»I think this hall is the most beautiful place I've probably ever been in my life,« says Lakecia Benjamin effusively about the Elbphilharmonie. What a special compliment from one of the most acclaimed jazz musicians of our time! The afternoon before her Elbphilharmonie debut in March 2024, the saxophonist performed her single »New Mornings« in the Grand Hall for an »Elbphilharmonie Session« with her fantastic band.
She is the winner of the German Jazz Award 2023, and nowadays the New Yorker is in as much demand in Europe as she is in the legendary clubs of her home country. Her live shows are invigorating and energetic, her artistic message often political. Good grooves and important questions – for Benjamin, the two go hand in hand: »I always want my music to be a voice of what's happening right now in the times,« she says.
»You can really embrace and hear the warmth of this Hall, almost like the culture is like, ingrained in the walls.«
Lakecia Benjamin
Performers
Lakecia Benjamin saxophone
Oscar Perez piano
Elias Bailey double bass
E.J. Strickland drums
Giving our time a voice :Lakecia Benjamin‘s jazz brings big beats to political issues
»The song ›New Mornings‹ came about at a time in my life when I was recovering from a very bad accident. So I wrote the song to show people that every day you have an opportunity to be better. You have an opportunity to grow and another chance at life,« Benjamin says. Bursting with infectious beats, vocal-like saxophone melodies and virtuosic solos, the track also appeared on her successful concept album »Phoenix« in 2023, which deals with such issues as the state of America in a post-Covid world, the rise of racism and poverty, and the self-assurance of women of colour. »For me, the sound of the album is the sound of the people,« she adds.
Growing up in New York‘s Latino neighbourhood Washington Heights, Benjamin played in salsa and merengue bands from an early age. After graduating, she soon established a reputation for herself as a sought-after session musician, performing with the likes of Stevie Wonder and Harry Belafonte, and touring with stars including Alicia Keys and Missy Elliot.
How did she get into saxophone playing in the first place? It was love at first sight. »I was eleven years. The saxophone was hanging up in a schoolroomand it was almost shiny, like my gold outfit. And I just knew right then that that's what I wanted to do!« she says with a smile.
The location
It’s the pulsating heart of the Elbphilharmonie: the Grand Hall. Its 2,100 seats are arranged according to the vineyard principle: the stage lies at the centre of the hall and is surrounded by rows of seating that ascend like the terraces of a vineyard. Over the stage hangs a large sound reflector.
About the series
Artists record exclusive music videos at the Elbphilharmonie and the Laeiszhalle for Elbphilharmonie Sessions – sometimes in unusual locations offstage. Discover the concert halls from the inside. Discover what they sound like.
Jazz in der Elbphilharmonie
Vom Solo-Piano bis zur großen Big Band: Gleich mehrere Konzertreihen präsentieren feinsten Jazz in der Elbphilharmonie und Laeiszhalle. Regelmäßig kommen dafür die ganz großen Namen der Jazz-Welt an die Elbe.
