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 a very talented musician known for his amazing saxophone playing. Kamasi is also a founding member of a jazz group called West Coast Get Down.
Contents
Kamasi Washington's Music Journey
Kamasi Washington was born in 1981 and grew up in Los Angeles, California. He went to the Academy of Music at Alexander Hamilton High School. After high school, he studied Ethnomusicology at UCLA. There, he played with famous musicians like Kenny Burrell and Billy Higgins.
Kamasi, along with pianist Cameron Graves and brothers Stephen ("Thundercat") and Ronald Bruner Jr., formed a quartet. They released their first album, Young Jazz Giants, in 2004.
In 2015, Kamasi played saxophone on Kendrick Lamar's album To ... a Butterfly. This was a big step in his career. His own first solo album, The Epic, came out in May 2015. It was a huge album with three parts! He also played on Thundercat's song "Them Changes" that same year.
Kamasi released a mini-album called Harmony of Difference in 2017. Then, his second full-length album, Heaven and Earth, came out in 2018. A week later, he released a short album called The Choice.
Kamasi has played with many different artists. These include jazz legends like Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock. He has also worked with hip-hop stars like Lauryn Hill and Snoop Dogg. Other artists he has played with include Flying Lotus, St. Vincent, and Run the Jewels.
In 2020, Kamasi joined a supergroup called Dinner Party. This group includes Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, and 9th Wonder. They released their first extended play (EP) called Dinner Party.
In 2021, Kamasi released a new song called "Sun Kissed Child." He and his band also covered the Metallica song "My Friend of Misery" for a special album. More recently, in 2024, Kendrick Lamar mentioned Kamasi in his song "Squabble Up."
Awards and Recognition
Kamasi Washington has won many awards for his music. He won the John Coltrane Music Competition in 1999. His album The Epic won "Album of the Year" at the Worldwide Winners in 2015. It also won the American Music Prize in 2016.
His mini-album Harmony of Difference won "Best Jazz Album" at the Libera Awards in 2018. In 2019, his album Heaven and Earth won multiple Libera Awards, including "Album of the Year" and "Best Jazz Album." He was also nominated for a Brit Award in 2019.
Kamasi was nominated for an Emmy Award in 2020 for his music in the documentary Becoming. In 2021, he received a Grammy Award nomination for the same documentary's soundtrack. Most recently, in 2023, his song "The Garden Path" won "Best Jazz Record" at the Libera Awards.
Kamasi Washington's Albums
Kamasi Washington has released several albums and EPs as a leader. His main studio albums include:
- Young Jazz Giants (2004)
- The Epic (2015)
- Heaven and Earth (2018)
- Fearless Movement (2024)
He has also released EPs like Harmony of Difference (2017) and The Choice (2018). His group Dinner Party released their EP in 2020.
Kamasi has also played saxophone for many other artists. Some of these include:
- Ryan Adams on Gold (2001)
- Snoop Dogg on R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece (2004) and Ego Trippin' (2008)
- Thundercat on The Golden Age of Apocalypse (2011) and The Beyond / Where the Giants Roam (2015)
- George Duke on DreamWeaver (2013)
- Flying Lotus on You're Dead! (2014)
- Kendrick Lamar on To ... a Butterfly (2015) and GNX (2024)
- Run the Jewels on Run the Jewels 3 (2016)
- St. Vincent on Masseduction (2017)
- Childish Gambino on "Bando Stone and The New World" (2024)
He has also played with the Gerald Wilson Orchestra on several albums, including In My Time (2005) and Legacy (2011).
Images for kids
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Kamasi Washington in 2017
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Kamasi Washington at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in 2016
See also
In Spanish: Kamasi Washington para niños
