Kamasi Washington | Under the Radar Magazine Under the Radar | Music Blog for the Indie Music Magazine
Thursday, March 28th, 2024  

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15 Best Songs of the Week: Elbow, Iron & Wine and Fiona Apple, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, and More

Plus Camera Obscura, Julia Holter, St. Vincent, La Luz, King Hannah, and a Wrap-up of the Last Two Weeks’ Other Notable New Tracks

Mar 08, 2024

Welcome to the eighth Songs of the Week of 2024. We didn’t do a Songs of the Week last week because we were deep in deadline-mode finishing our new print issue, so this week’s Songs of the Week covers the last two weeks. To be honest, we are still putting the finishing touches on the issue today and tomorrow, but there were so many notable songs released in the last two weeks that we still had to find the time to do a Songs of the Week today. More

Mar 06, 2024

Modern jazz icon Kamasi Washington has announced a new album, Fearless Movement, and shared a new song from it, “Prologue,” via a music video. He has also announced some tour dates. More

Dinner Party (Kamasi Washington, Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper) Announce New Album, Share New Song

Enigmatic Society Due Out April 14; Listen to “For Granted” (Feat. Arin Ray) Now

Apr 07, 2023

Dinner Party—the jazz/hip-hop/soul supergroup featuring Kamasi Washington, Terrace Martin, and Robert Glasper—have announced a new album, Enigmatic Society, and shared a new song from it, “For Granted” (which features Arin Ray). More

10 Best Songs of the Week: Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, Kamasi Washington, My Idea, and More

Plus SASAMI, Lucy Dacus, Röyksopp, and a Wrap-up of the Week’s Other Notable New Tracks

Feb 04, 2022

Welcome to the fifth Songs of the Week of 2022. This week saw the start of the Winter Olympics in China, Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter on Groundhog Day, the U.S. military took out the head of ISIS, and tensions continued between Russia and the Ukraine. More

Feb 03, 2022

Last night, Kamasi Washington performed his new song “The Garden Path” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Washington released the song just yesterday. It was his TV debut (which is hard to believe). More

Feb 02, 2022

Kamasi Washington has shared a new song, “The Garden Path.” It is the jazz saxophonist’s first new music in nearly a year and it is out now via Young. He will also make his late night TV debut tonight, where he will perform the new song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. More

Under the Radar Announces Special 20th Anniversary Double Issue

Issue 69 Has Two Cover Group Shots Featuring Grandaddy, CHVRCHES, Kamasi Washington, Bat For Lashes, Weyes Blood, The Divine Comedy, Elbow, Nilüfer Yanya, Miki Berenyi, The Horrors, and Rose Elinor Dougall

Dec 21, 2021

Under the Radar is excited to announce the full details of our new print issue, which is our special 20th Anniversary Issue. It’s a double issue celebrating two decades of the magazine (our first issue came out in December 2001). The issue has shipped out to subscribers and stores and can now be bought from us directly here. The issue features two special covers, each featuring a different group of musicians together. More

Kamasi Washington Shares New Cover of Metallica’s “My Friend of Misery”

The Metallica Blacklist Due Out September 10 via Blackened Recordings

Aug 31, 2021

Jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington has shared a cover of Metallica’s 1991 song “My Friend of Misery.” It is the latest cover to be released from the upcoming Metallica album project The Metallica Blacklist, which will feature 53 different artists covering songs from the band’s self-titled Black Album, and is due out on September 10 via Blackened Recordings. More

Dinner Party – Stream the Debut Album from the Supergroup and Read Our Review of It

Band Features Kamasi Washington, Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, and 9th Wonder

Jul 10, 2020

Terrace Martin, Kamasi Washington, 9th Wonder, and Robert Glasper have joined forces to form the new jazz/hip-hop/soul supergroup Dinner Party. Today they have released their recently announced self-titled debut album via Sounds of Crenshaw/Empire. Now that the album’s out you can stream the whole thing here. Also, today we posted our review of the album. More

10 Best Songs of the Week: Jessie Ware, Dinner Party, Lianne La Havas, Oceanator, and More

Plus Cults, Hoops, Flock of Dimes, Silverbacks, and a Wrap-up of the Week’s Other Notable New Tracks

Jun 26, 2020

Welcome to the 25th Songs of the Week of 2020. We’re almost halfway through this trying year! Yay? Thanks in part to ineffective leadership at the top, coronavirus cases have skyrocketed across the land. All we can say to that is: wear a mask!!! More

Dinner Party (Kamasi Washington, Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, 9th Wonder) Announce Album/New Song

Dinner Party Due Out July 10 via Sounds of Crenshaw/Empire, Watch the Video for “Freeze Tag” (Feat. Phoelix)

