User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 78 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 73 out of 78
  2. Negative: 2 out of 78
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  1. Dec 27, 2015
    6
    An ambitious three hour Jazz album by debut bandleader Kamasi Washington, The Epic doesn't so much revitalize modern Jazz as it does the popular conception of Jazz. Limited in terms of its reliance upon cliches from Jazz's past (Spiritual Jazz and Funk in particular) as well as the often disappointing soloists (most notably with the horrible trombone player), at best you can call it aAn ambitious three hour Jazz album by debut bandleader Kamasi Washington, The Epic doesn't so much revitalize modern Jazz as it does the popular conception of Jazz. Limited in terms of its reliance upon cliches from Jazz's past (Spiritual Jazz and Funk in particular) as well as the often disappointing soloists (most notably with the horrible trombone player), at best you can call it a record to hopefully reacquaint inexperienced listeners as on this page with Jazz. At worst, it's a very amateur effort with two more discs than it needs. Expand
Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. Jul 2, 2015
    90
    It is an album that pushes boundaries and yet is always listenable and relatable, even at its most intricate and complex.
  2. Jun 18, 2015
    70
    To be sure, it's a jazz album, as much about tradition as expanding it, informed by Coltranes (John and Alice), Miles Davis fusions, bebop and more; yet it's clearly shaped by crate-digger funk and film scores, hip-hop collage and gospel.
  3. Jun 18, 2015
    80
    Only a shortage of thematic surprises--given its extravagant length--keeps it from being quite the seismically jazz-changing departure that some admirers are claiming.