vinylfanatics.com

**The Epic by Kamasi Washington: A Jazz Renaissance in Triple Time**

In an era when jazz seemed relegated to dusty record collections and university music programs, Kamasi Washington burst onto the scene in 2015 with "The Epic," a sprawling three-disc masterpiece that didn't just revive jazz—it defibrillated it back to pulsing, vital life. This isn't your grandfather's smooth jazz; this is jazz as a living, breathing organism that devours funk, soul, hip-hop, and classical music whole, then spits out something entirely transcendent.

The album's origins trace back to Washington's deep roots in Los Angeles' vibrant jazz underground, where he'd been quietly building a reputation as a tenor saxophonist of extraordinary vision. His breakthrough came through his collaboration with Kendrick Lamar on "To Pimp a Butterfly," where his contributions helped craft one of hip-hop's most sonically adventurous albums. But while that project showcased Washington's ability to enhance other artists' visions, "The Epic" revealed him as a compositional force capable of leading a full-scale musical revolution.

Washington assembled what can only be described as a jazz army: a 10-piece band backed by a 32-piece orchestra and a 20-person choir. This isn't chamber jazz—this is jazz as symphonic statement, with arrangements that breathe and swell like living creatures. The West Coast Get Down, Washington's core ensemble, serves as the album's beating heart, featuring his father Rickey Washington on drums and a constellation of LA's finest young jazz musicians who'd been woodshedding together for years.

Stylistically, "The Epic" defies easy categorization, which is precisely its genius. Washington draws from the spiritual jazz of Pharoah Sanders and Alice Coltrane, the Afrofuturism of Sun Ra, and the orchestral ambitions of Gil Evans, but filters these influences through a distinctly contemporary lens. The result is music that feels both ancient and futuristic, rooted in tradition yet boldly experimental. His tenor saxophone tone is massive and warm, capable of tender whispers and earth-shaking roars, often within the same phrase.

The album's standout tracks read like a master class in modern jazz composition. "Change of the Guard" opens the proceedings with a statement of intent—lush orchestration giving way to Washington's commanding saxophone, establishing the album's central theme of transformation and renewal. "Askim" showcases the ensemble's remarkable chemistry, with intricate polyrhythms that never sacrifice groove for complexity. The title track "The Epic" itself is a 17-minute journey that justifies every second of its runtime, building from meditative beginnings to ecstatic climax with the inexorable logic of great storytelling.

"Cherokee" reimagines the jazz standard as a sprawling 14-minute opus that honors tradition while pushing boundaries, while "Re Run Home" demonstrates Washington's gift for melody, featuring some of his most emotionally direct playing. The album's spiritual dimensions reach their peak on "The Magnificent 7," a suite that feels like a musical séance, channeling the spirits of jazz ancestors while pointing toward the music's future possibilities.

Nearly a decade after its release, "The Epic" has achieved something remarkable: it made jazz feel urgent again. The album topped jazz charts worldwide and introduced a new generation to the music's possibilities, proving that adventurous, uncompromising art could still find a substantial audience. Washington became jazz's most visible ambassador, selling out venues that hadn't seen jazz crowds in decades and inspiring countless young musicians to pick up horns.

The album's influence extends far beyond jazz circles. Its orchestral scope and spiritual intensity have influenced everyone from hip-hop producers to indie rock bands, while its success paved the way for other young jazz artists to think bigger and bolder. Washington showed that jazz could be both intellectually rigorous and emotionally accessible, both respectful of tradition and fearlessly innovative.

"The Epic" stands as more than just an album—it's a manifesto, a prayer, and a celebration all rolled into one overwhelming experience. In an age of shortened attention spans and playlist culture, Washington created something that demands to be experienced as a complete work, a journey that rewards patience and attention. It's jazz for the 21st century, honoring the past while boldly striding into the future, epic in both name and nature.