Jazz, funk, and R&B saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin was born on 26 October 1982 and raised in New York City. She began playing the saxophone at Fiorello LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts. While attending New York City’s The New School University, she was mentored by saxophonist Gary Bartz, who introduced her to the music of John Coltrane, Jackie McLean, and Charlie Parker. Along with Gary Bartz, she also studied under Billy Harper, Reggie Workman, Buster Williams and others. She began playing with renowned jazz figures like Clark Terry and Reggie Workman. These performances led to her work with a wide array of artists including Rashied Ali, the David Murray Big Band, Vanessa Rubin and James "Blood" Ulmer. She also worked with mainstream acts like Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, Macy Gray, The Roots, Anita Baker, and others. Her first solo album, Retox, was released in 2012. Her sophomore release under her own name was Rise Up in 2018, followed by Pursuance: The Coltranes (2020). She worked as a featured performer for both Gregory Porter and comedian Craig Robinson. Following the released of Phoenix in 2023 and the live recording Phoenix Reimagined in 2024, she returned in 2026 with We Dream, featuring Terence Blanchard, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Sean Jones, Chris Potter, Tariona "Tank" Ball, Hiromi, Bilal and Kassa Overall.
