The 4th Annual Roots Jam Session presented by T&T Style Sessions at Los Angeles’ KeyClub was once again the place to be the night before the Grammys, going strong until 4am and featuring thrilling spontaneous performances and appearances by a slew of grammy nominated musicians and actors, including Black Eyed Peas, Jill Scott, Isaiah Washington, Michael Rapaport, Jurnee Smollet, Sanaa Lathan, Tony Sinclair, Talib Kweli and Common as well as an opening act by former Prince proteges, the Family – reconnecting on stage for one of the first times in twenty years.
Once again, The Roots used the annual jam session as an opportunity to raise awareness for world issues – this year’s focus was the environment. From the green-lit front of the venue, GREEN carpet arrivals, guest credential lanyards from 100% recycled soda and water bottles from Rhode Island Textiles, to bathrooms filled with only biodegradable toilet paper and drinks for the night being served in only biodegradable cups, which once composted will return to dirt within 45 days all courtesy of Eco-Products. Continuing with this theme, the bottom floor of the venue housed a “green room” educating high-profile attendants on the importance of composting and featuring 5 specially designed compost bins, signed by guests from The Roots and Chappelle to Matisyahu. The bins will be used to launch the national FEED YOUR ROOTS environmental campaign, created to educate and integrate composting in schools across the nation.
Every student will have the opportunity to win their own ROOTS compost bin for the creation of a composting program in their school by entering the contest and designing posters celebrating the campaign.
Some highlights from this year’s jam included:
-Legendary Anita Baker granting ?uestlove’s personal request to perform and sang Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song” with India.Arie and Matisyahu. Baker also danced on stage as Arie gave a flute solo.
-Queen Latifah had the crowd join in her jazzed up version of her hit “U.N.I.T.Y” with singer/songwriter Gordon Chambers adding back-up. Chambers wrote Anita Baker’s Grammy-winning hit “I Apologize” among others.
-Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump sang his own funked up version of Parliament’s “She’s a Bad Mamma Jamma” with The Roots’ guitarist Captain Kirk and R&B singer Glen Lewis joined in on background vocals.
-In reference to his Comedy Central Show, Dave Chappelle confessed to the audience that it “cuts like a knife to see Charlie Murphy hosting my s@!%! – That’s like giving ‘The Cosby Show’ to Rudy and Vanessa.”
