(Preview by Russell)
The Epic said it all -
ambitious, sprawling, three discs (yes, it was made available on vinyl), Los
Angeles born bandleader, saxophonist, collaborator, producer, Kamasi
Washington's high-profile recording secured media attention beyond that of the
regular jazz press.
On Tuesday the 38-year-old American
rocks up at Sage Gateshead. Touring the UK, Europe then back to the States,
this is the long-awaited opportunity for Tynesiders to check-out the man who
has acquired a cult following - not least among the Millennial generation -
thanks to his association with Flying Lotus, Thundercat and Kendrick
Lamar.
Tuesday at Sage Gateshead will, if
nothing else, be an 'I was there' occasion. It could go down in folklore. The
whole thing kicks off at 7:30 with a support set by Oscar Jerome followed by the
man of the moment, Kamasi Washington. It promises to be an 'epic' night.
Russell
1 comment :
Always nice to see a decent crowd, but I hope jazz people aren't put off by the 'hype'. Just because he isn't John Coltrane, doesn't mean he's Kenny G.
In my jazz-funk days, we thought they were the greatest jazz artists ever, while serious jazz heads looked down on us and them. While all of my peers either descended into smooth jazz or accepted whatever styles, artists and choons acid jazz djs thew at them, I spread my wings to Sonny Rollins, Trane, Miles, Bird, Duke and Mingus and became something of a snob myself.
Insomuch as men ever do (and especially music daft men), I grew up and realised it was alright to like both and younger listeners nowadays aren't as disparaging of jazz-funk, and maybe even some older listeners, who may also have 'grown up.' Somebody even said to me Grover Washington Jnr was one of the great soprano players.
It's impossible and pointless to estimate if and where Kamasi may feature in a future timeline. While I'm no great fan of hip-hop, I think a successful fusion would be welcome (and so far the hip-hop people seem to have done it better) and I think he's a more commanding figure-head than Robert Glasper, though he and the rest of the West Coast Get Down need to get on with it.
I like all of his albums, and just because none of them are Kind of Blue, doesn't mean they're Kenny G's Greatest Hits, and I do hear some originality, alongside the appropriate revereance for those who went before.
It promises to be an interesting evening (and I've seen him twice before), not least watching young people who probably aren't as cool as they think they are, oldies who definitely aren't as cool as we think we are (though probably cooler than the young people think we are) but knowing the people who aren't there are the least cool of all.
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