Kamasi Washington

Full disclosure: i am not a jazz aficionado.  When it really comes down to it, i'm a total novice with the genre, but that doesn't mean that i don't enjoy it, or that i'm not drawn to it.  I just can't wax all knowledgeable or philosophical on the subject.  But hey, i was born in New Orleans.  This shit should be in my blood right?  Enter Kamasi Washington, and his brain-melting, 3-hour opus, appropriately called "The Epic" on Flying Lotus's Brainfeeder label.  The three CD set feels like 60 or 70 years of influence boiled down into one expansive saga.  There are nods to Coltrane, homages to Miles, and so on.  The whole affair feels grand and timeless...and dare i say hip even.  I'm not expecting the kids to start digging on old jazz records any time soon, but it's nice to know that it never completely went away, that its influence is still there, albeit buried in the underground.  Listen to "Miss Understanding" below and order the album here.