KAMASI WASHINGTON Vinilo y CD

Review: Renowned musician Kamasi Washington is best known for his jazz work but on this latest album he explores the world of dance music. Fearless Movement arrives on Young Records after his monumental previous works like The Epic in 2015 and Heaven and Earth in 2018. On it, Washington's new approach finds him delving into terrestrial rhythms and showcases collaborations with esteemed artists including Thundercat, George Clinton, and Andre 3000. Departing from his signature celestial grandeur, this album embraces diverse influences from jazz to Latin, funk, to hip-hop. Another key aspect is Washington's collaboration with his daughter and an array of musical icons that all result in a vibrant fusion of sounds and a fresh perspective on musical connectivity.

Review: One day, Kamasi Washington will be heralded as a genuine musical genius. For now, he's just one of the artists of the moment - a jazz artist whose take on the genre is so wide-ranging and forward-thinking that it defies categorisation. On Fearless Movement, his follow-up to the dazzling and mind-blowing Earth (2015) and Heaven & Earth (2018), Washington heads for the dancefloor, combining his usual jazz, classical and soul influences with lashings of P-funk colour, raps aplenty, and impressive cast-list of guest stars. Andre 3000 reaches for his flute on the decidedly cosmic 'Dream State', old pals Thundercat, Taj Austin and Ras Austin step forth on the brilliant 'Asha The First', and George Clinton and rapper D Smoke light up 'Let's Get Lit'. He even doffs a cap to d&b on future jazz-dance classic 'Prologue'. Immense.

Review: Kamasi Washington is one of modern jazz's most innovative and adventurous talents, especially when serving up his vast albums. Fearless Movement is another testament to that which serves as a wild sonic journey through jazz, funk, and soul, all while showcasing the saxophonist's virtuosity and vision. Across its 12 tracks, Washington weaves intricate melodies with pulsating rhythms to create a dynamic and immersive listen. From the soaring solos to the tight ensemble playing, each moment is filled with energy and emotion and the ambitious compositions and powerful performances never fail to leave you listening on in awe and wonder. Washington really pushes the boundaries of contemporary jazz while paying homage to its rich traditions here with masterful storytelling that leaves a lasting impression.

Review: Kamasi Washington's latest effort is a little different from his previous releases, which delighted in taking spiritual and post-bop jazz in a myriad of thrilling new directions. Befitting its status as a soundtrack - the music on Becoming was written to feature on Nadia Hallgren's Netflix documentary of the same name on Michelle Obama - the compositions unveiled by Washington are breezy, accessible and seeped in musical positivity. There are lots of memorable melodic themes throughout the album, with bold and catchy, up-beat jazz numbers being joined by melancholic, contemplative compositions and even nods towards soul-jazz, Motown style soul and cheery jazz-funk.

Review: Virtuoso contemporary jazz star Kamasi Washington got involved with the hit Netflix documentary Becoming right at the early stages. The film is a four time Emmy-nominated glimpse into the life of Michelle Obama, filled with as many profound moments as tender and vulnerable ones. All of those are perfectly translated into gentle jazz, sweeping symphonies and empowering passages of sound that tell a very real story even without seeing the movie. Fans of the Los Angeles saxophonist will recognise a dialling back in the scale of his usual sound, but that is never to the detriment of the work here, which is maybe his most accessible work yet.

Review: There's a growing feeling both inside and outside jazz that Kamasi Washington could well turn out to be one of the style's all-time greats. He's certainly making all the right moves, delivering thought-provoking concept albums of eyebrow-raising length that simply refuse to settle on one sound, rhythm, style or sub-genre. Heaven & Earth, his first album for almost three years, continues this trend, comprising angry instrumental answers to America's growing issues with class division and racism, Rotary Connection style workouts, Sun Ra-esque spiritual workouts, funk and soul-influenced burners, spiraling choral and orchestral affairs, and electric fusions of rubbery synth-funk and mind-altering jazz-blues. Typically, the results are never less than sublime, with Washington's virtuoso saxophone playing taking centre stage throughout.

Review: There's a growing feeling both inside and outside jazz that Kamasi Washington could well turn out to be one of the style's all-time greats. He's certainly making all the right moves, delivering thought-provoking concept albums of eyebrow-raising length that simply refuse to settle on one sound, rhythm, style or sub-genre. Heaven & Earth, his first album for almost three years, continues this trend, comprising angry instrumental answers to America's growing issues with class division and racism, Rotary Connection style workouts, Sun Ra-esque spiritual workouts, funk and soul-influenced burners, spiraling choral and orchestral affairs, and electric fusions of rubbery synth-funk and mind-altering jazz-blues. Typically, the results are never less than sublime, with Washington's virtuoso saxophone playing taking centre stage throughout.

Review: The music that makes up Harmony of Difference, Kamasi Washington's first EP of note since the release of acclaimed 2015 album The Epic, was premiered live as a "six-track movement" earlier this year. The "suite" - here stretched across both sides of an essential 12" - sees Washington continue to explore the idea of what it means to be black in America in the 21st century. Musically, the EP contains some of his smoothest and most laidback compositions yet, with all his musical collaborators being on fine form. The headline attraction is undoubtedly 14-minute flipside "The Truth", an almost operatic jazz epic full of swelling choral contributions, fizzing drum solos, rising horns and, of course, plenty of Washington's distinctive saxophone.

Review: The music that makes up Harmony of Difference, Kamasi Washington's first EP of note since the release of acclaimed 2015 album The Epic, was premiered live as a "six-track movement" earlier this year. The "suite" - here stretched across both sides of an essential 12" - sees Washington continue to explore the idea of what it means to be black in America in the 21st century. Musically, the EP contains some of his smoothest and most laidback compositions yet, with all his musical collaborators being on fine form. The headline attraction is undoubtedly 14-minute flipside "The Truth", an almost operatic jazz epic full of swelling choral contributions, fizzing drum solos, rising horns and, of course, plenty of Washington's distinctive saxophone.

Review: On the cover of his first album for a decade, saxophonist Kamasi Washington stares intently out, the universe stretching out to infinity behind him. You see, Washington is something of a Sun Ra acolyte, and there's something of the great man's spiritual, psychedelic and far-sighted feel about The Epic. Rooted in a loose, soulful and occasionally riotous blend of spiritual jazz, it more than lives up to its' name, stretching across three themed CDs. While Washington's tenor sax offers a focal point throughout, it's merely part of a greater ensemble effort - Sun Ra Arkestra style - that helps The Epic fly by in a flurry of loose-limbed drums, rubbery double bass, hammered-out pianos and intoxicating vocals.