Lakecia Benjamin

To witness a live performance by alto saxophonist, MC and bandleader Lakecia Benjamin is to never forget it. A five-time Grammy nominee, Benjamin brings a warm, resonant tone compared to Johnny Hodges and a unique meld of jazz, funk and R&B that spans straight-ahead tradition to social conscience.
The Washington Heights native honed her chops with Clark Terry and Terri Lyne Carrington before becoming a first-call sidewoman for artists including Gregory Porter, Anita Baker and Robert Glasper. Her acclaimed 2020 album Pursuance: The Coltranes featured Dee Dee Bridgewater, Regina Carter and former Coltrane sideman Reggie Workman. Her 2023 follow-up Phoenix, produced by Carrington, earned three Grammy Award nominations and universal praise.
Benjamin’s personal story makes her live dates nothing short of life-affirming. In 2021, a car accident left her with a broken jaw, shoulder blade and ribs and a ruptured eardrum. Today she’s reclaimed her confidence and physical strength — and her perspective. “Some people might see my shows as a victory lap,” she says, “because inspiration comes in multiple forms. But I really feel I’m still learning. I’m trying to get uncomfortable. I’m trying to grow.”
Her newest release Phoenix Reimagined captures Phoenix live-in-studio at Brooklyn’s The Bunker, adding three new songs and combining spontaneous live energy with world-class audio. “I was like, let’s celebrate life,” she recalls. “Let’s celebrate everything.”