(HUDSON, N.Y.) – Jamaican-born funk-poet Everton Sylvester and Searching for Banjo bring their unique blend of spoken word and deep reggae grooves to Club Helsinki Hudson on Sunday, December 3, at 7pm, as part of the monthly “Rogovoy Salon” music, literary, and art series curated and hosted by cultural journalist Seth Rogovoy.

Sylvester’s song-poems recount acutely observed scenes from the life of an immigrant in New York City. Sometimes political and often humorous, Sylvester brings a sly, deadpan wit to scenarios from the point of view of a son, a father, a teacher, and a would-be U.S. citizen, that alternately surprise, delight, or infuriate. Everton’s band, Searching for Banjo (which does not include banjo), lays down Jamaican-infused accompaniment and reggae beats, providing the perfect context for Sylvester’s cleverly crafted, alertly ironic lyrics.

Everton Sylvester is a founding member of the Brooklyn Funk Essentials (BFE). He has been touring, writing, and recording with BFE for the past 25 years and half a dozen albums, and has been lead vocalist and/or writer on many of Funk Essentials’ most loved hits, including the cult classic, “I Got Cash.”

Everton Sylvester and Searching for Banjo will perform tracks from their brand-new album, “Trial Separation,” as well as some Brooklyn Funk Essentials classics. Searching for Banjo features stalwarts of the downtown and Brooklyn scenes including Booker King, Masa Shimizu, Danny Sadownic, and Yusuke Yamamoto.

Everton Sylvester is a product of downtown poetry slams from their heyday at the Nuyorican Café. He is featured in the PBS series “United States of Poetry” and in the film “Slammin’.” His poems have been published in the Massachusetts Review, the Brooklyn Review, River Run, the Mississippi Review, and Gathering of the Tribes. In his spare time, Everton is a college English professor.

For the Rogovoy Salon, Seth selects the performers and hosts the evening at Helsinki. When appropriate, Seth will interview the artists onstage and moderate an audience Q&A.

For reservations in The Restaurant or in the club call 518.828.4800.