Kamasi Washington | photo by B+, courtesy of the artist
Fearless Movements, the new album from the supremely skilled saxophonist and composer Kamasi Washington, arrives this Friday May 3rd and he's already teased fans with some thrilling singles, including the fast-paced epic "Prologue" and the hypnotic slow-burn "Dream State" featuring Andre 3000.
On his new single "Get Lit," Washington trades expansive, awe-inspiring jazz fusion for a hard-hitting mix of funk and rap. The track originated with an idea from Washington's longtime collaborator Ronald Bruner Jr. - one of the world's most explosively talented drummers and brother of bass mastermind Thundercat (if you're unfamiliar, just check out this astonishing opening solo performed at World Cafe Live).
On top of Bruner's endlessly grooving pocket comes an instantly iconic voice: George Clinton, the P-Funk forefather himself. The legend delivers some gloriously fun lyrics: "Let the gettin get got with/cause when the gettin get good/get boutta get got/get better get gone." Inglewood, California M.C. D Smoke hops on the track, delivering two effortlessly smooth verses with the casual charisma of Kendrick's lighter moments. The song's got it all: tight bursts of horns, spacey and subtle synth, and a brief but beautiful flute solo. Kamasi sums it up best himself; in an Instagram post, he called it a combo of "super intergalactic funk" and "West Coast hip hop genius."
Fearless Movements is Washington's first solo album since 2018's Heaven and Earth; it's unquestionably one of the most-anticipated records of the year. The jazz giant is about to embark on his Fearless Movements tour, stretching across the country this summer. His second show - on May 5th - will be at Philly's Union Transfer, and more information can be found at the WXPN Concert Calendar.
