Kamasi Washington Makes Memorable ‘Tiny Desk Concert’ Debut With Career-Spanning Set

Acclaimed saxophonist and composer Kamasi Washington brought his powerhouse band to NPR Music’s Washington, D.C. headquarters for an otherworldly Tiny Desk Concert. Washington delivered a four-song performance that included cuts from three of his albums.

Kamasi Washington’s ensemble features his father Rickey Washington on flute and soprano saxophone along with trombonist Ryan Porter, keyboardist Brandon Coleman, drummer Tony Austin, bassist Miles Moseley and vocalist Patrice Quinn. The set saw the band joined by special guest DJ Battlecat on turntables and percussion.

The Grammy-nominated musician bookended his session with “Lesanu” and “Asha The First,” a pair of songs from his latest album, 2024’s Fearless Movement. Washington also led his band through “Street Fighter Mas” off 2018’s Heaven and Earth and The Epic (2015) standout “Rhythm Changes.”

Watch Kamasi Washington’s Tiny Desk Concert below:

Kamasi Washington recently postponed and rescheduled the European leg of his Fearless Movement Tour after suffering a serious back injury. Washington will now kick off the jaunt on March 12, 2025 with a concert in Johanneshov, Sweden. The tour runs through a show on April 29 in Athens, Greece.