Blue Note Jazz Festival Returns to Napa

by Kathleen Reynolds

The second annual Blue Note Jazz Festival Napa returns July 28–30, 2023 at the Silverado Resort. This year’s lineup includes Mary J. Blige, Nas, and Chance the Rapper. Grammy Award winner and Blue Note Artist in Residence Robert Glasper curated the show and will also perform. The festival’s host is comedian Dave Chappelle.

“Like a blue note in music, which has a slightly different pitch, our festival has a unique tone by presenting big-name artists in small, intimate spaces,” says Steven Bensusan, president of the organizer Blue Note Entertainment Group. “You won’t find any other festival like this.”

The festival will have three scattered stages between the Silverado Resort’s golf courses and acres of oak groves and vineyards. More than 40 additional artists will appear including Funkadelic featuring George Clinton, Digable Planets, Ari Lennox, Big Freedia, Cordae and Taylor McFerrin and Marcus Gilmore with Special Guest Bobby McFerrin. The festival’s setting makes the ideal backdrop for a weekend of great music, food and wine to celebrate jazz’s influence during the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.

“Jazz’s boundless influence, spontaneity and artistic flexibility serves as inspiration for the diverse range of musicians on the festival line-up,” says Alex Kurland, Director of Programming of Blue Note.

Afterparties will include DJs 9th Wonder, DJ Trauma, DJ Jazzy Jeff, J.Period and DJ Pee.Wee’s (Anderson .Paak) all vinyl set.

“I want to make sure the guests and the performers have unique experiences,” says curator Robert Glasper. “The festival, like my Blue Note residency, is full of unexpected jams and surprises during one huge musical family reunion with artists and an audience that share a love of the arts.”

The Blue Note Jazz Festival brand was established in 2011 in New York and has since become the largest jazz festival in New York City. The festival expanded to Napa Valley in 2022, where it showcases the biggest names in music and culture.

Single, weekend and 3-day General Admission and VIP passes are available as are parking passes and afterparty tickets. For more information, visit bluenotejazzfestival.com.