Kamasi Washington
Jez Nelson presents highlights from the launch of The Epic, the debut album by rising star saxophonist Kamasi Washington, held at the Regent Theater in Los Angeles.
Jez Nelson presents highlights from the launch of The Epic, the debut album by rising star saxophonist Kamasi Washington, recorded live at LA's Regent Theater in May 2015.
Epic in every sense of the word, the album is 172 minutes long and features a 32-piece orchestra and 20-strong choir. At its heart is a 10-piece band of fellow Los Angeles musicians including bassist/producer Thundercat and two drummers, fronted by Washington's fearsomely energetic blowing. A recent Pitchfork review described it as an 'extravagant love letter to... soul jazz, John Coltrane... and 1970s fusion leaders like Miles Davis and Weather Report', while the Guardian's John Fordham drew comparisons with Art Blakey and Sun Ra.
But Washington's sources of inspiration go beyond jazz. In addition to working with Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter, he has appeared on albums by rapper Kendrick Lamar and producer Flying Lotus (whose label Brainfeeder released The Epic). Their influence on this tour de force is just as strong.
Presenter: Jez Nelson
Producer: Chris Elcombe.
Last on
More episodes
Previous
Music Played
-
![]()
Kamasi Washington
Askim
-
![]()
Snoop Dogg
G Funk (Intro)
- Doggystyle.
- Interscope Records.
-
![]()
Kendrick Lamar
Alright
- To Pimp A Butterfly.
- Top Dawg Entertainment.
-
![]()
Kamasi Washington
The Magnificent 7
-
![]()
Max Roach
Freedom Day
- We Insist! - Max Roach's Freedom Suite Now.
- Candid Records.
-
![]()
Kamasi Washington
Miss Understanding
-
![]()
Kamasi Washington
Seven Prayers
-
![]()
Kamasi Washington
Changing Of The Guard
-
![]()
Matana Roberts
Dreamer Of Dreams
- Coin Coin Chapter 3 - River Run Thee.
- Constellation.
-
![]()
Sokratis Sinopoulos Quartet
Thrace
- Eight Winds.
- ECM.
Kamasi Washington's The Epic line up:
The Next Step: 聽Kamasi Washington (saxophones);聽Ryan Porter (trombone);聽Dontae Winslow (trumpet);聽Patrice Quinn (vocal);聽Cameron Graves (piano);聽Brandon Coleman (keyboards);聽Miles Mosley (upright bass);聽Stephen 'Thundercat' Bruner (electric bass);聽Tony Austin (drums);聽Ronald Bruner (drums);聽Leon Mobely (percussion)
String and Choir Conductor: Miguel Atwood-Ferguson聽
String Section:聽Paul Cartwright (violin);聽Tylana Renga (violin);聽Jim Simone (violin);聽Molly Rogers (viola);聽Andrea Witt (viola);聽Ginger Murphy (cello);聽Atryom Manukyan (cello)
颁丑辞颈谤:听Charles Jones;聽Dawn Norsleet;聽Mashica Winslow;聽Nia Andrews;聽Steven Wayne;聽Taylor Graves;聽Thalma de Freitas
Broadcast
- Mon 7 Sep 2015 23:0091热爆 Radio 3
Jazz Now
The new home of contemporary jazz on 91热爆 Radio 3