← All Of It with Alison Stewart
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- [00:22]
A
This is all of it. I'm Alison Stewart. Grammy season is currently upon us. Nominations came out in early November and the awards are in February. Between now and then, we'll be working to bring some of the nominees on the show to share some of their industry recognized music with us. But today, as we continue sharing some encore presentations from 2025 to close out the year, curated from the most popular posts on our Instagram, we turn to one of this past year's nominees, lakeisha Benjamin. When she joined us earlier this year, it was to share some music from fellow Phoenix Reimagined Live, which was nominated for 2025's Best Jazz Performance and Best Jazz Instrumental Album. She started with a performance of the album's opening track, Train, which she dedicates to sax legend John Coltrane.
- [01:12]
B
All right, here we go.
- [05:00]
A
That was lakeisha Benjamin. Her album Phoenix Reimagined Live is nominated for two Grammys and Best Jazz Instrumental Album and Best Jazz Performance. She's here in Studio V performing live. Let's get this out of the way. That was quite a band you got performing. Did you give everybody a shout out? Tell us who we're listening to?
- [05:17]
B
Oh, absolutely. That's Melody Ray on vocals, Oscar Perez on piano, Elias Bailey on the bass, and Anwar Marsh on the drums.
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A
And you on saxophone.
- [05:26]
B
That's right.
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A
You mentioned that song was a dedication to John Coltrane. When was the first time you heard John Coltrane's music?
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B
The first time I heard John Coltrane music is after I heard Alice Coltrane.
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A
Right on.
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B
So I heard her album and I saw him on it and just started going through the discography and realized, wow, what a giant.
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A
What was it about him that appealed to you as a young musician?
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B
Just his dedication to his music, his dedication to his spirituality, his dedication to playing music and giving back to humanity. I felt like his purpose was to be a healer, to be a kind of spiritual leader, and that's kind of what I strive to do.
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A
So when you were creating that song, what vibe were you going for?
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B
I was looking for a little bit of the fire, a little bit of the burnout, but a little bit of like that urgency that's in a lot of us to get our dreams done, to get our goals done and try to accomplish things.
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A
So if you listen to that record on live versus the studio version of Phoenix, there are some differences, most notably the tempo. How did you think about reimagining it?
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B
I tried to think of a way like the first album was kind of like a perfect example of how the Song should be played, everything. And the second album is kind of a way for me to show that how I relate to my audience, how I relate to the people, my personal relationship with my fans, and, you know, what our daily life is, going around the world, traveling, and how we're engaging people.
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A
On this album, you have a great list of collaborators. Will you share with us who else plays on the album?
- [06:51]
B
Okay, so for Phoenix, we had Angela Davis, Patrice Rushing, Sonya Sanchez, Georgia Ann Mojo, Diane Reeves, and Wayne Shorter. And for Phoenix, Reimagined, we had the great Randy Brecker, Jeff Taine Watts, and John Schofield.
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A
What are you looking for in a collaborator?
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B
I'm looking for someone that is bringing so much to the table and so much of who they are that I can write a song that they can be featured doing what they do. So if your special talent you have is connecting to people, I want to write something you can connect to, if your talent is expressing yourself. So I'm looking for someone that inspires me by what they've done, and we can put that together, and you can kind of help me find my voice.
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A
You know, there's been such a history of live albums in jazz music. What's one that you like to listen to that you go back to?
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B
Oh, my gosh.
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A
Oh, my gosh.
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B
I would say Joe Henderson, Live at the Lighthouse.
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A
Why is that?
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B
I mean, it's such a phenomenal record. Him, Woody Shaw. It's just the energy of that record. I mean, John Colchian live in Newport. There's so many records that just show that when you listen to an album, you see how amazing an artist is. When you see them in person, you get to feel the soul of them and the passion behind everything. And you can't really beat a live show. New York City is all about live energy.
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A
That's interesting. So is that what you were trying to do with your record?
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B
Absolutely.
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A
You released the original Phoenix in 2023. Initially. What was the version of that? What was the sort of the. The intention of that record?
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B
I had been in a car accident where I almost died.
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A
I heard about this. Okay, wait a minute. Let's get into it.
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B
Well, I was driving from Ohio back to New York on i80, and I kind of crashed off into the mountains. Long story short, I broke three ribs, I broke my jaw, I fractured my scapula, and I had a brain bleed. So from there, I kind of went from like, you know, how will I stay alive? To now my jaw's broke. How will I play again? To writing this music Phoenix. And trying to. For me, it's how do I stay alive? How do I figure out my next steps? But with the pandemic raging like that for other people, it's how do they survive with losing loved ones? How do people survive with the different down periods we're going through? So I was trying to be a kind of a living example, if you keep pushing forward, of what could potentially happen.
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A
You know that I had brain surgery.
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B
Oh, man.
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A
Eight months ago.
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B
Whoa.
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And so I was going through the same. I couldn't speak.
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I couldn't talk about the therapy and stuff.
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A
It's wild what you go through because you go through ups and downs, you know?
