Over the next year Kamasi’s development and devotion to music had out grown his academic environment. So he transferred from The Los Angeles Center of Enriched Studies (one the top academic high schools in the nation) and enrolled into the Hamilton High School Music Academy. It was around this time that Kamasi also joined The Multi School Jazz Band (M.S.J.B.), an assembly of the finest young jazz musicians in Los Angeles County and led by Reginald Andrews the same man that taught Kamasi’s father in high school. Because of the sheer vastness of talent that he was surrounded by it was in The Multi School Jazz Band that Kamasi was most inspired during his high school years. Through M.S.J.B. Kamasi was also able to meet, learn, and create relationships with many of his musical idols such as Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Horse Tapscot, Gerald Wilson, and many others. In Kamasi’s senior year of high school he had the opportunity to compete in the John Coltrane Saxophone competition, in which he received the first place award. As an additional benefit to winning the competition the band of M.S.J.B. members that he assembled to accompany him had such an immediate connection that they decided to stay together and form a group that soon after would be known as “The Young Jazz Giants”.
This fiery group of “Young Giants” wasted no time in spreading their musical wings and flying all over the Los Angeles jazz scene spreading the good news that jazz was still alive and in very good hands. It was during this time that Kamasi became interested in composition and he started writing his own music. Over the next year “The Young Jazz Giants” had really began to develop their own sound and were creating a lot of excitement in their community.
After graduating from high school Kamasi began his studies at U.C.L.A. were the facility included some of the finest musicians in the history of Jazz, such as Kenny Burrell, Billy Higgins, Harold Land, Lew Mathews, Garnett Brown, Jeff Clayton, Gerald Wilson, and many others. By the end of his first year at U.C.L.A. Kamasi began performing with many of his professors. In fact he joined Gerald Wilson’s big band and later became the only member of his regular Los Angeles band to be invited to play on his latest album “In My Time” which was recorded in New York. During the summer after Kamasi’s first year at U.C.L.A. the head of a new record label called “Bird Man Records” heard him playing with “The Young Jazz Giants” and became very interested in making an album with the group. So Kamasi recorded his first album it was called The Young Jazz Giants. The completion of the album seemed like the “big break” for “The Young Jazz Giants” but unforeseen delays in the products release ended in the album being released almost two years after its completion. Ironically the talent level of the group was far too high for any of the members of the band to stay “ready and waiting” for too long, thus “The Young Jazz Giants” unofficially disbanded.
Kamasi began to take interest and became influenced by many other forms of music, from European Classical to Hip Hop. This really opened his mind to the fact that all of the different forms that music takes are equally relevant. From this Kamasi ended up playing with many of the most legendary musicians of the current variety such as Snoop Dog, Raphael Saadiq, and many others. Yet during this time Kamasi despite his newfound respect for all of the forms of music realized that Jazz was still the music that was closest to his heart. So he started a new band that would be able to play the new music that he is creating. The new group is called “The Next Step” and that’s precisely what Kamasi intends on taking.
(2) Kamasi Washington didn't pick up a saxophone until he was 13 years old, but by that point, he'd been playing several other instruments. That's when he found his calling. Within a couple years, he was the lead tenor saxophonist at Hamilton High School Music Academy in his native Los Angeles. After graduation, he attended UCLA to study ethnomusicology. While enrolled at UCLA, he recorded a self-titled album with Young Jazz Giants, a quartet he had formed with Cameron Graves and brothers Ronald Bruner, Jr. and Stephen "Thundercat" Bruner, released in 2004. From that point, Washington continually performed and recorded with an impressive variety of major artists across several genres, including Snoop Dogg, Raphael Saadiq, Gerald Wilson, McCoy Tyner, George Duke, and PJ Morton. In 2014 alone, Washington demonstrated tremendous range with appearances on Broken Bells' After the Disco, Harvey Mason's Chameleon, Stanley Clarke's Up, and Flying Lotus' You're Dead!, among other albums that covered indie rock, contemporary and progressive jazz, and experimental electronic music.
The following year, Washington contributed to Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly and finally debuted as a leader with The Epic, released on Flying Lotus' Brainfeeder label. An expansive triple album nearly three hours in duration, it involved the other three-quarters of Young Jazz Giants -- by then part of his larger ten piece collective, altnerately known as The Next Step and West Coast Get Down-- string orchestra and choir conducted by Miguel Atwood-Ferguson.
The Epic was a critical and commerial success. Not only did it land at number three on the jazz charts, it also found its way on to independent albums and heatseekers charts as well. Washington and his band were not only able to tour the U.S., but to play in Europe and Japan as well. ~ Andy Kellman
Malcolm's Theme
Kamasi Washington Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We come to bid farewell
To one of our brightest hopes
Extinguished now and gone.
