As someone who has been to this sort of show, I can let you know that from the jump this is a show worth seeing. Both Flying Lotus and Kamasi Washington are well known for putting on some of the best shows in the business, and the Hollywood Bowl orchestra is only going to make it better. You combine all of those pluses with the fact that this show is actually at the Hollywood Bowl, arguably the best large venue on the west coast, and you’ve got yourself an absolute belter of a show.
Let’s start with Flying Lotus. While he does produce music that fits fairly well into the category of “electronic” to label him as anything other than a jazz artist would be deeply disingenuous to his ethos as a performer and music creator. Pulling from strange jazz time signatures and acid laced melodies, Flying Lotus is famous for concerts that remove listeners from their bodies, physically and visually.
Kamasi Washington on the other hand is jazz at face value. But his acclaim with numerous music reviewers and relationship with artists like Kendrick Lamar, Thundercat and Flying Lotus have made him a household name in a genre that rarely is known by households. When you listen to an album of his it becomes apparent why he is being hailed as the heir to the throne of jazz, there might not be a more talented musician on the planet. Even if there is, there certainly isn’t one that’s as well known.
You can catch this show at the Hollywood Bowl on 7/5, and to be honest I can’t think of a better way to exit quarantine.
Location: The Hollywood Bowl
Address: 2301 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90068
Photo credit: Richard Saethang