Kamasi Washington on Anime, Kendrick Lamar as “The John Coltrane of Rap,” DJ Battlecat & More
w/ Terence Blanchard
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In this interview, Kamasi Washington and Terence Blanchard discuss the cultural intersections shaping modern jazz. They explore how anime’s visual storytelling sparked Kamasi’s imagination, and how Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly became a turning point—where Kamasi wrote the sweeping string arrangements that elevated the album’s orchestral depth. They also celebrate DJ Battlecat’s West Coast grooves, which infused Kamasi’s band with a raw, rhythmic pulse and sample collage movement. You can get tickets to see Kamasi Washington at The Golden Gate Theatre on November 15.
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