Kamasi Washington

Kamasi Washington is a saxophonist and composer from Los Angeles. His father Rickey Washington played saxophone, and his mother Valerie Washington was a pianist and vocalist. Before releasing his own work, he played as a sideman for musicians like Gerald Wilson, Billy Higgins, and Herbie Hancock.

In 2015, Washington put out 'The Epic,' a three-hour album that became his breakthrough. One track from it, 'Cherokee,' stretches across multiple sections with layered horns and shifting rhythms. Other songs like 'Henrietta Our Hero' and 'The Rhythm Changes' show his approach to building pieces that feel both structured and open to improvisation.

Washington's music pulls from jazz, soul, and funk, often arranged for large groups with multiple saxophones, trumpets, and keyboards. The sound can feel dense and rhythmic, leaning into extended compositions rather than concise tunes. He works with a regular band and collaborators who help shape those expansive arrangements.