Kamasi Washington – Fearless Movement
With a tenor saxophone and an endless ambition, musician and bandleader Kamasi Washington returns with what he has called his “dance album”
Since the release of 2015's fantastic and appropriately titled triple album The Epic, Kamasi Washington has become one of the most celebrated talents in modern jazz. His latest LP, Fearless Movement, is a self-produced odyssey, and, despite being almost 90 minutes long, manages to maintain an ardent accessibility. A slew of additional artists help him reach this lofty feat; names like Thundercat and George Clinton are among the star-studded guest list of both old and new collaborators, and even Washington’s young daughter, one of the album’s noted influences, is credited with a contribution towards the melody of Asha The First.
Though nothing gets lost among the lengthy runtime, there are several memorable standouts. André 3000 provides a touch of serenity on latest single Dream State, The Garden Path is a bustling celebration, and Interstellar Peace (The Last Stance) is an example of celestial extravagance. The album’s closing statement, Prologue, is yet another epic display of splendour, and may be the best track on the entire album. On this latest opus, Washington and company are a tightened-drum of an ensemble that effortlessly flit between an intense focus and a playful freedom, and the results are stunning.
Listen to: The Garden Path, Interstellar Peace (The Last Stance), Prologue