"Phoenix": this is the name of the American saxophonist and composer Lakecia Benjamin, her latest, fourth studio album, which appeared earlier this year. It was produced by multi-Grammy-winning drum mage Terri Lyne Carrington and recorded by a group of famous jazz women who influenced Lakecia: Dianne Reeves, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Patrice Rushen, Sonia Sanchez, Angela Davis and jazz giant Wayne Shorter.
The title of the album, according to its author, is metaphorical. With it, L. Benjamin recalls New York's slow death during the pandemic and its return to life, as well as her own miraculous resurrection after a car accident in 2021."Then all the days were the same - they differed only in the degree of sadness that greeted each morning. I dreamed of different mornings. We couldn't break. We had to resurrect like those mystical birds", - this is how the artist remembers the mood of the pandemic.
Her latest album is dominated by original compositions. "Phoenix" reveals the talent, creativity and dedication of both L. Benjamin and the women around her. This album is another achievement for a creator who knows how to honor her mentors and the traditions that raised her.