The Epic

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

The Epic · Kamasi Washington grew up in Los Angeles and from a young age built up his collective, the West Coast Get Down. His old acquaintance Flying Lotus, known for the label Brainfeeder, offered him the chance to record an album and gave him complete creative freedom. In December 2011 the collective rented Kingsize Soundlabs in Los Angeles for a month. The sessions were busy: there were two bassists, two drummers and two keyboard players, and singer Patrice Quinn sang from the control room. From about 190 recorded tracks, Washington chose seventeen.

He added an orchestra of 32 players and a choir of twenty singers, for which he wrote the arrangements himself. This made it a triple album, built around a story he remembered from a recurring dream. The critical response was glowing. AllMusic called it twenty-first-century jazz that is accessible and virtuosic at the same time, and Pitchfork gave it the tag Best New Music.

Listening

Track list

CD 1

1. 1Change of the Guard12:16Apple Music ↗
2. 2Askim12:35Apple Music ↗
3. 3Isabelle12:13Apple Music ↗
4. 4Final Thought6:32Apple Music ↗
5. 5The Next Step14:49Apple Music ↗
6. 6The Rhythm Changes7:44Apple Music ↗

CD 2

1. 1Miss Understanding8:46Apple Music ↗
2. 2Leroy and Lanisha9:24Apple Music ↗
3. 3Re Run8:20Apple Music ↗
4. 4Seven Prayers7:36Apple Music ↗
5. 5Henrietta Our Hero7:14Apple Music ↗
6. 6The Magnificent 712:46Apple Music ↗

CD 3

1. 1Re Run Home14:06Apple Music ↗
2. 2Cherokee8:14Apple Music ↗
3. 3Clair de Lune11:08Apple Music ↗
4. 4Malcolm’s Theme8:41Apple Music ↗
5. 5The Message11:09Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