Kamasi Washington: Tiny Desk Concert

Nikki Birch | October 21, 2024
Grammy-nominated saxophonist Kamasi Washington brought down the house at his Tiny Desk Concert. He played selections from three of his albums, showcasing his ability, with the support of his killer band, to go from high energy to reflective ballads while never losing danceability.

Washington has said, “The kind of music I make is not necessarily associated with dance, even though I feel like the more expression in the music, the more it can inspire you to move.” To drive that point home, Washington’s special guest was the legendary DJ Battlecat, one of the pioneers of the West Coast sound. The DJ is responsible for mixing in a little sample of the rapper Kendrick Lamar shouting out the saxophonist — “keep a horn on me / that Kamasi” — at the top of “Street Fighter Mas.”

Also accompanying Washington are his father, flutist and soprano saxophonist Rickey Washington, who you can often see looking at his son with pride. The other musicians behind the Desk are keys wizard Brandon Coleman, Tony Austin with the heartbeat, Miles Mosley holding down the low end, trombonist Ryan Porter and Patrice Quinn on vocals. There’s so much more that can be said about this Tiny Desk Concert, but sometimes, you just have to let the music speak for itself.

SET LIST
“Lesanu”
“Street Fighter Mas”
“The Rhythm Changes”
“Asha The First”

MUSICIANS
Kamasi Washington: tenor saxophone
Rickey Washington: flute, soprano saxophone
Ryan Porter: trombone
Brandon Coleman: keys
Tony Austin: drums
DJ Battlecat: DJ, percussion
Miles Mosley: bass
Patrice Quinn: vocals

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Nikki Birch
Director/Editor: Joshua Bryant
Audio Technical Director: Josephine Nyounai
Host/Series Producer: Bobby Carter
Videographers: Joshua Bryant, Maia Stern, Mitra I. Arthur, Alanté Serene
Audio Engineer: Tiffany Vera Castro
Production Assistant: Elle Mannion
Photographer: Estefania Mitre
Tiny Desk Team: Kara Frame, Ashley Pointer, Hazel Cills, Josh Newell
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins

#nprmusic #tinydesk #kamasiwashington

[Maskedrin]

The chopping of Squabble Up (previously Not Like Us MV opening) is one step closer to a Kendrick Lamar Tiny Desk Concert

[nathanieldaniel]

That drummer wouldn't lose time in a workshop full of broken clocks.

[stygiomedusa]

Kamasi has the energy and presence as a 4 stage final boss where the arena crumbles away and he attacks you with large beads and gold jewelry as he sorta plays the sax without giving you a lot of thought.

[ignaciorengel]

Every single performance of Kamasi Washington is like witnessing the creation of music.

[jahblessin]

Imagine if someone told you 30 years ago that NPR would have the best concerts

[djwilmer]

Patrice Quinn made me cry. She really understood the assignment. Beautiful.

[kylebourne]

Kamasi be channeling the whole pantheon of jazz giants who paved the way for his creative and innovative music!

[MrMurl]

His dad looks so proud as he plays. What a treat for them to be able to play together side by side.

[marian]

I thank god that Jazz lives on in artists like Kamasi Washington. Thank you NPR for showcasing such amazing artists to audiences who may have never heard of him.❤

[brandonlopez]

The bass solo at the end broke my brain. 10/10

[brgyp]

Being in a band with your pops and seeing a generational love for music is a beautiful thing. 😍😍

[breezyillo]

8:00 The Epic was my climbing partner's favorite album. She was beautiful in every way, inside and out. When we weren't talking about what walls we were going to do together, we were gushing over music theory. I'm a jazz pianist and she was a researcher on music's effect on cognition. She passed in Patagonia but listening to this track makes it feel like she's right next to me.

[MaynesWorld]

Kamasi did his thing...but I didn't know that THE DJ BATTLECAT was making an appearance! Being from Southern California, Battlecat is behind some of West Coasts anthems. Respect!

[MrMurl]

He and his band was one of the best live concerts I’ve been to in years. Fantastic music.

[fabian]

"The rhythm changes" made me cry just as I needed...

[benjaminvictor]

Brought my son, a high school Jazz kit player, to the tour earlier this year. A show indeed. He's all in now.

[zommergazesalopitekcore]

00:00 Lesanu
3:28 Street Fighter Mas
7:26 The Rhythm Changes
14:42 Asha The First

[jessevandendoren]

Patricia sounds like someone put on a vintage vinyl record on a old school record player and the band is just playing along. and I mean that in all the good ways.

[tonysmith]

Patrice Quinn on The Rhythm Changes brought me to tears of joy. Lawd Have Mercy I’m in Fulton Square (Brooklyn NY) on a sunny day in the park rejoicing. Spirit was all over her. I saw it, felt it and tapped into it. Thank you God 🙌🏾🙌🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾🙏🏾

[yarrow]

you can just feel the warmth of the ancestors shining down upon these musicians. astounding!