BLUE NOTE JAZZ FESTIVAL NAPA TEAMS WITH ROBERT GLASPER FOR THE BLACK RADIO EXPERIENCE

Story: Ralph Greco, Jr.

The Blue Note Jazz Festival is set to present the new iteration of its Napa Valley series: The Black Radio Experience, curated by Grammy-award winning pianist, producer, and songwriter Robert Glasper. The boutique event will take place August 30-September 1 at The Meritage Resort and Spa. A wide range of hotel and VIP ticket packages will be available to the general public on Thursday, March 7 at 9 a.m. PT/noon ET. See HERE for hotel packages and additional info. Watch/share the event’s video teaser HERE; the full lineup for this year’s event will be revealed in April.

Following two massively successful Napa Jazz Festivals, Blue Note and Glasper chose a more intimate setting this year, seeking to create a closer connection between devoted fans and the two iconic jazz institutions.

The Black Radio Experience is the latest product of a long-running friendship between Blue Note and Glasper. Last year, the second annual Napa Valley Jazz Festival brought together massive household names including Mary J. Blige, Nas, Chance the Rapper, Dave Chappelle, Talib Kweli & Madlib and a host of others, while the inaugural festival saw Snoop Dogg, Chaka Khan, yasiin bey & Talib Kweli (Black Star) and more. Last fall, the Blue Note Jazz Club hosted Glasper’s fifth annual Robtober, with 60 shows across 30 days featuring special guests Norah Jones, Black Thought, Lupe Fiasco, Yebba, Terrace Martin, Kamasi Washington and more.

A cultural institution since 1981, the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City has become one of the premiere venues in the world. While jazz is at its core, the Blue Note continues to broaden its offerings with a mission to spotlight contemporary artists across all musical styles, backgrounds and cultures. The club and its sister institutions worldwide continue to draw massive household names with frequent surprise appearances from superstars like Stevie Wonder, Tony Bennett, Quincy Jones, Dave Chapelle, Chris Rock and more.

Blue Note owns and operates New York’s Blue Note Jazz Club, Sony Hall and Arthur’s Tavern; D.C.’s The Howard Theatre; and Blue Note Jazz Clubs Worldwide, which includes venues in Milan, Italy; Honolulu, HI; Beijing and Shanghai, China; Tokyo and Nagoya, Japan; Napa, CA; and Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brazil.

Robert Glasper is the leader of a new sonic paradigm with a career that bridges musical and artistic genres. To date, he boasts five Grammy wins, including Best R&B Album for Black Radio III in 2023, and 14 nominations across 11 categories, an Emmy Award for his song for Ava Duvernay’s critically hailed documentary 13th with Common and Karriem Riggins, and a Peabody Award for his Composition of “Mr. Soul!” His work and accolades bridge all aspects of the music business, from live touring to film scoring, composing and producing. The ongoing Black Radio series has since become Glasper’s calling card, upholding a place at the heart of a trailblazing community: from long-time sonic brothers yasiin bey and Bilal, to legends including Ledisi, Lupe Fiasco, Jill Scott, and Erykah Badu. Robtober, his annual world-famous Blue Note residency, celebrated its fifth anniversary last fall. Glasper is an artist at the heart of a moment—and a movement—to champion Black music, Black people, and the possibility of a better future.

Ralph Greco, Jr. is the devilishly clever nom de plume of professional writer/musician Ralph Greco who lives in the wilds of suburban New Jersey. He is also a podcast co-host, but as everyone has a podcast these days, this fact is of very little consequence.Ralph can be reached by writing ralphiedawriter@gmail.com