Lucia Sarmiento

Peruvian-American saxophonist and composer Lucia Sarmiento brings fire and charisma to every stage. Blending jazz, funk, and traditional Peruvian rhythms, her music features contagious grooves and singable melodies from her debut album Escape (2025). After touring globally with pop icons Pitbull and Karol G, Lucia now leads her own powerhouse jazz quintet, presenting a very intimate but high energy show that takes people across different styles, cultures and emotions.

Born and raised in Peru and musically shaped by her years in Minneapolis, she brings a unique blend of cultural richness and storytelling to her performances. “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.”

Now based in Chicago and endorsed by Eastman, Theo Wanne, and D’Addario, Lucia continues to carve her path as a bold new voice in contemporary jazz—pairing her big saxophone sound and imaginative writing with an unmistakable sense of joy and freedom. A Saxophone Performance Scholarship brought her to Minneapolis in 2013, where she has since collaborated with esteemed artists including Chad Lefkowitz-Brown, Arturo Sandoval, Melissa Aldana, Randy Brecker, Bob Mintzer, Kurt Elling, Grace Kelly, Antwaun Stanley, and Ella Briceno. With over 150,000 social media followers and performances spanning festivals, jazz clubs, and international stages, Lucia Sarmiento represents a new generation of artists bridging cultures and redefining what jazz can be.