John Malveaux: LA Phil New Music Group presents premiere by Kamasi Washington

Billy Childs

Kamasi Washington

John Malveaux of 

www.MusicUNTOLD.com 

writes:

January 15, 2019 The Edge of Jazz concert presented by LA Phil New Music Group curated by Herbie Hancock at Disney Concert Hall featured six diverse world premieres by Hitomi Oba, Vijay Iyer, Billy Childs, Kamasi Washington, Tyshawn Sorey and Hermeto Pascoal. I am  personally familiar with only Billy Childs and Kamasi Washington. OF DARKNESS and LIGHT with Billy Childs at piano and 22 supporting players was about five minutes into the premiere when sirens blared followed by an evacuate the building announcement. The audience and players were stunned but did not panic or immediately evacuate. The notice to evacuate was subsequently cancelled followed by another announcement that the sirens were a false alarm. Billy Childs is not only a virtuoso pianist and highly gifted composer in multiple genres, he is a talent of great COMPOSURE. I look forward  to hearing the piece again.

Kamasi Washington STRUGGLE from WITHIN included 20 musicians without Kamasi Washington being in the building. In my opinion, Kamasi, as a sax player, is an unrelenting force in power and speed. I found his new composition to be relaxing and contemplative. I did not hear the struggle but i loved the piece and look forward to hearing it again. One benefit of instrumental music is you can miss the intent of the composer and create your own story.

Exiting the concert, i saw and briefly chatted with pianist and composer Richard Thompson who is also a professor of music at San Diego State University,  Composer Thompson is proficient in jazz and classical genres,  See https://www.richardthompsonpiano.com/