Episode 51: The Rising Alto Saxophone Star Lakecia Benjamin
Episode 51 Executive Summary
Lakecia Benjamin didn’t follow the traditional path to jazz royalty. Long before studying the likes of Charlie Parker or John Coltrane, she was a teenager in Washington Heights hustling to make a living playing heavy Latin dance grooves. In Episode 51, we'll explore how she went from gigging on the streets of upper Manhattan to becoming a Grammy-nominated alto saxophonist and global bandleader. We'll break down her trial-by-fire introduction to jazz at LaGuardia High School, her intense training under veteran mentors at The New School, and her years backing R&B stars. Ultimately, this is the story of an artist who forged her own lane, blending classic jazz with the funk and soul of her childhood, and who is now actively working to make sure the next generation of public school kids gets the exact same chance to learn the music.
Keywords:
Lakecia Benjamin, alto saxophone, modern jazz, Washington Heights, Fiorello LaGuardia High School, The New School, music education, Jazz Empowers, bandleader, contemporary jazz
A. The Beginnings: New York City's Washington Heights
Lakecia Benjamin's musical journey started in Washington Heights, a primarily Dominican neighborhood where the streets served as her first classroom. As a young girl, she was constantly surrounded by the sounds of salsa, merengue, and bachata pouring out of apartment windows and passing cars. Those heavy Latin grooves became the foundation of her musical identity and provided her very first performance repertoire.
Her practical entry into music began in grade school when she picked up the recorder, which, luckily, has a fingering system very similar to the alto saxophone. By the time she hit Eleanor Roosevelt Junior High, she was already writing her own songs and lyrics. During those years, she wasn't thinking about jazz; her focus was entirely on local dance music. The syncopated rhythms of her neighborhood shaped how she understood music long before she ever held a saxophone.
The energy of Washington Heights also instilled a fierce independence in her. By fourteen, Benjamin was already out there hustling for local gigs to help support herself. She used her knowledge of Latin music to earn money, playing the rhythms she grew up with just to survive. That early reality of being a working teenager gave her the grit, drive, and stage presence that she still brings to every live show today.
B. Early Education: The Fiorello LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts
Everything shifted when Benjamin auditioned for the Fiorello LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts. At her audition, she played what she knew, Dominican rhythms. She hit every note perfectly, but the school's music director, Bob Stewart, told her point-blank that she wasn't playing jazz. Benjamin didn’t back down; she admitted she didn’t know the genre but insisted the school needed her. Stewart saw the raw talent and sent her home with a list of legends to study: Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, and John Coltrane.
Benjamin dove headfirst into that list. She spent her time absorbing the phrasing and nuances of those giants, teaching herself the jazz tradition overnight to secure her spot at LaGuardia. Once she got in, she walked away from the recorder and the local dance bands to commit herself entirely to the alto saxophone. For the first time, she was exposed to the complex harmonic structures and improvisational frameworks that define the genre.
At LaGuardia, she had to trade the freedom of playing by ear on the streets for a structured, rigorous environment. She spent her days on technical exercises, sight-reading, and music theory, expanding her vocabulary far beyond the salsa and bachata of her childhood. Those high school years were where she built the disciplined practice routine that would eventually turn her into a world-class professional.
C. Continuing Education: The New School
After a brief stint at Rutgers, Benjamin transferred to The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in Manhattan. This move put her right in the middle of the city’s collegiate jazz scene, allowing her to sharpen the technical skills she had started building in high school. The New School was the perfect bridge for her, offering a mix of heavy academic study and immediate access to the professional world.
While there, she studied under a roster of absolute legends like Gary Bartz, Reggie Workman, Buster Williams, and Joe Chambers. These veterans gave her more than just lessons; they gave her a look at the history and the practical reality of being a jazz musician. Gary Bartz became an early mentor, helping her analyze the phrasing of saxophonists like Parker and Coltrane and refining her technical approach.
But Benjamin knew a degree wasn't enough, so she used her time at The New School to build a massive professional network. She realized the school was a direct connection to the industry and worked those connections hard. That proactive approach led to her first big professional break, playing with trumpeter Clark Terry in his "Young Titans of Jazz" big band. It was the moment she transitioned from a student to a working professional.
D. Benjamin's Career as a Performer
Benjamin’s early pro career was spent bridging the gap between jazz, R&B, and hip-hop. She quickly became a top-tier session and touring musician, backing up legends like Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, Macy Gray, and The Roots. These years as a sideman were a masterclass in stage presence. Whether she was playing massive arenas or tiny clubs, she learned how to adapt her sound and manage the logistics of large-scale tours, which provided her with both financial stability and vital industry visibility.
