Heaven & Earth

Kamasi Washington

Heaven & Earth

Latest release from the Los Angeles jazz saxophonist with contributions from Tony Austin, Ronald Bruner, Jr., Brandon Coleman, Cameron Graves, Terrace Martin and Thundercat

ADM rating[?]

8.3

Label
Young Turks
UK Release date
22/06/2018
US Release date
22/06/2018
  1. 10.0 |   Consequence Of Sound

    Jazz saxophonist capitalizes on newfound fame to deliver a masterful double album
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  2. 10.0 |   The Irish Times

    A jazz genius at work
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  3. 10.0 |   Evening Standard

    As bold and maximalist, as rhythmic and righteous, as one might expect from the reedsman who helped kickstart the global jazz renaissance. A must-have
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  4. 9.1 |   A.V. Club

    Earth is loaded with mentally and emotionally draining songs
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  5. 9.0 |   PopMatters

    Acclaimed saxophonist Kamasi Washington drops another ambitious, multi-disc album that swings, grooves, and inspires
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  6. 9.0 |   Under The Radar

    It's easy to get overawed by the sheer magnitude of such a work, but it lives up to the audacious premise grandly
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  7. 9.0 |   No Ripcord

    The music is at turns bewildering, cathartic and questioning throughout; there is no separation. An exceptional record from one of the music world's brightest talents
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  8. 9.0 |   Clash

    You won’t hear another record like it this, or maybe any, year
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  9. 9.0 |   Exclaim

    Throughout simply titled/simply written tracks like "Lullaby" and "Journey," Washington has astonishingly revealed another element to his budding songcraft
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  10. 9.0 |   Gig Soup

    Regardless of the degree to which one engages with this album, there exists a palpable sense that Kamasi Washington is merely at the beginning of a career we can only hope will flourish as we heal this shared existence
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  11. 9.0 |   The 405

    This is an album that exemplifies the emotive, transformative power of music played by people at the peak of their abilities - musicians that can draw you into their world and reveal something new and beautiful to you
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  12. 8.8 |   Pitchfork

    The latest from the saxophonist and bandleader is a multi-genre feast of musical ideas, his most sweeping and complete statement yet
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  13. 8.5 |   The Line Of Best Fit

    Washington is only just getting warmed up in his quest to reboot cosmic jazz
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  14. 8.0 |   The Arts Desk

    When was the last time a jazz album included seven violas?
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  15. 8.0 |   Drowned In Sound

    Heaven & Earth is ultimately yet another example of Washington’s incredible prowess behind the saxophone but also as a composer
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  16. 8.0 |   Mojo

    A series of near-overwhelming musical epiphanies. Print edition only

  17. 8.0 |   Q

    Washington's gift for euphonic arrangements and eagerness to explore new forms is evident throughout. Print edition only

  18. 8.0 |   Uncut

    This is the rare jazz record that feels equipped to venture outside the genre's familiar borders and engage with the wider world
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  19. 8.0 |   Record Collector

    With its forward-thinking, deep-searching nature counterbalanced by a natural warmth and populist, groove-heavy approach, it’s another hugely accomplished work by a man whose prolific run of form shows no signs of abating
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  20. 8.0 |   The Guardian

    The US saxophonist has found his time and it is now: this excellent album connects politics with the jazz of the past to create an angrily inclusive new vision
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  21. 8.0 |   Crack

    It might sound patronising to talk of Kamasi Washington’s generosity of spirit, but his music gives great pleasure and emotional uplift. No wonder it has resonated so widely
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  22. 8.0 |   The Quietus

    An album that thrills, confuses, delights and overwhelms
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  23. 8.0 |   All Music

    It establishes Washington as a composer and arranger of dizzying potential and still underscores his twin rep as a soloist and jazz conceptualist
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  24. 8.0 |   The Music

    While jazz fans will be delighted, curious listeners are also likely to find 'Heaven And Earth' to be richly rewarding
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  25. 8.0 |   The Observer

    While Earth finds Washington wielding his sax as a furious, necessary weapon, the indulgent, opulent cushion of Heaven serves as a dazzling balm, the choir transforming from theatrical to celestial
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  26. 8.0 |   The Independent

    In a decade of major black American LP statements to match the conscious soul and jazz golden age of 40 years ago, Washington is, along with D’Angelo, the artist most steeped in that era’s rhythmically liquid language, and Heaven and Earth allows little let-up in slippery grooves and soulful uplift
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  27. 7.0 |   musicOMH

    The Epic offered something bold and confident, delivered with an often fiery and compelling intensity. It is difficult to avoid the sense that Heaven And Earth at least in part seeks to repeat the trick
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  28. 7.0 |   Spectrum Culture

    Washington channels different forms of sweeping, pungent urgency from the past
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  29. 7.0 |   Loud And Quiet

    Everything here might be fine delicacy, but together it’s too rich for all but the biggest appetites
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  30. 6.0 |   Rolling Stone

    If some tracks hit harder than others, Washington's obsession with ear-catching detail is impressive throughout
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