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Yeah. It's a lot of uncertainty. Yeah.
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A
What did you do in your down. Not that I'm speaking for myself, but what did you do in your downtime when you were feeling down?
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I tried to stay positive, but luckily I'm goal oriented so I could just try to focus on whatever. I did a lot of prayer. I did a lot of eating. I did a lot of.
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A
Let me ask you about the original album. It was produced by Terri Lynn Carrington, the great. What kind of role model has she been for you?
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B
She's a living example of marching on for women's rights.
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A
Yeah.
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For showing that you may start your career and not be heard or seen. But if you keep persevering and pushing forward, they will see you. And when they do see you, how to open a door for someone else coming behind so that you can make a way for somebody like me. So she's just a great role model.
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A
My guest is Lakeisha Benjamin. She's going to perform another song for us. You're going to perform? Let's go. Do you want to set that up?
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B
Yeah. We're doing Let Go to show everybody out there. Keep going. Keep the energy strong and keep surviving. So this is Let Go. It's a due date, y'. All.
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Spreading dreams of love.
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Light and positivity for everybody. This one goes out to all my New Yorkers out there. We feel you and we love you.
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C
Let go, let it go Let it flow Let it flow Let it glow, let it glow it's all for showing hopes and empty jokes Shine bright Shine bright Shine bright Shine bright Shine light Shine light Shine light Shine bright Living dreams in life we open up our wings and we all take flight Let go, let go Let it flow Let it flow Let it glow, let it glow it's all for showing hopes and empty jokes Shine bright Shine bright Shine bright Shine bright Shine Light shine light shine light shine light shine bright Living dreams and life we open up our wings and we all take flight It's a new year filled with splendors so near Living without fear that care is dear to the stars we dream is real we high up in the clouds Searching for an ocean to prove our devotion Empty vacant oceans Screaming for a token that claimed broken fortunes Hit or miss the gems is real Honoring our fear do you kneel and try to take that deal? One of the shine we feel will be real so we say let go, let go, let go Let it flow, let it glow, let it glow it's all for show and hopes Nifty jokes Shine bright, shine bright Shine light, Shine light Shine light, shine bright Living dreams and life we open up our wings and we all take flight let's go searching and clinging to our fears Deep down in your mind do the empty broken thoughts linger? Will you pay to pray to leave the limelight it doesn't sit right. Cause folks in suits they keep me so uptight Makes me loosen my mind with predatory smiles when you teach it for the wine and you seeking for the divine Open your thoughts and remember that you's a boss if you remember to pay the cost. And that's one thing we say we say let go, let go Let it flow, let it flow Let it glow, let it glow it's all for show and hopes and empty jokes Shine bright, shine bright Shine bright Shine bright Shine light, Shine light Shine light, shine bright Live your dreams of life Open up my wings and we all take right let's go, let's let go.
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B
Let it.
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Go, let it go Let it flow, let it flow, Let it flow, let it flow. Shine bright, shine right Shine bright, shine right Shine right Let it go, let it go, let it go.
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B
Let it go, y'. All.
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Let it go, let it go, let it go. Shine bright out there, New York, we love you.
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A
That was lakeisha Benjamin. Let Go was the name of that song. She's got two nominations for Grammys this year. You got your first saxophone when you were 12?
- [13:19]
B
Yes, I did. Who gave it to you? My great grandfather.
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A
Were you interested, or did you just say, like, I want you to play this?
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B
I was 100% interested. I saw it in the band in the school, hanging from the wall, and I was like, that's for me. And it was love from there.
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A
What school was it?
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B
I went to PS189. And actually, I mean, it's a long story, but we'll keep it short. That's great. They didn't have any more saxophones available. So I asked them, who's playing the saxophone? They told me two girls and a guy. So I found one of the girls and I bartered with her. I gave her four Oreos. If she gave me the sax, I gave her the Oreos. She took the Oreos. So I went back with the sax, like, yeah. To the band director. So he said, how'd you find that sax? I said, I made a deal.
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A
It's a good deal.
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B
Great deal. Four Oreos, you know.
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A
You were born in Washington Heights. Born and braves. Where did you grow up?
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B
I grew up on 186 between Amsterdam and Audubon.
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A
How do you think your neighborhood influenced you as an artist?
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B
Oh, my God. Jalegos, merengue, salsa, bachata. You know what I mean? Just the fact that the first music I grew up playing was that the first music I grew up playing was to keep the block party, dancing outside, having a good time, feeling good. So when I think of music, I always think about good times, good energy, feeling good, good food. You know, your music could be the love story to somebody. You could be somebody can get me married, meaning the love of their life there. So I always try to supply the soundtrack for people.
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A
When did it switch over? At some point, it switched over for you. I can do. I might be able to do this.
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B
As a career after one of those wonderful, wonderful meninge gigs. I was sitting there eating my rice and beans, and the guy said, you know, thank you, mommy, for playing. I said, thank you. And he shook my hand. He said, you can go home. And when he shook my hand, I looked at the floor and I said, oh, you dropped your $20. He said, no, that's for you. And I picked it up and I looked at it, and it was like.
