Lakecia Benjamin

Lakecia Benjamin is a jazz, funk, and R&B saxophonist.

Lakecia Benjamin
Background information
BornNew York City, New York, U.S.
GenresJazz, funk, R&B
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsSaxophone
LabelsMotéma, Ropeadope Records
Websitewww.lakeciabenjamin.com

Benjamin was born and raised in New York City.[1] She grew up in a Dominican neighborhood in Washington Heights, Manhattan and played merengue, salsa, and Latin music.[2]

As a touring musician she has performed with Missy Elliot and Alicia Keys.[3] 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.[4]

Early life

Benjamin was born and raised Washington Heights, a neighborhood in New York City. In grade school, she studied recorder. She attended Eleanor Roosevelt Junior High School in New York City. She has been writing songs and lyrics since the age of 13. She began playing the saxophone in elementary school. Later while attending Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts in Queens, New York she became interested in jazz. After highschool she attended The New School in New York City.

Her beginnings in music were Latin dance music. She played salsa and merengue.[5]

Career

Saxophonist Gary Bartz was an early mentor who introduced her to training technical exercise techniques such as Hyacinthe Klosé’s 25 Daily Etudes. He introduced her to the music of jazz saxophonists Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, and Jackie McLean. While at the New School University, she studied under Billy Harper, Reggie Workman, Buster Williams, Joe Chambers, Gary Bartz .[6]

Benjamin's first job was with trumpeter Clark Terry in a band that he started called Young Titans of Jazz.[7][8] She has performed with Rashied Ali, Anita Baker, Count Basie Orchestra, Harry Belafonte, Blitz the Ambassador, Joanne Brackeen, Keyshia Cole, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Corte Ellis, Kool & the Gang, Macy Gray, Jimmy Heath, Vincent Herring, Bertha Hope, Alicia Keys, Ulysses Owens Jr., Charlie Persip, The Roots, Santigold, Charles Tolliver, Charenee Wade, Stevie Wonder, Reggie Workman.

She performs with Gregory Porter, Craig Robinson and his Nasty Delicious Band.

Benjamin's band tours performing music from her debut album, Retox. The album includes Krystle Warren, Amp Fiddler, Maya Azucena, Melanie Charles, ChinahBlac, and Mavis Swann Poole. The album was co-produced by Ben Kane.[9][10]

Discography
  • Retox (Motéma, 2012)
  • Rise Up (Ropeadope, 2018)
  • Pursuance: The Coltranes (Ropeadope, 2020)
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References
  1. Ratliff, Ben (1 February 2015). "Jazz & Colors: The Masterworks Edition Takes Over the Metropolitan". Nytimes.com. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  2. "Motema Music. Artists of power and distinction since 2003". Motema Music. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  3. Murph, John. "Lakecia Benjamin: Rising Soul". JazzTimes. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  4. "Jazz Listings for Oct. 14-20". Nytimes.com. 13 October 2016. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  5. "Lakecia Benjamin - Revive Music". Revive-music.com. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  6. "Lakecia Benjamin: Rising Soul". JazzTimes.com. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  7. "Lakecia Benjamin Marches On". Lincoln Center (in Indonesian). Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  8. "The Jazz Drama Program Archives - Eli Yamin". Eli Yamin. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  9. http://fadeagency.com/. "Motema Music. Artists of power and distinction since 2003". Motema.com. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  10. "DownBeat News". DownBeat. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
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