Lakecia Benjamin

An alto saxophonist and composer based in New York, Lakecia Benjamin occupies a place in the contemporary American jazz scene by blending bop heritage with funk and soul. Born and raised in New York in an urban environment steeped in gospel and rhythm and blues, she trained at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music before touring with a variety of ensembles. In her early career she performed on stage and in the studio with jazz and popular music artists — including Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys and The Roots — which shaped a jazz approach rooted in groove and dance. As a bandleader she released Retox (2012) and Rise Up (2018), records that combine sharp sax lines, funk rhythms and hip‑hop influences, affirming a writing style oriented toward group arrangements. With Pursuance: The Coltranes (2020) she pays tribute to John and Alice Coltrane through collective reinterpretations that emphasize the importance of spiritual and modal music in her world. Phoenix (2023) reinforces this direction toward contemporary acoustic jazz open to spoken word and vocals, while retaining the rhythmic dimension that defines her playing. Active on New York club stages as well as at international festivals, Lakecia Benjamin develops work in which improvisation, orchestral writing and African‑American roots converge within a single project.