Lexiglass - Lexiglass (LP)

What happens when a decade-old instrumental hip hop band emerges—after years on the grind at block parties and bookstores followed by months of lockdown and a single 2020 gig performed to a smattering of protestors and a line of descending cops—to sit down at a real piano and a drum set and reflect? Lexiglass. A free-improvised spiritual jazz record rooted in hip hop. Recorded all live, with no second takes, no overdubs, and minimal editing, Lexiglass (s/t) is a raw showcase of free-improvised groove. Alexis Marcelo and Will Glass started playing together in upper Manhattan around 2012, founding Lexiglass in 2014 as a back-up band for MCs and vocalists. When not accompanying others, they would perform instrumentally, combining golden-era repertoire (Kool G Rap, Mobb Deep, ATCQ) with exploratory playing. Funky and open-ended, these shows have featured cameos from scratch pioneer Grand Wizzard Theodore, Bowie drummer Dennis Davis, free jazz hero Daniel Carter, and the legendary MC T La R