On her remarkable debut album Escape (Spring 2025), Peruvian-American saxophonist and composer Lucia Sarmiento emerges as a rising star of the modern jazz scene, delivering playful yet intricate melodies. “When I play the saxophone, I love that feeling of danger,” says Sarmiento. With a powerful tenor sound and an effervescent personality, she explains, “I’m drawn to music filled with intensity and risk that captures every fiber of your being in the moment; that’s why I love jazz.”
Lucia has performed on sold-out stages with international pop-stars Pitbull and Karol G, while also headlining jazz festivals under her own name. Her fearless approach to music and her commitment to crafting bold, textured compositions make her an exciting voice in contemporary jazz.
“Minneapolis raised me musically,” she reflects. “It's a smaller city compared to LA or NYC, but the music scene is vibrant, steeped in the legacy of Prince. I began performing with Prince's long-time collaborators and Weather Report's legendary drummer Eric Gravatt right out of college. I got to explore every genre from Minneapolis funk to brass band, and from Motown to free jazz. What was really important was that I came to develop my own sound. At first, it wasn’t easy to keep up with the loud drums, distorted guitars and very experienced funk players, so I spent lots of time working on my sound and time. I also admire how Michael Brecker, Bob Mintzer, and Chris Potter play with so much strength and a sense of urgency—that's how I want to play.”
In recent years, Lucia has gained a social media following of over 100k+ people, releasing educational videos in Spanish and English that provide a global perspective on jazz and saxophone.
She has represented and collaborated with brands like Yamaha, Akai, Theo Wanne, Eastman, RS Berkeley, BG, Jean-Paul USA, Syos, Key Leaves among others.
In 2013, a Saxophone Performance Scholarship brought her to Minneapolis Minnesota, where she has been an active member of the music scene ever since.
She has collaborated with esteemed jazz artists such as Chad Lefkovitz-Brown, Arturo Sandoval, Melissa Aldana, Randy Brecker, Bob Mintzer, Kurt Elling, Grace Kelly, Antwaun Stanley, Ella Briceno, among others.