Saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, born and raised in New York, fuses her music with ambitious goals: spiritual upliftment and social and political liberation. With her dizzying improvisations and powerful performances, she lights up every stage. She has reached a wide audience through major festivals and a week-long residency on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Her mix of jazz, R&B, soul and funk was received with great enthusiasm at North Sea Jazz.

Benjamin broke through with the album Pursuance: The Coltranes and remained unstoppable, even after a serious car accident. It inspired the record Phoenix (2023), featuring guest musicians like Dianne Reeves, Angela Davis, and Wayne Shorter, and earned her three Grammy nominations. New work is set to be released this year.

Lakecia Benjamin alto saxophone, Oscar Perez keys, Elias Bailey double bass, Quentin Baxter drums