The Roots 

Live reviews

• The Roots

  Monday 3rd July. Jazz Cafe. The Roots. Less than a week after Glastonbury normalcy is slowly returning and we’re back at the refurbished Jazz Café to see the legendary Roots.

  Tonight’s incarnation is eleven members strong with two keyboardists, horn section, the usual drums, bass and guitar plus two guys playing some sort of electronic push button noise making thingy. I’m sure there’s a proper musical definition for this instrument but forgive me I don’t know what it is.

  After the stage time for some reason being as secret as the nuclear codes, the venue is full to bursting 45 minutes before the band come on at 9. This venue and part of London is special for the Roots as they lived here for a while and their first gigs were here.

  Primarily known as a hip hop band what the next two hours shows is that they are so much more than this. These are all highly talented musicians, sparking off each other throughout the set, improvising, counter improvising all led by band leader Questlove behind the drums. All genres of music are taken in tonight, blues, rock, soul, RnB, ragtime and even a little jazz with excellent covers of ‘Jungle Boogie’, ‘Move on up’, ‘Sweet child of mine’ and especially Led Zep’s ‘Immigrant Song’.

  The shows starts strongly and grows and grows in intensity with the final third of the set being right up with the best shows I have ever seen.

  They are clearly having fun, laughing and joking throughout with choreographed dance routines with a special mention for Tuba Gooding Jr on the Sousaphone who struts around with this massive bit of kit wrapped around himself.

  A top top night for an amazing live band in an intimate settings. It doesn’t get better than this.

  Keep on rockin’ y’all.

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  by garyw66

• Given that they’ve already landed themselves quite the day job - they’ve served as the house band for Jimmy Fallon since 2009, following him to The Tonight Show earlier this year - it’s a wonder that The Roots manage to get anything else done, but they’ve continued to record and tour to an impressive degree over the past few years; in fact, drummer and de facto leader ?uestlove even managed to turn out a superb autobiography last year, too. On stage, Roots shows are a lavish affair; musically, they’re one of the most diverse, experimental groups currently in operation in hip hop, and that’s reflected in a diffuse range of instrumentation; in addition to the typical band setup, F. Knuckles provides additional percussion and the aptly-nicknamed Tuba Gooding, Jr. plays the sousaphone - for the uninitiated, think ‘giant tuba’ and you’re just about there. More than twenty five years since their formation, Black Thought’s relentless energy in delivering vocals has barely faded; with a flow and style of delivery that’s at once lively and laid-back, he sonically channels a young Guru of Gang Starr, whilst touching upon a broad range of subjects lyrically. At the core of the band’s live success, though, is ?uestlove; he’s one of the tightest drummers around, and his beat-keeping is one of the most prominent facets in making The Roots such an engaging live proposition.

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  by Joeg_67

• The Roots are easily the best rap group/band to see live. They have an incredible catalogue which they have recently added to. This includes hit songs that span over the last two decades. Black Thought, the resident MC, is a master of voice control, flow and working the crowd. They have the legendary Rahzel aka the Human Beat Box to liven up the set. In fact, all of the individual musicians are great and are typically given a chance to shine with a little solo set. They are all incredible from Questlove to the guitarist and keyboard player. Also, the band can re-create/cover a ridiculous amount of songs, so there is a possibility that you will hear a very unique cover. Typically, an awesome/chilled out crowd. Overall great time.

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  by asifkuma

• One of the best gigs I've attended! Having been a fan for many years they exceeded my expections. They had the crowds attention from beginning to end. Talented and professional. Awesome night!

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  by caz1969

• Best band ever! My first time seeing The Roots in concert. Everytime they come to Chicago I'm going. They paid a tribute to Prince on the bebop he kill it they all killed that night.

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  by latoya-flowers