Kamasi Washington

Your favorite musician’s favorite musician

Chances are, Kamasi Washington is your favorite musician’s favorite musician. The American saxophonist – who first picked up the instrument aged 13 – has worked with John Legend, Ibeyi and Run the Jewels and he was involved with both of Kendrick Lamar’s last two albums, To Pimp a Butterfly and DAMN.

His own 2015 album The Epic was nearly three hours long, and showed off his talents to the fullest. And now, two years later, Kamasi is back with his new EP Harmony of Difference. We are delighted to be offering a first listen of Desire, the first track of the six-song suite which makes up the EP.

A six-song suite

“I wanted to do something that celebrates the differences that we have amongst each other,” Kamasi says. “We always look at it as a burden, but it’s really a blessing.

“Harmony of Difference is a six-song suite – the first part is five songs in a row and part six is us playing the five songs at the same time.”

By weaving together elements from one track into another, each part feels distinct but built on the same shared foundation – together they form a beautiful harmonious whole.

“You hear these pieces and like them and enjoy them as individuals, but then they come together. The sixth piece is a shared experience. I hope that the metaphor works and it makes people think about what that reality is,” Kamasi says.

An ambitious project

The EP forms part of an ambitious project Kamasi created for this year’s Whitney Biennial. He worked with filmmaker AG Rojas to capture the message of the music on film, a gorgeous, serene video for the sixth track of the EP, Truth. Next to that, Kamasi’s sister Amani produced six paintings accompanying the suite, which are now used as the album’s visuals.

“I’m hoping the visual side of it brings to life the idea. To see people from different cultures interacting with each other and to see the beauty of it,” Kamasi says.