Lakecia Benjamin - Phoenix (2023 Whirlwind Gold Marble 2LP Limited Edition)

Lakecia Benjamin - Phoenix Double Vinyl LP - 2023 Whirlwind/Second Records Limited Edition Gold Marble

• Limited to 500 copies worldwide - 180g gold marble vinyl in gatefold sleeve
• Rising alto saxophone star - Benjamin's powerful voice in contemporary modal jazz
• Recorded at legendary Sear Sound - plus The Bunker Brooklyn sessions

Alto saxophonist, vocalist, and synthesizer player Lakecia Benjamin presents her expansive vision across twelve compositions recorded at Brooklyn's The Bunker and New York's Sear Sound, the double album exploring modal jazz, post bop, and contemporary approaches with her ensemble featuring pianists Victor Gould and Anastassiya Petrova, bassist Ivan Taylor (doubling on electric bass), drummer E.J. Strickland, and percussionist Nêgah Santos. Released on 8 December 2023 as a worldwide limited edition by Whirlwind Recordings and Second Records, this 180g gold marble vinyl pressing (limited to 500 units) captures Benjamin's multifaceted artistry, her alto saxophone work rooted in tradition while incorporating contemporary sensibilities, her vocals and synthesizer adding dimensions beyond conventional jazz saxophone albums.

Benjamin's alto saxophone playing draws from modal jazz traditions established by Coltrane and extended by contemporary players, her tone powerful and expressive, her improvisations building intensity through patient development. Her incorporation of vocals and synthesizer alongside saxophone creates textural variety across the album's twelve tracks, the extended double LP format allowing exploration of different moods and approaches. The dual keyboard setup of Gould and Petrova (both playing piano, organ, and Rhodes) creates rich harmonic textures, while Taylor's acoustic and electric bass work bridges traditional jazz and more contemporary funk-influenced grooves. Strickland's drumming and Santos' percussion provide polyrhythmic foundation and dynamic range.

The compositions span from modal explorations to post bop structures to contemporary jazz approaches, track titles suggesting both personal narratives ("Phoenix", "Rebirth") and tributes to artistic influences ("Trane", "Basquiat"). Benjamin's multi-instrumentalist approach and willingness to incorporate vocals reflects contemporary jazz's increasing comfort with genre fluidity, her music speaking to audiences raised on multiple Black music traditions simultaneously. Recorded at two prestigious New York area studios and pressed on limited edition 180g gold marble vinyl in gatefold sleeve, this Whirlwind/Second Records release documents Benjamin's artistic vision at full scale.