Friday, February 14, 2025, 7:30 PM

Street and Davis Performance Hall, Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre

This performance will last approximately 75 to 90 minutes. 

*Run times listed here are based on information provided at this time and are subject to change. 

Category A $55 | Category B $40 | Category C $20
$10 students with ID and youth 18 and under

Tickets

15%-25% subscription discounts available

Subscribe

Related Events

Thursday, February 13, 2025, 10 AM
SCHOOL-DAY PERFORMANCE
Street and Davis Performance Hall
Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre
Recommended for grades 6-12
Free; registration required

"…all you need to know is that jazz’s future is in sure, firm, and confident hands."

— All About Jazz

Co-sponsored by the Black Cultural Center

Fresh off three Grammy nominations for her 2023 album, Phoenix, charismatic saxophonist and bandleader Lakecia Benjamin is a fearless musician with deep jazz roots.

A New York City native born and raised in Washington Heights, Benjamin went from playing a recorder in grade school to becoming one of the most sought-after jazz musicians on the music scene. Renowned for her bold approach and ability to seamlessly blend genres, she has shared stages with Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, The Roots, Macy Gray, and many others. Joined by her sizzling band, Benjamin transcends the boundaries of traditional jazz. 

About Lakecia Benjamin

Benjamin first picked up the saxophone at Fiorello LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts. From there, she joined the renowned jazz program at New York’s New School University. Even at that early stage, she was already playing with renowned jazz figures like Clark Terry and Reggie Workman, who introduced her to opportunities to play and tour with an array of artists, including Rashied Ali, Christian McBride, Gregory Porter, and James “Blood” Ulmer. With her deep jazz roots, she was soon in demand as an arranger and horn section leader, landing stints with such acclaimed artists as Anita Baker. 

Benjamin’s album, Pursuance, is an intergenerational masterpiece that takes the listener on a journey through the lineage of the music with the works of John and Alice Coltrane. Benjamin pays homage to those who have come before by featuring innovative bandleaders of her generation, such as Reggie Workman, Ron Carter, Gary Bartz, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Meshell Ndegecello, Regina Carter, Bertha Hope, Last Poets, Greg Osby, Steve Wilson, John Benitez, Marc Cary, Marcus Gilmore, Keyon Harrold, Marcus Strickland, Brandee Younger, Georgia Anne Muldrow, and Jazzmeia Horn. 

Jazz saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, a young Black woman with twists pulled up into a side ponytail, wears a gold sequined shirt and a headpiece that looks a bit like a halo around her forehead. She holds her saxophone horizontally in both hands. Jazz saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, a young Black woman with twists pulled up into a side ponytail, wears a gold cape gazes down towards her saxophone in front of a red background. Jazz saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, a young Black woman with twists pulled up into a side ponytail, wears a a black feathered shirt and red round glasses. She stands in front of an industrial looking wall and holds her saxophone. Jazz saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, a young Black woman with twists pulled up into a ponytail, wears a gold sequined shirt and plays her instrument. Overlaid appears to be transparent flames. Jazz saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, a young Black woman with twists pulled up into a side ponytail, wears all white and sits on a white block in front of a white background. She holds her saxophone by the neck and rests it on the floor next to her. Jazz saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, a young Black woman with twists pulled up into a side ponytail, wears an orange and green patterned jumpsuit and holds rests her saxophone on her shoulder. Jazz saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, a young Black woman with twists pulled up into a side ponytail, wears a blue and pink patterned satin shirt and blue round glasses. She holds her saxophone up near her face in front of a stark cornflower blue background.

Benjamin’s latest album, Phoenix, finds the tour-de-force saxophonist in a poised and profoundly individual position alongside an all-star cast of musicians. The album was produced by the multi-Grammy Award-winning Terri Lyne Carrington and features a star-studded line up of specially curated guests, including Dianne Reeves, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Patrice Rushen, Sonia Sanchez, Angela Davis, and Wayne Shorter. The band is composed of trumpeter Josh Evans, Victor Gould on keys, Orange Rodriguez on synths, drummer Enoch (EJ) Strickland, percussionist Nêgah Santos, and bassist Ivan Taylor. Trumpeter Wallace Roney Jr., Rhodes organist Anastassiya Petrova, and bassist Jahmal Nichols all join for one track each.

This is Benjamin's first performance at the Moss Arts Center.

This performance is supported in part by gifts from Faye Marcum, Monte Marcum, and LeAnna Pearson-Marcum, and from Mrs. Sally Schweitzer Cox and Mr. John W. Cox.