Phoenix - Lakecia Benjamin

Phoenix, the fourth studio album by Lakecia Benjamin, is a collective catharsis forged from grief and resilience. Produced by drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, the record stands as a statement of purpose on spiritual rebirth and female empowerment in jazz, weaving a sonic tapestry where tradition seamlessly blends with the urgency of the present.

The core ensemble—featuring Josh Evans on trumpet, Victor Gould on keyboards, Orange Rodriguez on synthesizers, Ivan Taylor on bass, Nêgah Santos on percussion, and Enoch (EJ) Strickland on drums—operates as a rhythmic engine entirely devoted to the alto saxophonist's vision. From the opening track, "Amerikkan Skin," where the voice of activist Angela Davis frames the project's social pulse, Evans’s trumpet and Benjamin’s saxophone trace unison lines of incandescent intensity, sustained by the relentless drive of Strickland and Taylor.

The album’s architecture excels at integrating high-caliber conceptual collaborations. On the title track, "Phoenix," the interaction with Georgia Anne Muldrow introduces a funk texture that balances the rhythmic tension, allowing Benjamin to unleash expansive, virtuosic solos. Meanwhile, vocalist Dianne Reeves brings elegance to the subtle composition "Mercy," as pianist Patrice Rushen injects a luminous vitality into the Latin-inflected structure of "Jubilation."

The narrative is further sustained by the intersection of music, poetry, and thought. The collaboration with poet Sonia Sanchez on "Peace Is A Haiku Song" and "Blast" adds a mystical dimension that intertwines with the contribution of trumpeter Wallace Roney Jr. Towards the end, the historic presence of Wayne Shorter introduces the "Basquiat" suite—a tribute to neo-expressionist art that resolves into passages of free improvisation—while "Trane" reaffirms the saxophonist's devotion to the modal and spiritual legacy of John Coltrane and Alice Coltrane.

Phoenix establishes itself as a landmark in Lakecia Benjamin's career. It is a work where alto saxophone technique rejects empty virtuosity, choosing instead to shape a mature voice—fully aware of its heritage and determined to transform adversity into a universal language.