In May, Kamasi Washington released Fearless Movement, which was a long time coming: The project was Washington’s first album since 2018’s Heaven And Earth. Now, with a fresh album to promote, he has taken his talents to NPR’s iconic Tiny Desk Concert series.
His four-song setlist featured “Lesanu,” “Street Fighter Mas,” “The Rhythm Changes,” and “Asha The First.” Of particular note is one of Washington’s band members: Rickey Washington, a flutist, soprano saxophonist, and Kamasi’s father. Kamasi himself was in top form, as he’s fresh off a tour in support of the new album.
Washington previously calledFearless Movement his “dance album,” saying, “It’s not literal. Dance is movement and expression, and in a way it’s the same thing as music — expressing your spirit through your body. That’s what this album is pushing.” He also said, “Being a father means the horizon of your life all of a sudden shows up. My mortality became more apparent to me, but also my immortality — realizing that my daughter is going to live on and see things that I’m never going to see. I had to become comfortable with this, and that affected the music that I was making.”
Check out Washington’s full Tiny Desk performance above.
Los Angeles, California based saxophonist and overall icon, Kamasi Washington, is back with another single “Get Lit.” This is now the veteran’s fourth offering from his upcoming album Fearless Movement, which is slated for release this Friday, May 3. So far, Kamasi has unleashed “Prologue,” “The Garden Path,” as well as “Dream State” featuring Andre 3000. There has not been a single miss and “Get Lit” is no exception. This time around, one of the kings of funk, George Clinton enters the mix, in addition to rapper D Smoke.
On this 3 minute and 26 second cut, Kamasi, George and Smoke, all bring great performances in their own way. This song will transport to another world with its dreamy and whimsical sound. It is extremely groovy and funky, and we are absolutely floating on a cloud listening to it. The back end of the song is especially captivating, with incredibly passionate flute playing.
Listen To “Get Lit” By Kamasi Washington, George Clinton, & D Smoke
Pretty soon, we will be able to hear another potential classic album from Kamasi on streaming. But just a day later, he will be heading out on a North America and UK tour on May 4. He will travel to places like Manchester, Austin, Toronto, Chicago, and more. Be sure to check out “Get Lit” above.
What are your thoughts on this brand-new single “Get Lit” by Kamasi Washington, D Smoke, and George Clinton? Is this one of his best songs as of late, why or why not? Does this have you excited for his upcoming album Fearless Movement? What was your favorite part of the track? We would like to hear what you have to say, so be sure to leave your takes in the comments section. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Kamasi Washington, George Clinton, and D Smoke. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on around the music world.
It was likely only a matter of time until Kamasi Washington and André 3000 teamed up. After all, André has spent the last half-decade wandering around playing woodwinds and Washington is one of the foremost big-band jazz revivalists working in music today. Sure enough, they’ve released their first collaboration, “Dream State,” complete with a well-suited, avant-garde music video. The track’s actually long enough that YouTube imposes its obnoxious ads on it before the first movement is even over, but the conversation between the two artists’ chosen instruments — sax and flute — is hypnotically engaging enough to make it worth sitting through a Fiji tourism commercial. Hell, I’d even pay for Premium (if I didn’t already have it and write it off on my taxes).
The song is from Washington’s upcoming album, Fearless Movement, which is out on May 3. In the album announcement press release, Kamasi calls it his “dance album,” elaborating, “It’s not literal. Dance is movement and expression, and in a way it’s the same thing as music—expressing your spirit through your body. That’s what this album is pushing.” The project was partially inspired by the birth of his daughter, and will also feature appearances from BJ The Chicago Kid, Coast Contra, DJ Battlecat, D-Smoke, George Clinton, and of course, frequent collaborators Terrace Martin and Thundercat.
Check out the video for “Dream State” above.
Fearless Movement Tracklist
01. “Lesanu”
02. “Asha The First” Feat. Thundercat & Taj Austin, Ras Austin of Coast Contra
03. “Computer Love” Feat. Patrice Quinn, DJ Battlecat, Brandon Coleman
04. “The Visionary” Feat. Terrace Martin
05. “Get Lit” Feat. George Clinton, D Smoke
06. “Dream State” Feat. André 3000
07. “Together” Feat. BJ the Chicago Kid
08. “The Garden Path”
09. “Interstellar Peace” (The Last Stance)
10. “Road to Self (KO)”
11. “Lines in the Sand”
12. “Prologue”
It’s been a minute since we’ve gotten new Kamasi Washington, as his most recent album is 2018’s Heaven And Earth. His comeback is nigh, though: Today (March 6), he announced the upcoming release of Fearless Movement, a new album. He also shared a video for “Prologue.”
Washington recruited a strong roster of collaborators for the project, including André 3000 (on flute), George Clinton, BJ The Chicago Kid, Thundercat, Terrace Martin, and more.
Per a press release, Washington calls the project his “dance album,” saying, “It’s not literal. Dance is movement and expression, and in a way it’s the same thing as music — expressing your spirit through your body. That’s what this album is pushing.”
The press release also notes, “Where previous albums dealt with cosmic ideas and existential concepts, Fearless Movement focuses in on the everyday, an exploration of life on earth. This change in scope is due in large part to the birth of Washington’s first child a few years ago.”
