back to
Whirlwind Recordings
We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Phoenix

by Lakecia Benjamin

/
  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    180 gram, 12", 2x LP in Gatefold Sleeve - (4 sides of music - A, B, C, D)

    Includes unlimited streaming of Phoenix via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 5 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $39 USD or more 

     

  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    High quality, 6 panel digifile with a velvety soft-touch laminate finish

    Includes unlimited streaming of Phoenix via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 5 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      $14 USD or more 

     

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Comes with album artwork booklet PDF + album cover photo as a jpg
    Purchasable with gift card

      $10 USD  or more

     

  • Black Double Vinyl (1st Pressing)
    Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    180 gram, 12", 2x LP in Gatefold Sleeve - (4 sides of music - A, B, C, D)

    Includes unlimited streaming of Phoenix via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Sold Out

1.
2.
New Mornings 05:00
3.
Phoenix 06:33
4.
Mercy 05:58
5.
Jubilation 06:33
6.
7.
Blast 04:50
8.
Moods 04:57
9.
Rebirth 04:23
10.
Trane 06:41
11.
Supernova 01:25
12.
Basquiat 05:41
13.

about

PERSONNEL

Lakecia Benjamin - saxophone/vocals/synths/sound design
Victor Gould - piano, organ, rhodes
EJ Strickland - drums
Ivan Taylor - double bass, electric bass
Josh Evans - trumpet (1, 2, 3, 8, 12, 13)
Wallace Roney Jr - trumpet (7)
Anastassiya Petrova - rhodes, organ (5)
Orange Rodriguez - synths (1, 3)
Nêgah Santos - percussion (5)
Jahmal Nichols - double bass (2)
Josée Klein, Laura Epling - violin (4)
Nicole Neely - viola (4)
Cremaine Booker - cello (4)

With special guests:

Georgia Anne Muldrow - vocals/synths (3)
Patrice Rushen - piano (5)
Dianne Reeves - vocals (4)
Sonia Sanchez - poet (6, 7)
Angela Davis - spoken word (1, 13)
Wayne Shorter- spoken word (11)

ALBUM CREDITS

Recorded at The Bunker Studios, NY, & Sear Sound Studio B, NY (June 2nd/3rd, 2022)
String Engineer - Joshua Keith
Tracking Engineer - Nolan Thies
Editing Engineers - Dean Albak, Jeremy Loucas
Mixing Engineer - Jeremy Loucas Mastering Engineer - Dan Millice
Produced by Terri Lynn Carrington, Lakecia Benjamin
Executive Producer - Michael Janisch
Photography Elizabeth
Lietzell Design - Rebecca Meek
Make Up Artist - Miyako Johnson

credits

released January 27, 2023

ABOUT THE ALBUM

'Phoenix' is the highly-anticipated, expansive new album in the musical evolution of alto saxophonist and composer Lakecia Benjamin, due out January 27, 2023 via Whirlwind Recordings. The album was produced by the multi-Grammy-award winning Terri Lyne Carrington and features a star-studded line up of specially curated guests Dianne Reeves, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Patrice Rushen, Sonia Sanchez, Angela Davis and Wayne Shorter. The band is composed of trumpeter Josh Evans, Victor Gould on keys, Orange Rodriguez on synths, drummer Enoch (EJ) Strickland, percussionist Nêgah Santos and bassist Ivan Taylor. Trumpeter Wallace Roney Jr, Rhodes organist Anastassiya Petrova and bassist Jahmal Nichols all join for one track each.

“When we came out from the pandemic we weren't allowed to be broken,” Lakecia shares while describing the deeply personal outing Phoenix became for her. The record presents mostly original compositions written throughout the seasons: “we had to be these beautiful absorbent birds and get to work. I wanted to highlight each month of that.” By design, the compositions on 'Phoenix' are written around the skillsets of her triumphant guests, a handful of women in jazz who have had prominent influences on Lakecia.

Sirens herald the start of the record on 'Amerikkan Skin', featuring American political activist Angela Davis as a guest. 'New Mornings' was composed at the height of the summer: “it was burning up in New York and I felt I was going through the same day over and over again,” says Lakecia, “but the only thing that reverberated or changed was the level of sadness I kept getting every time I woke up. I’d spend my time dreaming of different mornings in new times.”

Title track 'Phoenix' features Georgia Anne Muldrow on synths. “For me, that was the period when I decided I had to find a new way. I figured I start with this track, trying to highlight that we’re coming out of this dark period and get on the dance floor,” Lakecia adds. The track 'Mercy' features vocal megastar Dianne Reeves, who digs deep into the song’s message of kindness with her signature soothing vocal quality. Lakecia highlights pianist Patrice Rushen’s multi-genre aptitude with 'Jubilation', honoring an artist who teaches other women how to rise up to an immense degree.

Tracks six and seven flow as a unit; the first part is a Haiku by poet Sonia Sanchez and the Benjamin-original 'Blast' features Sanchez again. 'Moods' has a more traditional jazz and harder-hitting vibe, while 'Rebirth' was composed as a personal tribute to Lakecia’s family who experienced several losses: “this is on the slower side, but it picks up at the end and has a more joyous feel.” 'Trane', an ode to Alice and John Coltrane, also nods to Lakecia’s previous project. 'Basquiat' is a suite inspired by the neo-expressionist artist and is preceded by a message from jazz giant Wayne Shorter. “He's the ultimate guru,” says Lakecia, “it's almost like he's looking into your soul and only souls matter here.”

“I wanted people to not only feel what I'm saying through the songs and my saxophone, but to also verbally hear it so there's no discrepancy on where we’re coming from,” Lakecia shares, explaining the concept behind her album which is imbued with spoken word. And there is no question that Phoenix marks yet another stratospheric rise for an artist who resolutely knows what she wants to say and how to say it, all the while honoring her mentors and the traditions that have come before her.

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Lakecia Benjamin New York, New York

The Whirlwind Artist Page for saxophonist, composer, producer, and bandleader Lakecia Benjamin

contact / help

Contact Lakecia Benjamin

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Lakecia Benjamin, you may also like: