Kamasi Washington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kamasi Washington
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Washington in 2017
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kamasi Tii Washington |
| Born | February 18, 1981 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Tenor saxophone |
| Years active | 2000–present |
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Kamasi Tii Washington (born February 18, 1981) is an American jazz saxophonist. He is also a talented composer who writes music and an arranger who puts musical pieces together. He is known for his exciting style that mixes traditional jazz with modern sounds. Washington is a key member of the jazz group West Coast Get Down.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Start
Kamasi Washington was born and grew up in Los Angeles, California. He went to the Academy of Music at Alexander Hamilton High School. This is where his musical journey really began.
After high school, he studied ethnomusicology (the study of music from different cultures) at UCLA. At college, he played with famous jazz musicians like Kenny Burrell and Billy Higgins. He also formed a band with his friends: pianist Cameron Graves and brothers Stephen "Thundercat" Bruner and Ronald Bruner Jr.. In 2004, they released an album called Young Jazz Giants.
Rise to Fame
Working with Big Stars
Washington's talent on the saxophone got him noticed by many famous artists. In 2005, he joined the Gerald Wilson Orchestra.
A huge moment in his career came in 2015. ..... This brought his amazing jazz sound to a much wider audience. He also worked with Thundercat on the popular song "Them Changes".
Solo Career and Major Albums
In May 2015, Washington released his own album, The Epic. The album was a huge success. It is nearly three hours long and is famous for its powerful and creative jazz music. It won several awards, including Album of the Year at the Worldwide Winners awards.
He followed this with an EP called Harmony of Difference in 2017. In 2018, he released his next big album, Heaven and Earth. This album also received great reviews and won awards for Best Jazz Album.
Collaborations and Other Projects
Washington has played with a wide variety of musicians. His work includes performances with legends like Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock. He has also collaborated with modern artists like Snoop Dogg, Lauryn Hill, St. Vincent, and Run the Jewels.
Dinner Party Supergroup
In 2020, Washington formed a supergroup called Dinner Party. The group also includes musicians Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, and 9th Wonder. They released their first EP, Dinner Party, that same year.
Recent Work
In 2021, Washington recorded a cover of the Metallica song "My Friend of Misery" for a charity album. He also composed music for the Netflix documentary Becoming, about former First Lady Michelle Obama. This work earned him a Grammy nomination.
In 2024, he was mentioned in Kendrick Lamar's song "Not Like Us". Washington also worked with other artists to compose music for the 2025 anime series Lazarus.
Selected Discography
Here are some of Kamasi Washington's most important albums as a band leader.
Studio Albums
- Young Jazz Giants (2004)
- The Epic (2015)
- Heaven and Earth (2018)
- Fearless Movement (2024)
EPs (Shorter Albums)
- Harmony of Difference (2017)
- Dinner Party (with Dinner Party) (2020)
See also
In Spanish: Kamasi Washington para niños