Harlem has memory of a champion
More brave and gallant than he
Who lies before us unconquered still
Afro-American was Malcolm
A master of words was he
To We we grew so long ago
′Negro' no more it′s through
I say again Afro-American
As he would want me to
To those who tell us
To flee his memory
We smile and say to you:
Tenor Saxophone Solo--Kamasi Washington
I say again Afro-American
As he would want me to
To those who tell us
To flee his memory
We smile and say to you:
Have you ever talked to Brother Malcolm
Or had him smile at you
Did you ever really miss him
If so you'd know it's true
Malcolm was our manhood
Our living Black manhood
For this we honor him
And so we honor the best in ourselves
The gift he gave us all
We leave you now with words from
El Hajj Malik El Shabazz:
. . .before I get involved in anything nowadays, I have to straighten out my own position, and, which is clear. I am not a racist in any form whatsoever. I don′t believe in any form of racism. I don′t believe in any form of discrimination or segregation. I believe in Islam. I am a Muslim. And there's nothing wrong with being a Muslim, nothing wrong with the religion of Islam. It just teaches us to believe in Allah as the God. And those of you who are Christians probably believe in the same God, because I think you believe in the God who created the universe. And that′s the One we believe in, the one who created the universe, the only difference being you call Him God and I--we call Him Allah. The Jews call him Jehovah. If you could understand Hebrew, you'd probably call him Jehovah too. If you could understand Arabic, you′d probably call him Allah. But since the white man, your "friend," took your language away from you during slavery, the only language you know is his language. You know, your friend's language. So you call Him, you call for the same God he calls for. When he′s putting a rope around your neck, you call for God and he calls for God. . . . But the real religion of Islam doesn't teach anyone to judge another human being by the color of his skin. The yardstick that is used by the Muslim to measure another man is not the man's color but the man′s deeds, the man′s conscious behavior, the man's intentions. And when you use that as a standard of measurement or judgment, you never go wrong.
Know more a man by the seed
Which will come forth again
We′ll know him as a prince
Our own black shining prince who died
Because he loved us so.
Composed by Terence Blanchard
Lyrics adapted from Ossie Davis's eulogy, delivered at Faith Temple Church Of God, Harlem, on 27 February 1965
Lyrics set to music by Kamasi Washington and Patrice Quinn
Malcolm X words from his speech "After the Bombing," delivered at Ford Auditorium, Detroit, on 14 February 1965
The song "Malcolm's Theme" by Kamasi Washington is a tribute to Malcolm X, who was assassinated in 1965. The lyrics of the song are adapted from the eulogy delivered by Ossie Davis at Malcolm X's funeral. The song opens with the lines "Here in this final hour, we come to bid farewell to one of our brightest hopes, extinguished now and gone." The song continues to honor Malcolm X's legacy and his contribution to the African-American community.
The lyrics mention Harlem, which was Malcolm X's neighborhood and where he became a prominent leader in the civil rights movement. The words "Afro-American" are used instead of "Negro", which was the term commonly used at the time. The song emphasizes Malcolm X's mastery of words and his ability to inspire and empower the African-American community.
Line by Line Meaning
Here in this final hour
At this moment in time, we have gathered to pay our respects.
We come to bid farewell
We have come to say goodbye to someone important to us.
To one of our brightest hopes
The person we are bidding farewell to was a symbol of hope for us.
Extinguished now and gone.
The person is no longer with us.
Harlem has memory of a champion
Harlem remembers someone who was strong, brave, and fought for their cause.
More brave and gallant than he
The person we are honoring was even more courageous and noble than the person we are comparing them to.
Who lies before us unconquered still
The person may be gone, but they never gave up or surrendered in life.
Honor Pride and Love
We are remembering the person with respect, dignity and affection.
Afro-American was Malcolm
Malcolm X was an American of African descent, and he embraced this identity.
A master of words was he
He had a way with words and was skilled in using language to convey meaning and persuade others.
To We we grew so long ago
Malcolm X spoke to and inspired many of us who have been on this earth for a long time.
′Negro' no more it′s through
The term 'Negro' is no longer acceptable or relevant.
I say again Afro-American
Malcolm X preferred to use the term 'Afro-American' to describe himself and his community.
As he would want me to
We are honoring Malcolm X in the way he would have wanted us to.
To those who tell us
We are addressing those who try to silence or discourage us.
We smile and say to you:
We will not let those negative voices bring us down, and we remain confident in our convictions.
I say again Afro-American
We are repeating that Malcolm X preferred the term 'Afro-American' to describe himself and his community.
Have you ever talked to Brother Malcolm
If you had the chance to meet and talk to Malcolm X, you would have understood his message better.
Or had him smile at you
If you had seen Malcolm X smile and express kindness or warmth towards you, you would have felt his positive spirit.
Did you ever really miss him
If you have truly felt the absence of Malcolm X in your life, you understand his impact and value.
If so you'd know it's true
If you have experienced the loss of Malcolm X, you know how much he meant to people.
Malcolm was our manhood
Malcolm X embodied traits that were important to African American men, such as strength, purpose, and dignity.
Our living Black manhood
He was an example of what a strong and proud Black man could be in life.
