104. Kamasi Washington: From The Epic to Kendrick Lamar, Jazz Saxophone Icon, Composer, Interview

Episode 104: Kamasi Washington Kamasi Washington is one of the most important voices in modern jazz. A saxophonist, composer, and bandleader from Los Angeles, he has helped shape the sound of contemporary music through his solo work and collaborations with artists like Kendrick Lamar, Thundercat, Dinner Party, Flying Lotus, Andre 3000, Terrace Martin, and Robert Glasper. In this episode of Go With Elmo, Kamasi sits down for a deep conversation about his journey, from growing up in Los Angeles with the greatest young talents all around him to becoming a central figure in a global movement of jazz, hip-hop, and beyond. The LA music scene, the importance of community, and the foundation of the West Coast Get Down collective all come into focus. Kamasi breaks down the West Coast Get Down and the musicians involved, including Thundercat, Ronald Bruner Jr., Cameron Graves, Brandon Coleman, Ryan Porter, Patrice Quinn, Miles Mosley, and Tony Austin, and how that group helped define a new sound coming out of Los Angeles. Kamasi explains why he often performs with multiple drummers and multiple bassists, how he builds such powerful live ensembles, and what it takes to lead large groups of musicians on stage and in the studio. The conversation dives into Kamasi’s work on Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly, the creative energy of those sessions, how he got the call for the Kendrick gig from Terrace, and their continued connection over time. More recent collaborations like “Luther” and “TV Off” are discussed, along with Kendrick referencing him by name in the lyric “keep a horn on me, that Kamasi,” a moment that reflects his influence across genres. Making his landmark albums The Epic, Heaven and Earth, and Harmony of Difference are explored, along with his approach to jazz saxophone, composition, improvisation, and bandleading. His broader work as a composer, including Becoming and Lazarus, adds to the scope of his career and creative output. The conversation goes deep into music philosophy, creativity, and meaning, including Kamasi’s belief that music is bigger than genre and can communicate ideas beyond words. Fatherhood, inspiration, and the evolution of his perspective all play a role in shaping his current work. This is a wide-ranging talk about music, culture, leadership, and the journey of becoming one of the defining artists of this generation. I hope you enjoy watching my hang with the great, Kamasi Washington! Big thanks to our friends Ace Studio for supporting the show. Check them out! https://acestudio.ai/ Another huge thanks to our friends at DistroKid! DistroKid is the easiest and fastest way to get your music on over 150 platforms worldwide! Go to https://distrokid.com/vip/elmo to get 20% off your first year! Become a Patreon Member to stay in the loop as we post Patreon-only exclusive content, Zoom hangs, invite only events, and discussions about music and music careers. https://www.patreon.com/gowithelmo Please SUBSCRIBE / FOLLOW this podcast to catch new episodes as soon as they drop! Your likes, comments and shares are much appreciated! Listen to the audio form of this podcast wherever you get your podcasts: https://elmolovano.komi.io/ Follow Kamasi: https://www.instagram.com/kamasiwashington/ Follow Go With Elmo: https://www.instagram.com/gowithelmo/ https://www.tiktok.com/@gowithelmo https://x.com/gowithelmopod Follow Elmo Lovano: https://Instagram.com/elmolovano https://x.com/elmolovano Follow Jammcard: https://www.youtube.com/@jammcard https://www.instagram.com/jammcard/ jammcard.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices