The Epic

The Epic is a sprawling three-disc work by saxophonist Kamasi Washington that blends modern jazz and spiritual jazz with orchestral and big band arrangements. It features long, improvisation-driven compositions performed by a large ensemble including horns, strings, choir and a driving rhythm section, combining modal and post-bop language with gospel, funk and cinematic textures. The album’s scope and dense arrangements foreground extended solos and a communal, expansive sound that helped refocus attention on contemporary jazz forms.