BBC Prom 61 Late Night review: Kamasi Washington performs at the Royal Albert Hall with conductor Jules Buckley
8 years, 6 months ago

BBC Prom 61 Late Night review: Kamasi Washington performs at the Royal Albert Hall with conductor Jules Buckley

The Independent  

Sign up to Roisin O’Connor’s free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Get our Now Hear This email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Kamasi Washington strolls onto the stage at the Royal Albert Hall with his band, murmurs a "hello" and gets straight down to it. Performing his appropriately titled debut The Epic to a UK audience for the first time, Washington is backed by the 33 strings of the City of Birmingham's Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jules Buckley, which adds another touch of drama to the night. Washington clearly wants the members of his band to have some time in the spotlight as well: he stands to one side during a spine-tingling keys solo from the legend that is Brandon Cole; invites his father Rickey Washington onstage - “the man who taught me everything I know” - with the notes from his soprano sax flying nimbly up into the eaves, and beams as Patrice Quinn slays the vocals on "The Rhythm Changes". Much has been said about how Washington’s collaborations with some of the modern greats of American hip hop is helping to bring jazz to a new audience; so fans of Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly could easily delve into the works of Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Herbie Hancock.

History of this topic

BBC Proms hope to end with two weeks of concerts at Royal Albert Hall
4 years, 9 months ago
Jules Buckley: the man bringing grime and disco to the concert hall
6 years, 8 months ago
Prom 18: Barenboim/West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, Royal Albert Hall
12 years, 7 months ago

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