When Kamasi Washington released his tour de force LP, The Epic, in 2015, it set him on a path as our generation’s torchbearer for progressive, improvisational music. The 172-minute odyssey featuring his 10-piece band, The Next Step, is rich in elements of hip-hop, classical, and R&B music.
The Epic won the inaugural American Music Prize and the Gilles Peterson Worldwide album of the year. Following this success, Kamasi manifested collaborations with other influential artists such as Kendrick Lamar, John Legend, Run the Jewels, and Ibeyi. His standalone multimedia installation, “Harmony of Difference,” was featured at the Whitney Museum of American Art’s prestigious 2017 Biennial. Washington will release the highly anticipated Harmony of Difference EP this fall, and a sophomore album slated for 2018.
