes

Celebrity Series of Boston announces its 2023/24 season today, marking 85 years of bringing world-class touring and local performing artists to Boston. The first season programmed by new Artistic Director Nicole Taney, this season’s offerings bring audiences new venues to explore, artist debuts, beloved returning artists, and in-person and streaming options for both the ticketed subscription and free Neighborhood Arts events. This exciting new season begins on October 7 with Jazz Along the Charles, a public performance project in which ...

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Performance / Tour

Lakecia Benjamin Celebrates The Release Of Her Debut CD, Retox, With June 12 Show At Le Poisson Rouge

Lakecia Benjamin Celebrates The Release Of Her Debut CD, Retox, With June 12 Show At Le Poisson Rouge

Source: Cary Goldberg

Irresistible Set of Original Jazz-Tinged Funk and R&B Coming June 12 on Motéma Music “A game changer for black music" —SoulPatrol To celebrate the June 12 release of her debut CD, Retox, on Motema Music, saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, who has played with Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, The Roots and Macy Gray, will perform with her soulful, jazz-inflected sax led band, Soul Patrol, at Le Poisson Rouge. While she's made quite an impact with her impressive sax work on stage and ...

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Video / DVD

Introducing Lakecia Benjamin

Introducing Lakecia Benjamin

Source: GoMedia PR

Follow along with charismatic and dynamic saxophonist/bandleader Lakecia Benjamin, as she travels through the streets of Manhattan on the way to the release of Motema Music debut, Retox. While she’s made quite an impact with her impressive sax work on stage and on record, Benjamin opted to take a slightly different tack on RETOX, which will be released on June 12. On the CD, she allows her talents as a composer and producer to share the spotlight with her funky ...

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Recording

"Saxophonist To The Stars" Lakecia Benjamin Steps Into The Spotlight With Debut CD, "Retox"

"Saxophonist  To The Stars" Lakecia Benjamin Steps Into The Spotlight With Debut CD, "Retox"

Source: Cary Goldberg

Irresistible Set of Original Jazz-Tinged Funk and R&B Coming June 12 on Motéma Music Charismatic and dynamic saxophonist/bandleader Lakecia Benjamin, who has played with Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, The Roots and Macy Gray, will take center stage in her own right with the June 12 release of her unconventional soul/funk album, Retox, on Motéma Music. While she’s made quite an impact with her impressive sax work on stage and on record, Benjamin opted to take a slightly different tack on ...

Photos

Concerts

Mar 31 Sun

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Phoenix

Whirlwind Recordings
2023

buy

Zenzile: The...

Self Produced
2022

buy

Eternal Dance

Savant Records
2020

buy

ReTox

Frame
2013

buy

Eternal Dance

From: Eternal Dance
By Lakecia Benjamin

Maceo

From: ReTox
By Lakecia Benjamin

Videos

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