''The Epic'' is the third studio album by American jazz saxophonist

Kamasi Washington Kamasi Washington (born February 18, 1981) is an American jazz saxophonist, usually playing tenor saxophone. Archived July 9, 2015. Career Washington was born in 1981 and raised in Los Angeles, California. He is a graduate of the Academy of ...

and his first on a major-label. It was released on May 5, 2015, by the

Brainfeeder Brainfeeder is an independent record label based in Los Angeles, California, founded by Flying Lotus in 2008, focusing on electronic music and instrumental hip hop. It has signed artists such as Ras G, Samiyam, The Gaslamp Killer, Thundercat, The ...

record label.

Critical reception

Upon its release, ''The Epic'' received positive reviews from music critics. At ''

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'', which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, the album received an average score of 83, which indicates "universal acclaim", based on 7 reviews. the ''

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

'' critic Thom Jurek described the album as "21st century jazz as accessible as it is virtuosic -- feel matters to Washington", and further wrote, "Holistic in breadth and deep in vision, it provides a way into this music for many, and challenges the cultural conversation about jazz without compromising or pandering." Russell Warfield of ''

Drowned in Sound ''Drowned in Sound'', sometimes abbreviated to ''DiS'', is a UK-based music webzine financed by artist management company Silentway. Founded by editor Sean Adams, the site features reviews, news, interviews, and discussion forums. History ''D ...

'' described the album as "wonderful stuff" and that the record "deserves a high score by any standards of evaluation". ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

'' critic, John Fordham, who was positive in his assessment of the album, wrote, "Only a shortage of thematic surprises – given its extravagant length – keeps it from being quite the seismically jazz-changing departure that some admirers are claiming." Seth Colter Walls of ''

Pitchfork A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to th ...

'' awarded the album the "Best New Music" tag, writing, "''The Epic'' actually makes good on its titular promise without bothering to make even a faint-hearted stab in the direction of fulfilling its pre-release hype."

Accolades

Track listing

CD

Personnel

Credits adapted from vinyl liner notes. Band *

– tenor saxophone, band leader, arrangement, production * Thundercat – electric bass *

Miles Mosley Miles Mosley is an American musician, producer and composer from Hollywood, California. He is known for his vocal and bass skills, as well as his abilities as a composer, arranger and music producer. He is also a founding member of the West C ...

– upright bass , electric bass * Ronald Bruner, Jr. – drums * Tony Austin – drums , engineering *

Leon Mobley Leon Mobley (born February 27, 1961) is a percussionist and drummer, founder and artistic and musical director of Da Lion and Djimbe West African Drummers and Dancers, actor, and a member of the Innocent Criminals, Ben Harper's band. He worked w ...

– percussion * Cameron Graves – piano , organ * Brandon Coleman – keyboards , organ , piano * Ryan Porter – trombone * Igmar Thomas – trumpet *

Dwight Trible Dwight Trible is an American jazz singer, living in Los Angeles. He has made albums in collaboration with Carlos Gabriel Niño, John Beasley, and Matthew Halsall, releasing them on Ninja Tune and Gondwana Records. He was an original member of P ...

– lead vocals * Patrice Quinn – lead vocals Additional musicians * Robert Miller – drums * Shaunte Palmer – trombone * Todd Simon – trumpet * Brian Rosemeyer – engineering Ensemble – * Neel Hammond – violin * Tylana Renga Enomoto – violin * Paul Cartwright – violin * Jennifer Simone – violin * Lucia Micarelli – violin * Molly Rogers – viola * Andrea Whitt – viola * Artyom Manukyan – cello * Ginger Murphy – cello * Dawn Norfleet – choir vocals *

Thalma de Freitas Thalma de Freitas (Rio de Janeiro, May 14, 1974) is a Brazilian actress, singer and composer. Career The daughter of the composer, conductor and pianist , at 14 she began studying singing and acting at the Teatro Escola Macunaíma. SHe made her ...

– choir vocals * Maiya Sykes – choir vocals * Gina Manziello – choir vocals * Patrice Quinn – choir vocals * Natasha F. Agrama – choir vocals * Dwight Trible – choir vocals * Steven Wayne – choir vocals * Taylor Graves – choir vocals * Charles Jones – choir vocals * Jason Marales – choir vocals * Dexter Story – choir vocals * Cameron Graves – choir vocals * Tracy Carter – choir vocals Mixing engineer * Benjamin Tierney

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Epic, The 2015 debut albums Brainfeeder albums Kamasi Washington albums Albums recorded at Kingsize Soundlabs