On Tuesday May 14th, Houston was treated to an evening of jazz and rhythm at House of Blues. Fresh off the release of his new album, Fearless Movement, Grammy-nominated saxophonist Kamasi Washington took the stage to showcase some horn-based magic.
Hailing from Los Angeles, the 43-year old sax player has made a name for himself both within and outside of the world of jazz, having worked with Thundercat and Kendrick Lamar, and was even asked to record a song version of “My Friend of Misery” for Metallica’s charity tribute album, The Metallica Blacklist.
Washington took the stage shortly before 9PM, with a full roster of musicians in tow, with multiple horn players and percussionists, alongside a vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist. While the man at the helm of the keys had an impressive six different boards at his disposal, Washington himself occasionally hit the ivory as well as the saxophone.
With only nine songs on the setlist, Washington and company were left with ample room for improvisation. A hallmark of jazz, improvisation allows each member of the band to add their own flair and story to the music. Washington also took the time to include anecdotes about some of the songs played, along with their meaning to him and placing on the album.
Closing out a more than 90-minute set, Washington delivered “Prologue,” the eight-minute closure to Fearless Movement. An epic of sound, the song brought the journey to an end.
Fearless Movement is out now on all platforms.
I'm a Houston-based concert and automotive photographer. I've been a music fan my whole life, and previously was the director for Coog Radio, the University of Houston's student radio station. I listen to a bit of everything, from blues to rock to EDM, but predominantly metal. Some favorites include Slayer, Iron Maiden, and Metallica. When I'm not behind the camera, you can catch me skating, going to car events, and buying too many coffee table books.
