Kamasi Washington is an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and bandleader known for his expansive, genre-blending compositions and his role as a founding member of the West Coast Get Down collective.
Born in Los Angeles, Kamasi Washington emerged as a prominent figure in the contemporary jazz scene through his work as a multi-instrumentalist and arranger. He gained widespread recognition for his ambitious approach to jazz, which incorporates elements of hip-hop, classical, and R&B, establishing himself as a central figure in the West Coast Get Down collective.
Washington is recognized for his large-scale, multi-disciplinary projects that often bridge the gap between traditional jazz performance and contemporary art spaces. His work frequently explores complex harmonic structures and large ensemble arrangements, characterized by a cinematic and immersive quality.
Recent recognition includes his selection to inaugurate the David Geffen Galleries at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. This project features a large-scale performance of his work Harmony of Difference, utilizing an ensemble of over 100 musicians to engage with the architectural scale of the new museum space.
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