Kamasi Washington brings his band and generation-defining jazz to St. Louis

The last time tenor sax player Kamasi Washington was in St. Louis, he was playing keyboards for soul legend Chaka Khan. That was several years ago, and since then, he’s become one of the go-to jazz artists of his generation, crafting opulent concept albums with “The Epic” and “Heaven and Earth,” working with Kendrick Lamar, Thundercat, Robert Glasper and former first lady Michelle Obama.

Washington and his band are in St. Louis on Saturday for the Music at the Intersection festival, which features performances from Erykah Badu, Gary Clark Jr., Murphy Lee and Kyjuan, Glasper and Foxing.

St. Louis Public Radio’s Chad Davis spoke with Washington about his career, how science fiction and the Black diaspora shape his sound and his upcoming graphic novel.