Jun 25, 2020

Terrace Martin, Kamasi Washington, 9th Wonder, and Robert Glasper have joined forces to form the new jazz/hip-hop/soul supergroup Dinner Party. They have announced their self-titled debut album and shared its first single, “Freeze Tag” (which features guest vocals from Phoelix), via a video for the track. More

8 Best Songs of the Week: Run the Jewels, Bob Mould, Terrace Martin and More

Plus Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, Hinds, NZCA LINES, and a Wrap-up of the Week’s Other Notable New Tracks

Jun 05, 2020

Welcome to the 22nd Songs of the Week of 2020. And what a trying week it was. More

11 Best Songs of the Week: Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, Andrew Bird, Nick Hakim, and More

Plus Jess Williamson, EOB, The 1975 and Phoebe Bridgers, and a Wrap-up of the Week’s Other Notable New Tracks

Apr 03, 2020

Welcome to the thirteenth Songs of the Week of 2020. While more album release dates were pushed back due to COVID-19 and it seems we haven’t reached the peak number of coronavirus cases in America yet, none of that stopped artists from sharing a whole lot of new songs this week. More

Apr 02, 2020

Thundercat (aka Stephen Lee Bruner) is releasing a new album, It Is What It Is, tomorrow via Brainfeeder. Now he has shared another song from the album, “Interstellar Love,” which features Kamasi Washington, Flying Lotus, and percussionist Ronald Bruner Jr. (Thundercat’s older brother). More

Dec 30, 2018

And here we are, the end of another year. The last 12 months tried the patience of anyone who longed for civility in politics, with divisive policies and a president beloved by only his most ardent supporters. More

Kamasi Washington Shares a Video for “Hub-Tones”

Heaven and Earth Out Now via Young Turks

Oct 18, 2018

Jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington released a double album, Heaven and Earth, back in June via Young Turks. It was our Album of the Week and it landed him on the cover of our current print issue. Now he has shared a video for the album’s “Hub-Tones,” Washington’s take on the Freddie Hubbard classic. More

Under the Radar Announces Issue 64 with Kamasi Washington on the Cover

Issue 64 Out Now and Also Includes Interviews with Interpol, Beach House, Wild Nothing, Death Cab for Cutie, Suede, Natalie Prass, Ethan Hawke vs. Phosphorescent, Christine and the Queens, Low, Snail Mail, and Much More

Aug 31, 2018

Under the Radar is excited to announce the full details of our new print issue, which is out now nationwide (on newsstands, in such stores as Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, and elsewhere) and available to buy directly from us here. The issue features Kamasi Washington on the cover. More

Aug 30, 2018

Los Angeles-based Brandon Coleman is a keyboardist Kamasi Washington‘s band, but more than that, he’s an old friend of Washington’s and a solo artist in his own right. On September 14 he is releasing a new album, Resistance, via Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder label. More

Jun 29, 2018

Jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington released a double album, Heaven and Earth, last Friday via Young Turks. It was our Album of the Week and you can also read our rave review of it here. What was not revealed in the pre-release build up was that the double album also came with The Choice, a 40-minute bonus disc featuring a further five tracks. More

Stream the New Album by Kamasi Washington

Heaven and Earth Out Now via Young Turks

Jun 22, 2018

Jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington released a double album, Heaven and Earth, today via Young Turks. It was our Album of the Week and you can also read our rave review of it here. Now you can stream the whole thing below, followed by his upcoming tour dates. More

Album of the Week: Kamasi Washington

Heaven and Earth Out Now via Young Turks

Jun 22, 2018

There is an interesting debate going on within the Jazz world about Kamasi Washington, the current crossover wunderkind who is achieving major attention from more traditionally “indie-rock” crowds. On the one hand, from his work with Kendrick Lamar and the Brainfeeder label, he is bringing a wider audience to jazz, a genre that has historically gone misunderstood or mistrusted. More

Jun 21, 2018

Florence + the Machine (aka Florence Welch and backing band) is releasing a new album, High As Hope, on June 29 via Republic. On Tuesday she has shared another song from the album, “Big God.” The song was co-written by Jamie xxand features Kamasi Washington on saxophone, and now it has a video. More

Kamasi Washington Shares Video for “Street Fighter Mas”

Heaven and Earth Due Out This Friday via Young Turks

Jun 20, 2018

Jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington is releasing a double album, Heaven and Earth, this Friday via Young Turks. Previously he shared its first two singles, “Fists of Fury” (a cover of the theme to the Bruce Lee film) and “The Space Travelers Lullaby” (they were our joint #1 Song of the Week), which was followed by a third single, “Street Fighter Mas” (which was also one of our Songs of the Week). More

Jun 19, 2018

Florence + the Machine (aka Florence Welch and backing band) is releasing a new album, High As Hope, on June 29 via Republic. Now she has shared another song from the album, “Big God.” The song was co-written by Jamie xx and features Kamasi Washington on saxophone. More