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A
Had your first paying gig?
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B
Yep.
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A
That's so funny. What would you say was your breakthrough professionally that you like, this was a really important moment in my career.
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B
Mm. Like, in terms of being noticed almost could be that.
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A
It could be something that happened which sent you on the right path anywhere. You know, just something you go back to. Just think that moment really made a difference.
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B
Okay. One moment for me, I guess I had just scored a gig with Stevie Wonder. I was like, oh, my God. And I'm sitting kind of laying on the floor under the piano. He's not playing. He's not there, and I'm just playing with my phone. Then he comes in and starts playing the piano, but he doesn't know I'm under the piano. And I'm like, oh, my God, I can't move because I'm under the piano. And like this. I'm gonna get fired. He's gonna notice there's somebody under the piano. Or maybe he won't hear me. I don't know. He's playing, he's playing, he's playing. Finally, I kind of try to sneak out, and he goes, did you like that, Lakeisha? And I was like, did you know I was there the whole time? Yeah, yeah. I give you something so you could start to learn to write your own music. And I was like, okay, great. You know, but it didn't let me know that somebody great thinks maybe I could write music. So. And I was under there for an exceptionally long time.
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A
It must have occurred to you at some point you're like, oh, my gosh, he knows I'm here.
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B
No, I totally didn't. I just thought, you know, he just doesn't know.
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A
He's in here doing his thing.
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Of course you can't see that I'm here. Oh, no, it's not happening. I could just creep out of here and I'm good. And he was like, no, hey, Lakeisha. I was like, oh, boy.
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A
Don't try to get one over on Stevie. He knows, right?
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B
I got big feet. You probably heard of them.
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A
I read you said that in 2024, you played 175 shows as a band leader. That's a huge amount of the year.
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B
Amen.
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A
How do you keep it together if you have to tour that much?
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B
Keep your mind focused and centered, keep your food and diet right, get some rest and make sure that you really, really love what you're doing.
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A
How did you keep it focused, your mind focused? Is it reading? Is it meditating? Is it.
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B
No, When I meditate, I always fall asleep, so that helps if I want to get some sleep. But I guess just remembering why I'm doing what I'm doing. What is the goal? I'm having fun doing what I love, playing what I love. And that's a self thing. But also when you see those people's faces out there in the crowd and someone comes up to you and says that this show changed their day, or someone comes up to you all the way in Lithuania and says, I've been. I paid for this ticket two months in advance and I've been waiting. Or someone says, I drove from D.C. up to New York to see you, and you realize that your music is having an impact on people and it's kind of bigger than you are.
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A
I'm just gonna say this because it's radio. I like your fit.
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B
Okay, great.
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A
You always have good outfits. Seriously, is that a big part of your Persona or is that just that you just like bright colors? You're wearing like gold lame and silver lame and a great necklace?
- [17:54]
B
I do like bright colors, but one of the first musicians I ever played with was the great Clark Terry. And I came to his show, I think in a sweatsuit or something, and he told me, lakeisha, they see you before they hear you. Make sure they can see your personality and what you have to say. That way it's easier for them to receive it when you play it.
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A
Smart. Smart advice. You know, 2025, you're going to the Grammys. But I'm curious, do you have creative goals for 2025 outside of the awards and the performances?
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B
Yeah, I'm trying to find a way. I've had my last three albums have been very jazz based. I'm trying to find a way to keep pushing myself to grow, to keep finding people to collaborate with that are at a higher place, but also have seen more than me and I guess know more about all the genres of music. So I'm trying to find a way to embrace all the sides of me and make them come out in one album.
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A
Well, we wish you luck on that creative goal.
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B
Well, thank you.
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A
My guest has been Lakeisha Benjamin. Her album Phoenix Reimagined Live is nominated for 2 Gramm. You're going to play us out. What are we going to hear?
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B
We are going to play a song on the album called Mercy and the original, it featured Diane Reeves and today it featured Melody Ray.
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All right, here's lakeisha Benjamin.
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Sam.
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Turn.
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The page and start a.
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New.
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Seek in the peace Peace with your mind and soul Focus on love.
- [23:10]
A
That was my conversation with sax player and bandleader Lakeisha Benjamin about her 2025 Grammy nominated album Phoenix Reimagined Live. She's nominated again this year for her single Noble Rise. And that is all of it for this hour. After the break, some fancy finger picking on the banjo from a real jerk. Well, he's actually a super nice guy, but he did play the jerk, the multi talented Steve Martin and his musical collaborator Alison Brow. Plus, we'll listen to the music of the Doobies, the Doobie Brothers, that is. That's coming up. Pacifico is a Mexican lager brood to be discovered. It's like fresh tracks on a powder day like that uncharted trail A stone's throw away like the perfect wave on a sunny day Pacifico find your own way. 21/Drink responsibly imported by Crown Import, Chicago, IL.
- [24:09]
D
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