Liquid Crystal Project - live at Wex Drive-In!

Our 10th anniversary program for Wex Drive-In continues on Thursday, July 20 with the concert doc Wattstax, about the 1972 concert organized for L.A.'s Watts community by Stax Records on the seventh anniversary of the Watts riots. The show will get going with an opening set by Liquid Crystal Project, a "jazz hop" outfit led by local hip hop legend J. Rawls. Below, Rawls shares some info about the group, along with some of the musicians and music movies that inspire them.

(Photo: Duddy R'chi)

Lineup: 

Jason Rawls "J. Rawls," DJ/producer

Brandon "B Jazz" Scott, keys/producer

Rob Riley, drums/producer

Eddie Bayard, saxophone

Mike Ealy, bass

Charles Cooper, saxophone

 

How do you define “Jazz Hop”?

Jazz hop is the marriage of hip hop and jazz music. It is the combination of hardcore hip hop drums and feel with jazz finesse and style. 

 

What artists inspire your work on this project?:

J Dilla, Pete Rock and CL Smooth, Herbie Hancock, John Coltrane.

 

What music films have had an impact on your sound?

Everything from Wild Style to Beat Street, to Mo’ Better Blues by Spike Lee 

 

The artists in Wattstax participated in a music event that helped bring a community together. Can you talk about a time when you've had a similar experience?

We try to do that every time we perform. We also embody that with the music and topics that we cover and create. We are advocates of service to the community.  

 

Before you catch them live on the Wex Plaza, check out video from LCP here, here, and here.