User:Adjoajo/LakeBen

Lakecia Benjamin was born and raised in New York City, NY. She is a Vandoren artist, bandleader, composer, and a Jazz, funk soul music alto saxophonist. Although her formal training in music was jazz. She has performed with many noted artists such as, Missy Elliot and Alicia Keys Although her formal training is Jazz. She grew up in a Dominican neighborhood in Washington Heights in New York City and played meregene music. She has performed on four continents, and performed for President Barack Obama's 2009 Inauguration. She performs with many renowned jazz figures like Clark Terry, Reggie Workman, Rashied Ali, the David Murray Big Band, Vanessa Rubin, and James Blood Ulmer.

The band that she started is called 'Soul Squad'.

Early life
Lakecia was raised Washington Heights a neighborhood in New York City. She studied playing a recorder and then on to the saxophone. She attended Eleanor Roosevelt Junior High School in New York City.

She began playing the saxophone while attending Fiorello Laguardia High School for the Performing Arts. in Queens (NYC), New York. She attended The New School in New York City.

Career
Lakecia's first gig was with (trumpeter) Clark Terry with a band that he started called Young Titans of Jazz. She has performed with the Hop Spot Horns playing with Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, Keyshia Cole, Reggie Workman, drummer Rashied Ali, Macy Gray, Harry Belafonte,Charenee Wade, Anita Baker, Santigold, Blitz the Ambassador, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Keyshia Cole, and The Roots. She performs with Gregory Porter, Craig Robinson, Jonathan Powell trumpeter on her debut album. The band toured for three years performing the music of her debut album RETOX. The album features established and emerging artists; such as Krystle Warren, Amp Fiddler, Maya Azucena, Melanie Charles, Chinah Blac.

Lakecia has toured with the Nasty Delicious Band.

Recording Credits

 * Maurice Brown
 * Talib Kweli

Discography

 * 2012 debut album Retox on the Motema label.