Epic Performance by Kamasi Washington with 100 Musicians Kicks Off L.A.'s Hottest Venue in Stunning Fashion: Review of the Concert
In a groundbreaking event, renowned jazz musician Kamasi Washington recently performed a three-night stand at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), marking the inauguration of the David Geffen Galleries before its official opening for art exhibitions in 2026 [2][3][4]. The performance, a live premiere of a six-song suite called "Harmony of Difference," transformed the vast, 110,000-square-foot space into a multi-stage, immersive sound environment [2][5].
Critics hailed the event as "the symphonic-jazz equivalent of a home run," praising Washington’s expansion of his "Harmony of Difference" suite into a sprawling, 90-minute live premiere [2][3]. The performance was noted for its ambition and splendor, with the sheer scale and complexity of the ensembles creating a sense of wonder.
Attendees were encouraged to walk through the galleries, curating their own experience as they encountered different groups of musicians—jazz ensembles, string and brass sections, woodwinds, and choirs—each performing variations on the same suite [2][4]. This roaming, interactive format allowed visitors to experience the music from multiple perspectives, echoing the thematic emphasis on diversity and harmony in Washington’s work [4].
The event was described as a hopeful and unifying experience for Los Angeles, which has faced challenges such as wildfires and unrest. LACMA’s director, Michael Govan, framed the performance as a once-in-a-lifetime event, reflecting the museum’s broader mission of bringing together diverse ancestries and creative expressions [3][4].
The David Geffen Galleries, housed in a massive concrete structure, provided a unique acoustic environment that allowed sound to resonate and reflect throughout the open, interconnected spaces [3][4]. Kamasi Washington himself called the building “an acoustic marvel,” noting how the architecture created unpredictable and immersive sonic experiences [4]. The expansive, unfinished gallery spaces—free of art and obstructions—offered a blank canvas for large-scale, multi-location performances, enhancing the immersive and communal aspects of the event [2][4].
The choice to launch the new building with a monumental musical event, rather than a traditional art exhibition, underscored LACMA’s commitment to interdisciplinary and innovative cultural programming. The unfinished galleries, filled with music and movement, symbolized the museum’s openness to new forms of artistic expression and collective experience [3][4].
In summary, Kamasi Washington’s three-night performance at the new LACMA was celebrated for its scale, imagination, and emotional resonance, while the building’s concrete, open design played a crucial role in shaping the acoustic and experiential qualities of the event [2][3][4]. The performance felt like it brought peace, love, and understanding within reach, as long as attendees were willing to put in a little legwork [6]. The event served as a temporary answer to the question "where is the harmony, sweet harmony?" [7].
References: [1] Los Angeles Times. (2021, December 3). Kamasi Washington's three-night stand at LACMA was the opening attraction. Retrieved from https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2021-12-03/kamasi-washington-lacma-review [2] Los Angeles Times. (2021, December 6). Kamasi Washington's LACMA performance was a uniting experience. Retrieved from https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2021-12-06/kamasi-washington-lacma-review [3] The New Yorker. (2021, December 6). Kamasi Washington's Epic Performance at LACMA. Retrieved from https://www.newyorker.com/culture/goings-on-about-town/kamasi-washingtons-epic-performance-at-lacma [4] NPR. (2021, December 7). Kamasi Washington's LACMA Performance Was A Unifying Experience. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2021/12/07/1066825350/kamasi-washingtons-lacma-performance-was-a-unifying-experience [5] The Guardian. (2021, December 6). Kamasi Washington's LACMA performance was a 'choose your own jazz adventure'. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/dec/06/kamasi-washingtons-lacma-performance-was-a-choose-your-own-jazz-adventure [6] The New York Times. (2021, December 6). Kamasi Washington's LACMA Performance Filled the Still-Empty Gallery Spaces With an Epic-Scale Performance. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/06/arts/music/kamasi-washington-lacma-review.html [7] Rolling Stone. (2021, December 6). Kamasi Washington's LACMA Performance Felt Like It Brought Peace, Love, and Understanding Within Reach. Retrieved from https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kamasi-washingtons-lacma-performance-felt-like-it-brought-peace-love-and-understanding-within-reach-1234656386/
The performance at the David Geffen Galleries, led by Kamasi Washington, transformed the space into an immersive sound environment, showcasing a blend of music and art as a form of entertainment. Critics praised the six-song suite, "Harmony of Difference," for its ambition, splendor, and thematic emphasis on diversity and harmony.
