Sax player Kamasi Washington arrives with this ambitious concept album, aptly entitled ‘The Epic’. Washington hails from South Central LA and is complimented by a fantastic group plus a 32 piece orchestra and 20 people choir. There are 17 tracks and it is superfluous to pick out individual parts/ tracks. If Spiritual jazz is your thing and you find the music of the Strata East, Tribe or Nimbus labels inspiring then this set is a wonderful journey. That journey encompasses Bop, Jazz Funk amongst other styles along the way. Yet despite the music of ‘The Epic’ being in those traditions, it sounds incredibly contemporary. Outstanding.
