Lakecia Benjamin + Gard Nilssen’s Supersonic Orchestra

Lakecia Benjamin (US)
Lakecia Benjamin, alto saxophone; Zaccai Curtis, piano; Ivan Taylor, bass; E.J. Strickland, drums

If one of your first mentors is Gary Bartz, great success is forthcoming. Over the past decade, the New York-based saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin’s singular fusion of jazz, hip-hop and soul, as well as different innovative and prominent projects have blazed new trails in the American jazz milieu. Not least, Benjamin has gained visibility with her high-octane stage presence. Even as a “newcomer” to the scene, she played with figures as notable as Christian McBride, Gregory Porter and James "Blood" Ulmer, and soon established herself as the leader of her own jazz combo. She has recorded four albums so far – her latest, Phoenix, released earlier this year, is an electrifying, strikingly original and genre-bending tour de force, addressing the theme of communal solidarity and featuring a star-studded line up of artists Dianne Reeves, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Patrice Rushen, Sonia Sanchez, and Wayne Shorter. One of the album guests is the iconic feminist activist Angela Davis. Just like Lakecia’s previous recording feats, the album received glowing reviews. Lakecia Benjamin is a decidedly contemporary artist whose sound reflects the influence of both classic jazz musicians like John Coltrane and the beat of her hometown, the beat of Notorious B.I.G. and Wu-Tang Clan.

Gard Nilssen’s Supersonic Orchestra (NO/SE/DK/PL)
Per” Texas” Johansson, Kjetil Moster, Eirik Hegdal, Fredrik Ljungkvist, saxophone, clarinet, percussion; Mette Rasmussen, Maciej Obara, Signe Emmeluth Krunderup, saxophone, percussion; Thomas Johansson, Goran Kajfes, trumpet, percussion; Erik Johannessen, Guro Kvåle, trombone, percussion; Petter Eldh, Ole Morten Vågan, Ingebrigt Håker Flaten, double bass, percussion; Håkon Mjåset Johansen, drums, percussion; Hans Hulbækmo, drums, recorder, percussion; Gard Nilssen, drums, percussion; Jørgen Brennhovd, sound

“The Supersonic Orchestra is a dream coming true for me, with all of my absolute favourite musicians on board! The lineup doesn’t need any further introduction, except the fact that all of them are great bandleaders and world class improvisers. The music is energetic, suggestive, dynamic, creative and explosive, inspired by Ornette Coleman, Fela Kuti, Alice Coltrane, Duke Ellington, Chris McGregor, Louis Moholo and Curtis Mayfield, with a lot of space and room for each musician to contribute with their own voices! The band’s debut album If You Listen Carefully, The Music Is Yours got amazing reviews all over.” Gard Nilssen