Chicago Tribune

Kamasi Washington pours jazz into hip-hop and beyond

Kamasi Washington has been the recipient of some heavy accolades in recent years - "the future of jazz" and "the jazz voice of Black Lives Matter," among them. The saxophonist with the imposing frame, towering Afro and flowing African tunics was tutored by jazz masters in and around Los Angeles for decades, including his father, saxophonist Rickey Washington.

Yet despite his increasing stature, Washington remains a soft-spoken student as much as a leader, and his openness to new ideas and fresh inspiration has made him a go-to-collaborator for artists ranging from Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock to Snoop Dogg and Kendrick Lamar. In skipping across musical

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