I went to a music academy in Los Angeles, and some friends started playing me Ravel and Prokofiev, who I liked, but… — Kamasi Washington Classical music Copy Share Image
When I was younger, I'd be walking down the street and suddenly panic because I had a cool idea and no way… — Kamasi Washington Copy Share Image
People like to compartmentalise music, especially African-American music, but it's really one thing. One very wide thing. I mean, it's like all… — Kamasi Washington American music Copy Share Image
L.A. has always been hated on so much. I remember, the first time I went to New York, I was at jam… — Kamasi Washington Copy Share Image
We've played so many places where, if you asked people, 'Do you like jazz?' they would be like, 'Not at all.' But… — Kamasi Washington Copy Share Image
I kept thinking about how ironic it is how people who live in places where there is diversity tend to love it… — Kamasi Washington Art Copy Share Image
My dad was a professional musician; my mom played, too, but just for fun. All my siblings played. The house was full… — Kamasi Washington Dad Copy Share Image
When I was about seventeen, I had a group called the Young Jazz Giants. We played all originals. When we would finish… — Kamasi Washington Copy Share Image
One of the things I did learn from 'The Epic' was that we don't have to feel so much pressure to conform… — Kamasi Washington Epic Copy Share Image
We learned at a young age, with our dad, that even if you weren't doing something, you had to look like you… — Kamasi Washington Age Copy Share Image
In the '80s, a lot of kids, if you were kind of bright, you got bussed to schools out of your community.… — Kamasi Washington Copy Share Image
A legacy is a lot of times determined by how people accept your music. And sometimes people's legacy starts late or starts… — Kamasi Washington Control Copy Share Image
Los Angeles has always been overlooked as far as jazz, and just high-level music in general. But, like, my dad's a musician,… — Kamasi Washington Dad Copy Share Image
The fact of the matter is that nobody understands what John Coltrane is doing except John Coltrane. And maybe not even him.… — Kamasi Washington Copy Share Image
Music is an expression of who you are, and - at least in that sense - I think I epitomize Black Lives… — Kamasi Washington Copy Share Image
Funk could very easily be called jazz, but you call it funk. Does that really matter? People dig that they associate themselves… — Kamasi Washington Funk Copy Share Image
I think L.A. has one of the most innovative and forward-thinking jazz scenes in the world. New York definitely has the volume… — Kamasi Washington Gift Copy Share Image
Music is this medium to express who I am and what I've been through and my thoughts and what my feelings on… — Kamasi Washington Copy Share Image
You have to dig deep to make great music, and it gets harder and harder. It's a difficult, painful process to reach… — Kamasi Washington Copy Share Image
We started 'Heaven And Earth' in 2016. That was probably the heaviest touring year of my whole life. We probably did almost… — Kamasi Washington Earth Copy Share Image
Every time you learn a new language, your understanding of language overall grows, so every time I would learn new music, my… — Kamasi Washington Direction Copy Share Image
The thing about hip-hop is, like, that the instruments were taken out of schools. But - you might have taken the instruments… — Kamasi Washington Copy Share Image
This notion that I was somehow special and deserving of a more involved education was wrong.I was smart at taking tests, but… — Kamasi Washington Copy Share Image
As a person who grew up in Los Angeles - that's a very diverse place - I've always felt like that diversity… — Kamasi Washington Blessing Copy Share Image