Jun 05, 2018

Everything Is Recorded is the project of Richard Russell, a producer and the founder of XL Recordings. He released his debut album, Everything Is Recorded by Richard Russell, earlier in the year via XL. Now he has shared a video for “She Said.” More

Watch Kamasi Washington, Christine and the Queens, James, and St. Vincent Perform on “Jools Holland”

James Performed Two Songs on the Show, Including Classic "Sit Down" (Plus Daniel Blumberg Performed)

Jun 05, 2018

Tonight’s BBC music show Later… with Jools Holland featured several memorable music performances. Jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington performed “Fists of Fury.” Christine and the Queens (aka Héloïse Letissier) performed her current single “Girlfriend,” complete with choreography and backing dancers. More

10 Best Songs of the Week: Gorillaz, Kamasi Washington, LUMP, Joey Dosik, and More

Plus Underworld and Iggy Pop, Father John Misty, St. Vincent, Johnny Marr, and a Wrap-up of the Week's Other Notable New Tracks

Jun 01, 2018

There were some solid contenders for this week’s Songs of the Week list. It was a toss up between #1 and #2, it could’ve gone either way. If we were doing a “Best Use of a Song in a TV Show This Week” list, then first place probably would’ve gone to the use of U2’s “With or Without You” in the surprising and amazing series finale of FX’s The Americans. More

Kamasi Washington Shares New Song “Street Fighter Mas”

Heaven and Earth Due Out June 22 via Young Turks

May 30, 2018

Jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington is releasing a double album, Heaven and Earth, on June 22 via Young Turks. Previously he shared its first two singles, “Fists of Fury” (a cover of the theme to the Bruce Lee film) and “The Space Travelers Lullaby” (they were our joint #1 Song of the Week). More

Florence + the Machine Announces North American Tour Dates, St. Vincent and Others to Support

Other Openers Include Grizzly Bear, Kamasi Washington, and Perfume Genius

May 29, 2018

Florence + the Machine (aka Florence Welch and backing band) is releasing a new album, High As Hope, on June 29 via Republic. Now she has announce some North American tour dates that stretch from August until October. More

10 Best Songs of the Week: Kamasi Washington, LUMP, Florence + the Machine, Gruff Rhys, and More

Plus Neko Case, Stuart A. Staples, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, Jenny Hval, Janelle Monáe, and a Wrap-up of the Week's Other Notable Tracks

Apr 13, 2018

The top songs in this week’s Songs of the Week list were readily apparent, it was just a case of working out the order, with the Top 5 switching order several times before being finalized. Many of this week’s new songs are initial singles from albums or EPs also announced this week. More

Soundtracking the Resistance - Red Lines in the Sand

A Look at Syria, Paul Ryan, Moby, Kamasi Washington, and L7

Apr 13, 2018

This week we look at the ongoing disaster in Syria, plus Paul Ryan and Hungary depart the stage, Moby and Kamasi Washington make a point, and L7 remain relevant. More

Kamasi Washington Shares Two New Songs “Fists of Fury” and “The Space Travelers Lullaby”

Heaven and Earth Due Out June 22 via Young Turks, Album Details and Tour Dates Also Confirmed

Apr 10, 2018

Yesterday jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington announced a new album on his Twitter account, a double album entitled Heaven and Earth. At the time no other details (such as the release date, tracklist, or any new music) were announced. More

Kamasi Washington Announces New Double Album

Album Titled Heaven and Earth

Apr 09, 2018

Jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington has announced a new album on his Twitter account. It’s entitled Heaven and Earth and is a double album. “The Earth side represents the world as I see it outwardly, the world that I am a part of,” Washington writes on Twitter. More

Jan 29, 2018

Alt-J released their third album, Relaxer, last June via Canvasback Music. Now they have announced their largest North American headlining show to date, on June 15 at Forest Hills Stadium. What’s more, the venue’s sound will be “augmented by the use of immersive hyperrealism technology.” More

Aug 31, 2017

French Cuban twin sisters Ibeyi (Naomi Díaz and Lisa-Kaindé Díaz) have announced a new album, Ash, and shared a video for a new song, “Deathless,” which features Kamasi Washington on saxophone. Ash is due out September 29 via XL. More



Interviews

Jul 01, 2022

Kamasi Washington plays his father’s saxophone. But the Grammy-nominated artist who rose to fame working with legends like Kendrick Lamar and Herbie Hancock didn’t start out on the horn. More

Nov 30, 2018

Rickey Washington has told the story more times than he can count. He was a young college student, almost completely ignorant of the history and culture of West Africa, the first time he went to Ghana on a school-building mission in 1975. More


Reviews

Jun 22, 2018

Only three years ago Kamasi Washington released an album that was epic by name and in nature. What made that record extraordinary wasn’t just it’s 170-minute plus running time, but the fact that a long-form genre record could find such a large and varied audience beyond hardcore jazz-heads in 2015. More