For this we honor him
We are honoring Malcolm X for the values he represented and the inspiration he provided.
And so we honor the best in ourselves
By honoring Malcolm X, we are also celebrating our own strengths and values as individuals and as a community.
The gift he gave us all
Malcolm X left behind a legacy that has influenced and inspired many people.
. . .before I get involved in anything nowadays, I have to straighten out my own position, and, which is clear.
Malcolm X was thoughtful and reflective in his approach to life, and he believed clarity was important.
I am not a racist in any form whatsoever.
Malcolm X did not believe in ascribing worthiness or judging people based on their race.
I don′t believe in any form of racism.
He was committed to erasing racism in all forms and believed that there was no room for it in society.
I don′t believe in any form of discrimination or segregation.
Malcolm X believed that all people should be treated with respect and equity, regardless of race or identity.
I believe in Islam. I am a Muslim.
Malcolm X was devoted to his Islamic faith and considered it an integral part of his identity.
And there's nothing wrong with being a Muslim, nothing wrong with the religion of Islam.
Malcolm X believed that Islam was a pure and honorable religion that did not inflict harm on anyone.
It just teaches us to believe in Allah as the God.
Islam centers around monotheism and belief in one God, Allah.
And those of you who are Christians probably believe in the same God, because I think you believe in the God who created the universe.
Malcolm X believed that people of different faiths could still share a belief in a single God.
And that′s the One we believe in, the one who created the universe, the only difference being you call Him God and I--we call Him Allah.
Malcolm X believed that the name one used to refer to God was insignificant, because the fundamental belief was that there is only one God.
The Jews call him Jehovah. If you could understand Hebrew, you'd probably call him Jehovah too.
Just as Allah and God are different terms in different languages, the Jewish faith has a term for God that may differ based on the language spoken.
If you could understand Arabic, you′d probably call him Allah.
For people who speak Arabic, the name for God is Allah, but the fundamental belief remains the same.
But since the white man, your "friend," took your language away from you during slavery, the only language you know is his language.
Due to the history of slavery and oppression, many African Americans only know the language that was imposed on them by white people.
You know, your friend's language. So you call Him, you call for the same God he calls for. When he′s putting a rope around your neck, you call for God and he calls for God. . . .
Even though African Americans and white people may use different names for God, in moments of struggle or peril, both parties may turn to the same God for help.
But the real religion of Islam doesn't teach anyone to judge another human being by the color of his skin.
In Islam, people are judged based on their character and behavior, rather than on the color of their skin or other physical traits.
The yardstick that is used by the Muslim to measure another man is not the man's color but the man′s deeds, the man's conscious behavior, the man's intentions.
Islam emphasizes judging people based on their actions, their intentions, and the quality of their character, rather than on superficial qualities like skin color.
And when you use that as a standard of measurement or judgment, you never go wrong.
By embracing a fair and just standard, like judging people based on their character or behavior, one will be less likely to make mistakes when forming opinions about other people.
Know more a man by the seed
One can learn more about a person by considering their potential and the positive things they can create in life.
Which will come forth again
This positive potential can resurface and manifest in the form of a legacy or the impact a person leaves behind.
We′ll know him as a prince
Malcolm X will be remembered as someone who displayed qualities of nobility and strength.
Our own black shining prince who died
Malcolm X represented a person of color who shined as a positive example or role model, even after his death.
Writer(s): Terence Oliver Blanchard, Malcolm Little, Kamasi Tii Washington, Ossie Davis, Patrice Quinn
Contributed by Dylan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@coreo881
2:15 "We smile, and say to you..."
And then that fucking saxophone speaks. Shit made my eyes water. This is a gorgeous song.
@Jamiefearon
I just saw Kamasi Washington live in Barcelona for the first time. When they played this song I actually cried; I never cry to music!!!!
The version he played a couple of days ago was very different to the original you hear in this video. The lead female singer was wailing the word Love over and over again, then at the end she erupted in a skin crawling scream that shook everyone to the core. So powerful.
Racism is a cancer, and its only antidote is Love.
@mizofan
we are all one race, the human race- and we are one with other species too
@YesoMs
I was there too. Incredible performance. The highpoint of a passionate and rousing concert. Unforgettable.
@SPACECOWBOY705
LOVE!!!
@apothecurio
I can handle Kamasi Wailing in sax. I can handle Patrice’s improvised yells. The issue is they do both do it live for this song. My eyes just pour when it happens. It’s just sooooo much. Pure ascension.
@saralbruno
Wow i wish i saw that! Sounda amazing. Something special just for that audience :").
@trinabrooks8520
Wow, a musical rendition of Malcolm X's eulogy. Very inventive and moving.
@Kennutty
Was writing my paper on Malcolm X when this song came on. I was listening to this album for the first time on this playlist. Coincidence of the day.
@vikingsfan0592
That's really cool ha. This album is so powerful and electrifying . I am forcing myself to listen to it again a few times in chunks