Kamasi Washington - The Epic (2015 Brainfeeder 3LP 180g Box Set)

Kamasi Washington - The Epic Triple Vinyl LP Box Set - 2015 Brainfeeder 180g with Posters and Download

Tenor saxophonist Kamasi Washington's triple album redefined contemporary jazz's commercial and artistic possibilities, the Los Angeles musician's ambitious vision combining spiritual jazz traditions with funk, soul, classical orchestration, and psychedelic elements across nearly three hours of music. Organised into three volumes ("The Plan", "The Glorious Tale", "The Historic Repetition"), the 17 tracks feature Washington leading an ensemble including bassist Thundercat, pianists Brandon Coleman and Cameron Graves, drummers Ronald Bruner and Tony Austin, acoustic bassist Miles Mosley, plus strings, choir, and additional horns. Released on 2 October 2015 by Flying Lotus' Brainfeeder label, this triple LP box set pressed at MPO includes half-speed lacquer cutting by Matt Colton at Alchemy Mastering, two poster inserts with artwork by KC Woolf Haxton and calligraphy by Kenturah Davis, and download code.

Washington's compositional approach draws from multiple jazz traditions while creating something distinctly contemporary: Coltrane's spiritual searching, Pharoah Sanders' ecstatic explorations, and West Coast jazz's sophisticated arrangements merge with hip-hop generation production sensibilities and R&B influences. His tenor saxophone playing demonstrates both technical command and emotional directness, his solos building intensity through patient development rather than rapid-fire displays. The ensemble's interaction reflects the Los Angeles creative music community's collaborative spirit, with Thundercat's electric bass adding funk foundation, the Bruner brothers and Coleman providing rhythmic and harmonic complexity, and strings plus choir creating orchestral depth.

The album's scale allows extended compositional development across multiple movements, pieces like "The Rhythm Changes" and "The Magnificent 7" stretching beyond ten minutes to explore themes thoroughly. Washington's arrangements balance written precision with improvised exploration, the ensemble navigating complex structures while maintaining emotional immediacy. Recorded at Kingsize Soundlabs and mastered at Marcussen Mastering, the production captures both intimate small group interplay and full ensemble power. Pressed at MPO on three black 180g LPs with half-speed cutting, housed in artwork sleeves within rigid board slipcase with two poster inserts, this box set offers Washington's breakthrough statement in premium format.