Questlove pulls an all-nighter; exes cross paths at GQ Grammys party

Following a night of soulful performances, surprising duets and Kanye West near-interruptions at the 57th Grammy Awards on Sunday, artists kept the celebration going at the many Grammy after-parties taking place around town. This year, for the first time, GQ magazine teamed up with Giorgio Armani to host one such gathering at the Hollywood Athletic Club.

Josh Groban, Ricky Martin, nominee Wiz Khalifa, Darren Criss and Armie Hammer were among the mix of musical artists and actors making the rounds in the two rooms that made up the simple yet glamorous event.

Upon entry to the Hollywood Athletic Club, party guests were greeted by a long hallway lined with caterers holding trays of Champagne, directing them to a chocolate-colored wall with a slick GQ logo. Musicians and fans alike stood in front of the logo throughout the night for photo ops.

FULL COVERAGE: Grammy Awards 2015

Just as Rita Ora had a friend take her photo, she teased, “Send me these photos! You promised me you would send me those other photos but you never did!”

Ora wasn’t the only one having her photo taken by admirers. All eyes were on Janelle Monae as she stepped into the party wearing a striking red pantsuit, a wide-brimmed red fedora and a bold red lip.

“I’m doing well. I’m doing really, really great,” Monae told Questlove as the two friends warmly hugged. The Roots drummer, who looked sharp sporting a pair of silver and turquoise Nike sneakers and his trademark Afro comb, took two steps back and snapped a head-to-toe photo of Monae on his phone as she posed.

“This week has been great,” Questlove was later heard saying. “I’ve actually been staying at the same hotel as Paul McCartney, so we see each other every morning at the gym and work out at the same time!”

The Roots drummer, who performs as part of the official house band on “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon,” told us, “Technically I should be on an airplane right now flying back to New York. But my flight is in four hours. I’ll be wearing this same suit on the show airing tomorrow night. Seriously. Watch the show. I’ll pull my ear and that will be our code to let you know I’m wearing the exact same suit.”

The high-energy music of A-Trak deejaying could be heard between the two rooms, with a small group of excited fans dancing in front of his DJ booth.

Calvin Harris, who broke up with Rita Ora last summer after a year of dating, stood near one of the party’s two Patron bars with Champagne flute in hand and model-girlfriend, Aarika Wolf, by his side.

Wearing a deep burgundy velvet blazer, Mark Ronson entered the event with sister Sam Ronson by his side.

“Your jacket game is killing it!” a friend yelled out to him as he entered the party.

As Mark Ronson ping-ponged from conversation to conversation, he mentioned, “The Beck thing made me very excited tonight. It’s a beautiful album. Sometimes artistry can overcome all else.”

Also spotted at the party: Miguel, Aloe Blacc, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Christina Milian, B.o.B., Estelle, Jason Derulo, Chadwick Boseman, Kendall Jenner, Kylie Jenner, Khloe Kardashian, Sarah Gadon, Jussie Smollett and Shaun White.

Earlier this week, host and GQ editor in chief Jim Nelson had commented, “For us, music and style are a natural match, and we’re celebrating that as much as the artists who are making their legacy right now.”

After recently introducing a music section to its website and releasing a February issue featuring musicians who made an impact on the entertainment industry this year, GQ has placed a strong emphasis on expanding its music coverage.