Kamasi Washington Announces New Album 'Fearless Movement'

New song and video, 'Prologue', also debuts today

Jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington has announced the release of his upcoming album, 'Fearless Movement', and shared the first single from the project, 'Prologue'.

Setting a thematic intention for the record, 'Prologue' is brought to life with a stunning visual directed by Kamasi's longtime collaborator AG Rojas and choreographed by Samantha Blake Goodman

The multi-instrumentalist and composer refers to 'Fearless Movement' as his dance album. “It’s not literal,” he explains. “Dance is movement and expression, and in a way it’s the same thing as music—expressing your spirit through your body. That’s what this album is pushing.”

The evolution of Washington's artistic direction is palpable in 'Fearless Movement', where dance serves as a conduit for expression. Departing from the cosmic and existential themes of previous records, the 12-track album will delve into the mundane intricacies of day-to-day life. The profound shift in focus can be attributed significantly to the transformative experience of becoming a parent, marking a pivotal moment in Kamasi's creative journey.

“Being a father means the horizon of your life all of a sudden shows up,” he says. “My mortality became more apparent to me, but also my immortality—realising that my daughter is going to live on and see things that I’m never going to see. I had to become comfortable with this, and that affected the music that I was making.”

Collaborators both new and old feature on the record - namely André 3000, Thundercat, BJ The Chicago Kid, Terrace Martin, Patrice Quinn, Brandon Coleman, DJ Battlecat, George Clinton, D-Smoke, and even more.

Endearingly, second track 'Asha The First' features Kamasi's daughter, who wrote the melody during some of her first experimentations on the piano

As well as the new album, Kamasi has announced an extensive North American tour for the duration of May, June and July, kicking off the day after the album drops. Legs at New York’s Beacon Theatre, Chicago, Houston, San Francisco and the Hollywood Bowl Jazz Festival are all on the tour schedule.