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The Epic 2015
Album · by Kamasi Washington ↗ View artist

The Epic

When The Epic arrived in May 2015, it wasn’t just another jazz album: it was a bold statement that sounded like the future yet rooted in deep tradition. Recorded at Kingsize Soundlabs, a Los Angeles studio where the team squeezed between borrowed cables and amplifiers, the record breathes with the raw energy of those working without a net. Kamasi Washington, leading as producer and composer, crafted a work that oscillates between the spiritual and the avant-garde, with an ensemble ranging from Thundercat on electric bass to a choir of intertwined voices like threads of gold. There are no studio tricks or digital fixes: what you hear is the sound of a band playing together, unfiltered.

Year
2015
Songs
17
Duration
173 min 33 seg
Listen to the album ★

17 song|s

Song list

# Title Available ⏱
01

Re Run Home

14:06
01

Change of the Guard

12:16
01

Miss Understanding

8:46
02

Askim

12:35
02

Cherokee

8:14
02

Leroy and Lanisha

9:24
03

Re Run

8:20
03

Clair de Lune

11:08
03

Isabelle

12:13
04

Seven Prayers

7:36
04

Final Thought

6:32
04

Malcolm's Theme

8:41
05

Henrietta Our Hero

7:14
05

The Next Step

14:49
05

The Message

11:09
06

The Rhythm Changes

7:44
06

The Magnificent 7

12:46

About the album

The Epic, according to DoReSol

What surprises most when playing its tracks is how Washington makes complexity sound effortless. Change of the Guard, for instance, opens with a tenor saxophone solo that swells like a wave, while Miles Mosley’s bass weaves melodic lines that seem to float. But where the album shines is in its ability to guide the listener: Cherokee employs a rhythm reminiscent of classic swing, yet with harmonies veering into unexpected territories, as if 1930s jazz had been teleported to an alternate future. The press took notice: on Metacritic, it scored 83 out of 100 with largely enthusiastic reviews, and outlets like Pitchfork awarded it the Best New Music badge, praising how the album delivers on its promise without empty pretension.

Behind every note lies a detail worth exploring. Henrietta Our Hero, with its string section conducted by Neel Hammond, showcases how Washington balances grandeur with intimacy: the choir repeats short phrases acting as anchors, while Cameron Graves’ piano improvises over a recurring pattern, like a steady heartbeat. This isn’t an album to be heard casually: it’s an invitation to sit down, pay attention, and let the music carry you wherever it pleases. And though its runtime—over two hours—may seem daunting, each track is built so the listener feels part of something greater.