Kamasi Washington has released his first new music since his critically celebrated 2015 album The Epic .
‘Truth’, a near 14-minute odyssey of spirited jazz which can be heard above, will feature on the saxophonist’s forthcoming EP Harmony of Difference. The EP is set for release later this summer via Young Turks, with whom he recently signed a global deal.
‘Truth’ makes up just one section of Harmony of Difference‘s 37 minute run-time. The full piece premiered at the end of March as part of the annual Whitney Biennial contemporary art exhibition in New York which will run until 11 June. Washington’s suite provides a soundtrack to artwork created by his sister, Amani until the exhibit culminates with the sounds of ‘Truth’ and a video directed by AG Rojas.
Focusing on the idea of "counterpoint" and the balancing of the drastically different with the similar, Harmony of Difference‘s first five movements are intrinsically unique compositions, until elements from each are compiled into the majesty of ‘Truth’. Amani Washington’s paintings take a similar approach, creating five pieces focused on raw shapes and colours, then combining these to create a sixth: an abstract depiction of a human face.
Rojas’ video, presented in partnership with WeTransfer Studio, is thematically similar again, with each scene focusing on the harmony found in people from South Central and East Los Angeles and shows the beauty in their differences.
Speaking of the video and the music, Washington said: "My hope is that witnessing the beautiful harmony created by merging different musical melodies will help people realize the beauty in our own differences."
