Photos by Rob Chapman

Since the venue opened in 2009, Roots drummer ?uestlove has unquestionably played the venue more than any other artist. In addition to shows with The Roots, the drummer DJs at the club every Thursday and has shared the stage with everyone from Soulive to John Legend. So it makes sense that The Roots celebrated the holidays at the club last Thursday as part of the 5th annual Okayplayer Holiday Jam. The night included short performances by onetime Roots beatboxer Rahzel as well as DJ Gravy. The Roots also played an extended set that included sit ins by Gary Clark Jr., Angelique Kidjo, Rahzel, Big Daddy Kane and many others. Brooklyn Bowl principal—and Relix publisher—Pete Shapiro also gave the entire crowd free shots by acrobats swung above the crowd.

As Okayplayer recounts, “godfathers The Roots took the stage for an extended jam with a laundry list of Okay family and friends. Throughout the night special guests included Gary Clark Jr. who graced the stage and flexed his guitar chops, Big Daddy Kane who spit classics alongside Black Thought, and Rahzel who showed why he’s the human beat box extraordinaire. Angelique Kidjo and Bajah + The Dry Eye Crew tore it up, repping Okayafrica all the way. And LargeUp kept shit bombastic with Shaggy and Patra the Dancehall Queen, along with Mr. Eazy, Red Fox, and Rayvon. We also got some instrumental goodness thanks to Ray Angry and Robert Glasper on keys, repping for Revivalist. And after all that, DJ ?uestlove brought it home on the 1s and 2s with a Bowl Train after-party.”

?uestlove will return to the Bowl tonight.