Lakecia Benjamin

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Lakecia Benjamin (2018)

Lakecia Benjamin (* 1982 in New York City ) is an American musician ( alto saxophone ) who works in the fields of modern jazz , funk and soul .

Live and act

Benjamin grew up in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York . She first learned the saxophone at Fiorello LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts and then studied in the jazz program of New York's New School . At that time she was already playing with jazz greats such as Clark Terry and Reggie Workman , which led to performances and tours with a variety of artists such as Rashied Ali , the David Murray Big Band , Vanessa Rubin and James Blood Ulmer . The first recordings were made around 2005 by Kit McClure ( Just the Thing - The Sweethearts Project ). On March 11, 2007 , Benjamin appeared as a musical guest on an aftershow by Prince .

Furthermore, she was soon also active as an arranger and leader of wind groups; as a session musician she worked a. a. with Stevie Wonder , Alicia Keys , Macy Gray , The Roots and Anita Baker . In 2012 she released her funk / soul-oriented debut album Retox on Motéma Muaic, followed by Rise Up (Ropeadope Records). On her third album Pursuance: The Coltranes , she took part in a big band line-up (with Gary Bartz , Lonnie Plaxico , Reggie Workman, Brandee Younger , Jazzmeia Horn , Regina Carter , Marcus Strickland , Ron Carter , Steve Wilson , Marcus Gilmore , Meshell Ndegeocello , Dee Dee Bridgewater , Marc Cary , Greg Osby ) compositions by John and Alice Coltrane , which received honorable mention in Jazzwise magazine ; “Benjamin's alto [saxophone] sound [...] is rich, soulful and full of blues. She plays with so much passion and commitment that you think she means every note, and it's hard to think of a more fitting tribute to the Coltranes ”. In the field of jazz, she was involved in nine recording sessions between 2002 and 2019, according to Tom Lord . a. with Robert Glasper . At the Down Beat Critics Poll 2020 she was the winner in the Alto Saxophone category (Rising Star).

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Brief portrait (Monheim Triennale)
  2. ↑ a b Tom Lord : The Jazz Discography (online, accessed April 28, 2020)
  3. ↑ The best new jazz albums: Editor's Choice, April 2020. Jazz Wise, March 20, 2020, accessed April 28, 2020 .
personal data
SURNAME Benjamin, Lakecia
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American jazz musician (alto saxophone)
DATE OF BIRTH 1982
PLACE OF BIRTH New York City