Washington adds, “Being a father means the horizon of your life all of a sudden shows up. My mortality became more apparent to me, but also my immortality — realizing that my daughter is going to live on and see things that I’m never going to see. I had to become comfortable with this, and that affected the music that I was making.”
Watch the “Prologue” video above and find the Fearless Movement art and tracklist below. Washington also announced new tour dates, so find those below as well.
Kamasi Washington’s Fearless Movement Album Cover Artwork
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Kamasi Washington’s Fearless Movement Tracklist
1. “Lesanu”
2. “Asha The First” Feat. Thundercat, Taj Austin, and Ras Austin
3. “Computer Love” Feat. Patrice Quinn, DJ Battlecat, and Brandon Coleman
4. “The Visionary” Feat. Terrace Martin
5. “Get Lit” Feat. George Clinton and D Smoke
6. “Dream State” Feat. André 3000
7. “Together” Feat. BJ The Chicago Kid
8. “The Garden Path”
9. “Interstellar Peace (The Last Stance)”
10. “Road To Self (KO)”
11. “Lines In The Sand”
12. “Prologue”
Kamasi Washington 2024 Tour Dates
05/04 — New York, NY @ Beacon Theatre
05/05 — Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
05/07 — Toronto, QC @ History
05/08 — Cincinnati, OH @ Ludlow Garage
05/09 — Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall
05/10 — Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall
05/11 — Minneapolis, MN @ Fitzgerald Theater
05/12 — Omaha, NB @ Slowdown
05/14 — Houston, TX @ House of Blues Houston
05/15 — Dallas, TX @ House of Blues Dallas
05/16 — San Antonio, TX @ Empire Theater
05/17 — Austin, TX @ Empire Garage
05/30 — Vancouver, BC @ Vogue
05/31 — Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
06/01 — Eugene, OR @ McDonald Theatre
06/02 — Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
06/05 — Sacramento, CA @ Crest Theatre
06/06 — Monterey, CA @ Golden State Theatre
06/07 — San Francisco, CA @ Warfield
06/08 — Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst
06/09 — San Diego, CA @ Belly Up
06/11 — Mesa, AZ @ Mesa Arts Center
06/16 — Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl Jazz Fest
07/31 — Alexandria, VA @ The Birchmere
Fresh off of their Coachella weekend one performance, supergroup Dinner Party headed over to Jimmy Kimmel Live! to deliver yet another powerful set, this time for the fans at home.
Comprised of saxophonist Kamasi Washington, multi-instrumentalist Terrace Martin, DJ/producer 9th Wonder, and keyboardist Robert Glasper, the musical powerhouse’s self-titled debut album showcased just how much further the industry veterans could push themselves. On their latest project, Enigmatic Society, they are looking to outdo themselves.
Joined by singer Ant Clemons, Dinner Party demonstrated their growth with an intimate performance of the single “Insane.” As Clemons sings, “Hella glad you made it / Shot a clock, I’m faded / Be my designated / Call your driver, baby / ‘Cause that body drives me crazy,” the listener is hocked in with the buttery smooth lines.
The oozing swagger of the song’s lyrics is heightened by the musicians’ homely stage set up on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Dinner Party and Clemons hold an effortlessly soulful jam session blending together areas of each musician’s areas of expertise, from jazz to jazz and every element in between.
Watch the full performance of “Insane” on Jimmy Kimmel Live above.
Enigmatic Society is out now via Sounds Of Crenshaw/Empire. Find more information here.
In celebration, the band also shared a new single, “For Granted” (feat. Arin Ray) today. The chilled-out energy in this latest release transports listeners to another planet, or maybe even a beach, as the instrumental incorporates twinkling bubble sounds. It marks just one of a few of the group’s collaborations with Ray on their new album.
The tracklist also features other special guests, including Phoelix, Tank, and Ant Clemons. This follows Dinner Party’s string of success over the past few years since they debuted. The band took received a Grammy nomination in 2022 for Best Progressive R&B Album for their project Dinner Party: Dessert. If they continue down this path, based on what “For Granted” suggests as well, more nods could be on the horizon.
Listen to Dinner Party’s “For Granted” (feat. Arin Ray) above. Continue scrolling for their Enigmatic Society album art and complete tracklist.
Another day, another legendary music festival lineup to announce. This go-’round is one of the most iconic festivals dedicated to jazz music lovers: the Newport Jazz Festival.
The multi-day outdoor event is set to celebrate its 69th anniversary, making its highly-anticipated return to Fort Adams State Park in Rhode Island. The Newport Jazz Festival will take place between August 4 and 6. Opening day, Friday, August 4, will be headlined by Kamasi Washington, DJ Pee .Wee (also known as Anderson .Paak), and Big Freedia. Whereas Jon Batiste and Thundercat are billed to headline the following day, Saturday, August 5. Closing out the festival is none other than jazz legends Herbie Hancock and Diana Krall.
Other notable acts include Grammy’s newest Best New Artist winner Samara Joy, Charles Lloyd, Vijay Iyer, DOMi & JD Beck, Arooj Aftab, Big Gigantic, Alfa Mist, Cautious Clay, Durand Jones, and The War & Treaty.
Tickets for the festival will go on sale to the public on Wednesday, March 22, at 1 p.m. est. The organizers are offering a student discount rate for those between the ages of 10 and 25. For more information, click here.
View the full lineup organized by day via the poster below.
Newport Jazz Festival
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
