Kamasi Washington

One of this generation’s most influential jazz artists, Kamasi Washington is a composer, bandleader, and multi-instrumentalist. Known for his expansive sound, boundary-pushing vision, and dazzling saxophone playing, Washington blends jazz with elements of hip-hop, funk, R&B, and beyond. Across acclaimed works including The Epic, Heaven and Earth, and his latest, Fearless Movement, “his records present jazz as vitally important,” with their “grand scale and sheer musical urgency.” (Pitchfork) A celebrated collaborator, Washington has shared stages and studios with artists including Florence + the Machine, Metallica, Herbie Hancock, and Kendrick Lamar, with whom he won two Grammys. On Fearless Movement, guest artists include André 3000, Thundercat, and George Clinton. Washington also co-founded the supergroup Dinner Party with Terrace Martin and Robert Glasper. His work extends beyond music, from his Emmy- and Grammy-nominated score for Michelle Obama’s Becoming to his short film As Told To G/D Thyself, which premiered at Sundance to rave reviews. Don’t miss one of contemporary jazz’s most visionary artists live at the Chan Centre.