If you’ve ever been to a jazz show, you’ve most likely encountered a bunch of musical savants in absolute awe of what they’re hearing – and a few people looking around thinking, ‘what the — is this?’
We get it, at times jazz can become a bit overbearing and nonsensical to listeners who don’t completely vibe with the fluidity and jam-like nature of the genre. Although, among that crowd, there’s one musician who always seems to transcend that barrier, Kamasi Washington.
Having worked with everyone from Kendrick Lamar to Herbie Hancock, Lauryn Hill and Snoop Dogg, Washington has a style that incorporates all the technical complexities of jazz, while also retaining the rhythm and groove of rap, hip-hop and soul. Giving his sound a widespread appeal to legions of listeners who may not normally give jazz a shot.
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On his seventh release, Washington continues his Fearless Movement, ushering new waves of listeners into jazz fusion grooves by incorporating a lengthy list of collaborators to help inject elements of hip-hop, disco, funk and psychedelia into his seemingly all-encompassing sound.
From Cost Contra’s Taj and Ras Austin laying down the rhymes alongside Thundercat on the experimental hip-hop number ‘Asha The First’, to actress Patrice Quinn providing the soulful harmonies for ‘Computer Love’, to George Clinton knocking you the funk out on ‘Get Lit’, Washington has a pretty stacked phone book and he’s not afraid to use it to bring his musician vision to life.
In a particularly notable inclusion, ‘Dream State’ sees Outkast’s André Benjamin (André 3000) pop up for a guest flute spot, delivering duelling melodies and impressive call and release tactics alongside Washington’s deep baritone sax.
Although, Fearless Movement is by no means a left of centre, genre-bending album solely because of its impressive list of collaborators. Possibly its most experimental inclusion comes in the form of 13 minute epic, ‘Interstellar Peace’, which sees tight interplay between Washington and his backing band working harmoniously to balance ethereal, slow-burning sax melodies, subtle rhythmic builds and kaleidoscopic synth arrangements to find a psychedelic sound somewhere between a John Williams Star Wars score and a Pink Floyd acid-infused jam session.
It really is an album that’s hard to categorise. While songs like ‘Lesanu’ and ‘Road To Self’ deliver the traditional jazz stylings that many would expect, other moments see the LA raised musician toying with gospel (‘The Garden Path’, ‘Lines In The Sand’), lounge R&B (‘Together’) and lo-fi ambience (‘The Visionary’).
The result is a holistic and meditative listen that you can’t help but vibe with – regardless of your usual musical preferences.
Kamasi Washington’s Fearless Movement is out today via Young Turks Recording. Listen here.
