Kamasi Washington was born in Los Angeles California to a musical family. He attended the Hamilton High School Music Academy then the UCLA School of Ethnomusicology. While attending UCLA Kamasi joined the Gerald Wilson Big Band. Gerald had long been one of his greatest influences and the opportunity to work with him had a profound affect on Kamasi’s music. The connection was so great Gerald took Kamasi to New York to record with his New York band. In the years after that many great opportunities have opened for Kamasi. Such as playing the Playboy Jazz Festival with McCoy Tyner, playing The Drew Jazz Festival with Freddie Hubbard, recording on George Duke’s album Dukey Treats, and most recently performing in Stanley Clark’s new quartet. Kamasi is also working on a new album to be released on the Brainfeeder record label.