Lakecia Benjamin was born in New York City and raised in Manhattan’s predominantly Dominican Washington Heights neighbourhood. She played recorder in grade school and junior high where she also began writing songs and lyrics. She won admission to the Fiorello LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts. It was there she began playing saxophone in earnest. She picked it up quickly and after graduating joined the renowned jazz program at New York’s New School University.

While struggling to make ends meet, she won paying gigs with Missy Elliott and Alicia Keys, widening Lakecia’s approach. These influences made their presence known on her debut Retox in 2010, a beat-conscious set of soul and funk covers and originals.

Honing her chops early with Clark Terry and later Terri Lyne Carrington, Lakecia is also a noted accompanist for vocalists — among them Gregory Porter and Theo Crocker. She played on “Right on Brotha,” the closing track from Robert Glasper’s Everything’s Beautiful in 2018, a collection of reimagined Miles Davis tracks. Her sophomore date, Rise Up contained a Prince-inspired series of original jazz-funk jams. In 2020, she released Pursuance: The Coltranes.

Band members Lakecia Benjamin - saxophones Oscar Perez - piano Elias Bailey - bass Enoch “EJ” Strickland - drums