Beres Hammond with James Poyser & The Roots
Words by Jesse Serwer
Yesterday, LargeUp got the unique opportunity to roll with Beres Hammond to 30 Rockefeller Plaza, for his first-ever U.S. talk show appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. After watching Beres sit in with the Roots for a version of “One Love, One Life,” the title track off of his superb new LP, we went backstage for a rare conversation with the King of Jamaican Lover’s Rock. We also caught up with the Roots Crew’s Jamaican members—”Captain” Kirk Douglas, keyboardist James Poyser and percussionist Frank Knuckles—yep, there’s three yardies in the Roots—to get their take on playing with the King of Jamaican Lover’s Rock, and what his music means to them. A rare peek at the roots of the Roots, if you will.
Captain Kirk said it best: “We’ve played with Sting, Bruce Springsteen and, for Beres to come here today, he’s like our Bruce Springsteen. ”
