NPR Jazz: Kamasi Washington's 3-Hour Jazz 'Epic,' Complete With Creation Myth |  |
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Posted: 10 May 2015 02:16 PM PDT
 His band has two drummers, two bass players, both piano and keyboards. There are three horns and two lead vocals. There's a 20-piece choir and a 32-piece string section. |
JAZZ NIGHT IN AMERICA: WEDNESDAY NIGHT WEBCASTS
May 27: Watch Kamasi Washington's 'The Epic' In Concert
Washington is a very plugged-in Los-Angeles-based saxophonist. He's played on two of the most important albums of the last year: rapper Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly and electronic musician Flying Lotus' You're Dead. As a matter of fact, Lotus owns Brainfeeder, the label that released this new three-CD, nearly three-hour collection.
Kamasi Washington's core band is made up of friends who date back to (or sometimes before) high school. Together, they comprise the collective called The West Coast Get Down.
Washington recently spoke with NPR's Arun Rath about the marathon recording sessions that led to The Epic, his interconnected dreams, and the lessons he's learned from hip-hop.