Eventually, she decided it was time to step into the spotlight herself. She formed Lakecia Benjamin and Soul Squad, a group that intentionally blended her jazz training with the funk, soul, and Latin rhythms she grew up on. She released Retox in 2012 and Rise Up in 2018, both showcasing her ability to pair complex horn arrangements with infectious, danceable grooves. Her high-energy shows with Soul Squad built her a reputation as a bandleader who could pull younger, diverse audiences into the jazz world.
Her critical breakthrough came with the 2020 release, Pursuance: The Coltranes. This ambitious tribute featured heavyweights like Ron Carter and Reggie Workman, proving she belonged in the upper echelon of acoustic jazz. She followed that up with Phoenix in 2023, which earned multiple Grammy nominations and massive acclaim. Those albums completed her evolution, taking her from a respected sideman to a global headliner performing at the world’s most prestigious festivals and concert halls.
E. Benjamin's Career as an Educator
Even with a grueling tour schedule, Benjamin has made music education a priority. She’s taught at institutions like Jazz at Lincoln Center and Jazz House Kids, focusing on more than just the mechanics of the saxophone. She wants her students to understand the cultural roots and the historical lineage of the music. For her, it’s about making sure the next generation understands the phrasing of the greats while finding their own voice.
Her work goes beyond the classroom, too. In 2020, she became a founding advisory board member for Jazz Empowers, a nonprofit that brings jazz education to schools that don't have well-funded arts programs. She’s used her own experience to help develop curriculums and strategies to teach improvisation to kids in underserved communities, ensuring they get the same opportunities she had to discover the music.
This dedication to teaching is also a core part of how she runs her own band. Remembering the mentorship she got from guys like Gary Bartz, she now pays it forward by hiring younger, emerging artists for her touring ensembles. She provides them with on-the-job training and exposure, using her masterclasses and tours to teach the emotional impact of performance and the practical business side of the music industry.
F. Conclusions
Lakecia Benjamin’s career is a perfect mix of street-level grit and formal excellence. Her journey from the Latin grooves of Washington Heights to the classrooms of The New School shows a deep commitment to mastering her craft. She managed to bridge the gap between playing by ear and understanding complex theory, which is exactly why she can navigate the music industry with such a unique combination of raw energy and technical discipline.
As a performer, she’s become a vital force in the jazz world, honoring the past while pushing the boundaries of the genre. Her transition from a sideman for R&B stars to a Grammy-nominated bandleader shows just how versatile she is. By mixing acoustic jazz with soul, funk, and her Latin roots, she’s successfully bringing the music to a whole new generation of fans.
Beyond the stage and the studio, Benjamin is securing her legacy through education. Whether it’s through her work with Jazz Empowers or mentoring the young musicians in her band, she’s making sure the history and the skills of the jazz tradition are preserved. Ultimately, she stands as a bridge between the legends of the past and the future of the music.
G. References
- [A.] Lakecia Benjamin (Wikipedia). Retrieved April 13, 2026 from here.
- [B.] Lakecia Benjamin biography (Lakecia Benjamin homepage). Retrieved April 13, 2026 from here.
- [C.] Lakecia Benjamin by Dawoud Bey (Bomb Magazine). Retrieved April 13, 2026 from here.
- [D.] Lakecia Benjamin biography (Jazz Empowers). Retrieved April 13, 2026 from here.
ASCII Tree Summary
Lakecia Benjamin: The Rising Alto Saxophone Star
├── Executive Summary: Street to jazz royalty transition
├── A. The Beginnings: Washington Heights
│ ├── Neighborhood influences: salsa, merengue, and bachata
│ ├── Grade school recorder; songwriting at 13
│ └── Professional gigging at 14 to support herself financially
├── B. Early Education: LaGuardia Arts
│ ├── Trial-by-fire audition and rapid jazz self-study
│ ├── Deep dive into Parker, Coltrane, Ellington, and Mingus
│ └── Shift from playing by ear to technical, professional routine
├── C. Continuing Education: The New School
│ ├── Mentorship from Gary Bartz and Reggie Workman
│ ├── Networking within the Manhattan collegiate scene
│ └── Professional breakthrough: Clark Terry's big band
├── D. Career as a Performer
│ ├── Sideman years backing stars like Stevie Wonder and Alicia Keys
│ ├── Founding Soul Squad: Blending jazz, funk, and Latin
│ └── Critical recognition with "Pursuance" and "Phoenix" albums
├── E. Career as an Educator
│ ├── Teaching at Jazz at Lincoln Center and Jazz House Kids
│ ├── Advocacy for underserved youth through Jazz Empowers
│ └── Mentoring emerging artists within her own touring bands
├── F. Conclusions
│ ├── Synthesis of street-level grit and formal excellence
│ ├── Leading the genre by honoring the past and future
│ └── Building a legacy: Performance, advocacy, and education
└── G. References
├── Biographical and academic citations (2025-2026)
└── Sources: Wikipedia, Official Homepage, Bomb Magazine, Jazz Empowers