How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Kamasi Washington

In the captivating tapestry of life, few stories weave as rich and vibrant threads as that of this extraordinary individual. From the resonant echoes of the hallowed halls of music to the quiet whispers of family time, every moment seems imbued with a deep-rooted passion for artistry and love.

As a diehard fan of Los Angeles myself, I can’t help but feel a deep connection to the city that Kamasi Washington adores. It’s not just about saying that he likes L.A.; it’s more like he feels at home in its sprawling diversity. This Grammy-nominated saxophonist beautifully captures the essence of L.A., describing it as a vibrant blend of multiple cities, each offering a unique cultural experience. I completely agree with him; the city provides endless opportunities to immerse oneself in various cultures, making it an incredibly enriching place to live and create music.

Born and raised in the heart of Los Angeles, I hail from South L.A., where I later moved to the Westside to attend Hamilton High School. My educational journey culminated with a degree in ethnomusicology from UCLA. As an undergraduate, I had the incredible opportunity to tour alongside hip-hop legend Snoop Dogg, a testament to my budding musical prowess and a glimpse into the promising future that lay ahead. Truly, Los Angeles nurtured my talents and shaped me into who I am today.

Following their college years, Washington and his dear friends like bassist Stephen “Thundercat” Bruner, drummer Ronald Bruner Jr., pianist Cameron Graves, trombonist Ryan Porter, multi-instrumentalist Terrace Martin, and others, started performing regularly at the Piano Bar in Hollywood. This long-term stint lasted for several years. Known as the West Coast Get Down, they played a significant role in rejuvenating the once dormant Los Angeles jazz scene and nurturing young talent. Some of the group members, including Washington himself, later contributed to rapper Kendrick Lamar’s 2015 hit album “To Pimp a Butterfly.” To this day, they continue touring together and featuring on each other’s albums.

As a music enthusiast who’s deeply in love with jazz, I can’t help but admire the versatile artist, Robert Glasper Washington. This man has graced the stages of Coachella and Bonnaroo, performing approximately 100 shows each year. Yet, no matter how far he travels, his heart remains with his city, wife Fatima, and their adorable 4-year-old daughter, Akili. Recently, I had a delightful chat with him over Zoom from his home in Inglewood, where he shared his ideal Sunday spent with his beloved family.

8:30 a.m.: Wake-up time

On Sundays, I typically have a routine that’s more set than other days. My mornings usually start at around 8:30. Sharing this time, I have a casual breakfast with my wife and daughter.

11 a.m.: Church bells ringing

Every Sunday, my mom enjoys taking my girl to Saints Tabernacle Cogic on Jefferson. We’ll collect her around 10. Incidentally, my aunt leads and sings in the choir there, and my little one simply adores joining them for a song.

As I progressed in age, my church attendance decreased due to my busy lifestyle. However, when my mother suggested taking my daughter to church, I found it heartening to reestablish that connection. Memories flooded back of my aunt singing there as a child, and seeing my daughter’s joy during the service, along with the sense of community, felt comfortingly familiar. The church is quite small but brimming with warmth from its members.

1:30 p.m.: New restaurants — and old standbys

It’s become our habit to explore new locales. Lately, I stumbled upon a thriving Japanese community in Gardena that I hadn’t been aware of before. Since then, I’ve been uncovering fantastic restaurants and stores in the area. My fascination with Japanese culture has only grown, as I delight in discovering this fresh environment.

We recently found this really cool Yemeni restaurant in Westwood called House of Mandi. We had two different lamb dishes. They were both great. One of them was cooked underground. It’s my first time having Yemeni food, and it was so good. Sometimes we’ll go closer to church to Harold & Belle’s, which is New Orleans-style food.

3 p.m.: Akili’s big adventure

After a meal, we usually seek out activities that my daughter, Akili, enjoys. She has quite diverse tastes, but listening to music is what she loves most. There are numerous outdoor music events in Los Angeles, particularly during the summer season, though they’re available all year round. Alternatively, we can simply enjoy music in a park.

Akili shares a fondness for the beach, so sometimes we venture over to Bruce’s Beach in Manhattan Beach or explore the Natural History Museum. Her passion for nature extends beyond land as she adores dinosaurs and animals, and with her newfound dream of becoming an astronaut, she finds interest in all things space-related, such as gazing at the space shuttle.

As a cinema enthusiast, I must confess, I find great joy in these cinematic adventures. To be honest, there’s still a bit of the kid in me that refuses to grow up completely. And yes, even the thought of those ancient dinosaur bones sends a thrill down my spine!

5:30 p.m.: Chill out

Whenever we find ourselves venturing out and about, there’s a good chance we might end up having dinner at one of our favorite spots. One such place is Rossoblu downtown – it’s an Italian restaurant that never disappoints us. Another option could be Verse; it’s among our all-time favorites. If you’re familiar with the USC area, there’s also Holbox, a place we quite enjoy. Lastly, if the mood strikes, we might even catch a movie somewhere.

Often, we wind down our day by returning home. If you were to visit a museum with us, upon return, our preference would be to unwind by playing vinyl records. I’ll let Akili choose a few from her collection. She has a diverse taste in music and particularly appreciates jazz artists such as Eric Dolphy and John Coltrane. At the moment, she’s quite fond of Michael Jackson; her favorite track being “Bad.

7:30 p.m.: ‘Homemade’ red sauce

We both have a knack for cooking, and we decide daily which of us will prepare dinner. When it comes to pasta, I’m particularly skilled – I can whip up an excellent dish with either red or white sauce, but my red sauce is definitely a standout favorite!

I’m not going to tell you all my secrets, but for a meat sauce it’s usually a mixture of different meats like ground beef and maybe with some type of sausage. I use a lot of different peppers like serrano and bell peppers and maybe some jalapenos. I’ll chop all those up, add them to some tomato paste and some tomatoes. I usually make a hybrid: homemade sauce with a pre-made sauce. It feels like it’s all the way homemade, but it’s not.

8:30 p.m.: A daughter’s tale

As the clock strikes 8:30, it’s my time to unwind and snuggle up with Akili for our nightly storytime ritual. We might dive into a published tale or weave an imaginative one together, where I serve as her muse. Themes can range from the familiar, like stories about her own adventures, to the fantastical, featuring whimsical imaginary creatures. Akili’s creativity is truly one-of-a-kind, often adding unexpected twists and turns, such as “and then, the soldier transformed into a cloud.

She’s asleep by 9. Sometimes, Fatima falls asleep with her. Otherwise, we’ll hang out for a while.

10 p.m.: Kamasi creating

During those hours, I retreat to the opposite end of the house for uninterrupted musical pursuits. I usually stay there from one to two in the morning. This is the time when I’m most productive.

Read More

• APT PREDICTION. APT cryptocurrency
• XAI PREDICTION. XAI cryptocurrency
• RARE PREDICTION. RARE cryptocurrency
• MCOIN PREDICTION. MCOIN cryptocurrency
• RETARDIO PREDICTION. RETARDIO cryptocurrency
• USD MXN PREDICTION
• XRP PREDICTION. XRP cryptocurrency
• KDA PREDICTION. KDA cryptocurrency
• MYRIA PREDICTION. MYRIA cryptocurrency
• OPEN/USD

2024-11-08 14:32