Tenor saxman Kamasi Washington’s edgy affirmation of ‘jazz’ as a ‘wild, vast’ space is amply borne out in his bumper 2015 triple album, The Epic. Described as “a three-hour combustion of extravagant soul jazz, fusion, funk, free form, Coltrane-influenced orchestration and blank canvas experimentation” – http://crackmagazine.net/, this breathy musical astronaut is skirting the outer limits of all things ‘jazz’ says JANE MAYNE
Washington, and a super-solid ensemble, can be seen on The Kippies Stage on Friday, 31 March, at this weekend’s Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF).
What we’re likely to hear even he doesn’t know (expect intense improvisations!), but you will get a taste of this saxman’s free-flowing style that has placed him alongside a diverse group of musicians, including Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Horace Tapscott, Lauryn Hill, Nas, Snoop Dogg, George Duke, Chaka Khan, Thundercat, Francisco Aguabella and Raphael Saadiq. You can also hear him on the Kendrick Lamar album, To Pimp a Butterfly.
So whats the CTIJF playlist – ‘The Epic’ material, or new far-flung explorations
Yes music from The Epic, but every show is different. It’s wide open, as it all happens in the moment. I never know – that’s the fun part. It’s just letting the spirit move you, so we can all be together.
Are you bringing The Next Step
I’m actually bringing a bigger band than the normal 8-piece. It will be a 10-piece with an extra percussionist and one of my mentors – DJ Battlecat (an American hip hop producer from Long Beach, California).
What’s central to your shared musical experience
Connection – it’s the one thing more than anything else that pulls everyone into one space, on one vibe. It’s one of the strongest attributes of music in general. Music immediately makes you connect with people – it’s a space of connection.
What quality do you look for in your sidemen and women?
Creativity. I love creative musicians – you have to be to play with me! They must be in the moment and create something and find the vibe. And to connect to it at the right time. (Washington often announces song key changes on the fly). For some people it’s very easy and for others it’s more difficult. It depends how free you are, because there’s nothing definite. The music dictates to us.
Are you just streaming intuitively – how you approach everything
I look for a spark. Sometimes the keyboard player, or singer, just plays or sings something that comes from a different place. I’m always looking for a signal – so i think ‘Oh, that’s where we’re going to go’.
The geometry of popular music is pretty mapped out – in your solos do you feel you are entering uncharted territory
Both. Uncharted territory exists on the foundation of chartered territory. It’s like building a huge tower. It can be 20 floors, and we build 20 more. The past, present and future exist at the same time. There’s no map or guidelines, but we all love music and all the musicians in my band are huge students of music and have studied a lot. It may have taken our ancestors their whole lives, but we’ve got their faster.
Do you think you have limitations
The only limitation is that there’s only 24 hours in a day. I don’t want to sound arrogant, but I don’t look at myself as having limitations – I look at making decisions. For example if you’re playing fast or slow, loud or soft. I’m only limited to inspiration to what I feel the problem is and wanting to do it.
How are you expanding on ‘The Epic’ going forward
It’s expanding on its own. Our (the band) connection is so much more streamlined. On The Epic we were reaching for each other. What we’ve got now is second floor and the music moves in a swift fashion – not in terms of tempo, but it’s different than before.
I always try and let the music let me know what to do. The best music you can make is the music inside of you. With technical knowledge you can create, but if you listen inside you can hear.
Do you listen to South African brass players
I haven’t had a chance, but I’m getting lists. It will be new for me to listen to local jazz at the festival. I listen to a lot of music from Nigeria, Ghana and Mali.
Be sure to jostle your way to the front to check Kamasi Washington on The Kippies Stage on Friday, 31 March at 10.15pm!
What: Cape Town International Jazz Festival
When: 31 March – 1 April, 2017
Where: Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC)
Tickets: www.computicket.com
Info: http://www.capetownjazzfest.com/
Web: http://www.kamasiwashington.com/
WS
