(Motema)

New York-based saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin makes an impressive recording debut with Retox. The project is a collection of jazz-tinged funk or funk-tinged jazz, depending on your perspective. Benjamin is an impressive composer, in addition to being a solid practitioner of her axe. She wrote all but one of the tunes on the project. The effort is very much vocal-based with terrific contributions from various singers, including Krystle Warren, Mavis Swan Poole, Chinah Blac and Melanie Charles. There are equally impressive musician performances from organist Jess Fisher,  guitarists Louis Cato and Shelton Gardner, bassist Solomon Dorsey and brasswork by The Hotspot Horns. This is fantastic premier by a great new artist on the scene.