Kamasi Washington

Before that, Washington had already left his mark on the Los Angeles scene. At just seventeen, he won first prize at the John Coltrane Saxophone Competition, but more importantly, he formed the group to accompany him: The Young Jazz Giants. That quartet, featuring musicians like Thundercat and his brother Ronald Bruner, recorded Young Jazz Giants in 2004, though the album took two years to release due to distribution issues. The wait was worth it: even then, the blend of virtuosity and freedom that would define his career was already evident. Later, in 2005, he joined the Gerald Wilson Orchestra to record In My Time, a project that connected him with the tradition of jazz big bands without losing his personal voice.

In 2017, his mini-album Harmony of Difference showcased another facet: short but intense pieces where improvisation and structure balance each other. The following year, Heaven and Earth—and its accompanying EP The Choice—delved deeper into that idea, with arrangements that ranged from intimate to epic. But Washington didn’t stay in the studio. In 2020, alongside Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, and 9th Wonder, he formed Dinner Party, a supergroup blending jazz, soul, and rap with an almost playful approach. Their self-titled EP, released that same year, was a reminder that music can be both a game and a statement.

Beyond his projects, Washington has collaborated with names ranging from Flying Lotus to Chaka Khan, always driven by curiosity. In 2025, alongside Bonobo and Floating Points, he composed the soundtrack for Lazarus, an anime directed by Shinichirō Watanabe. The next year, the trio won the award for "Best Original Soundtrack for Animation" at the Music Awards Japan. A technical recognition, yes, but one that reflects how his music transcends borders.