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Artist
Lakecia Benjamin
12+ albums
jazzsoulfunksaxophonernb
about
Charismatic and dynamic saxophonist/bandleader Lakecia Benjamin, who has played with Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, The Roots and Macy Gray, takes center stage in her own right with the release of her unconventional soul/funk album, RETOX, on Motéma Music. While she’s made quite an impact with her impressive sax work on stage and on record, Benjamin opted for a slightly different take on RETOX, allowing her talents as a composer and producer to share the spotlight with her funky sax struts. In fact, several of the CD’s 12 tracks don't even feature sax. "This album is really a fruition of years of songwriting as much as it is a showcase for my sax playing and horn arrangements," said Benjamin. On songs like "My Love" and "Share" she’s chosen to let the vocals carry the song. "I was more concerned with doing justice to my compositions than putting a sax solo in every song." On RETOX, Benjamin shows off her impeccable, purist jazz resume with a deep, kaleidoscopic and ingeniously arranged mix of original old school soul and funk songs as well as the Stevie Wonder classic, "Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing." An A-list of established and emerging vocalists such as Krystle Warren, Amp Fiddler, Maya Azucena, Chinah Blac and Melanie Charles, join Benjamin on an album that's as electrifyingly diverse as the cast that plays on it. "I call my band SoulSquad because, even as a kid, I always wanted to play like I was in an army of funky musicians," says Benjamin. Though her own music is imme
