When Blue Note Jazz Festival Napa Valley 2023 was first announced back in February, we already knew that the lineup was going to be bananas. We came to that conclusion on the strength of the talent that performed at the first Blue Note Jazz Festival Napa Valley last summer and Robert Glasper and Dave Chappelle both returning as Artist-in-Residence and host, respectively. The lineup for this summer’s festival happening Friday, July 28th through Sunday, July 30th in Napa, California at the Silverado Resort has finally been revealed, and, to paraphrase one of Glasper’s GRAMMY-winning song titles, it’s better than we imagined.
The 2023 edition of the Blue Note Jazz Festival Napa Valley will be a celebration of jazz’s influence on hip-hop as it turns 50, and the talent reflects that. Headlining the intimate and exclusive three-day festival will be the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul Mary J. Blige, God’s Son Nas and Chicago’s own Chance The Rapper. Artist-in-Residence Robert Glasper will mix it up with special guests De La Soul, Bilal and Lalah Hathaway with a few surprises also on deck.
As a part of this year’s #HipHop50 festivities in Napa, hip-hop legends will share the same stage as future rap icons. Attendees can look out for legendary sets by Rakim with DJ Jazzy Jeff, Talib Kweli and Madlib, Digable Planets, Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge as NxWorries, Cordae, Big Freedia, Rapsody and Smino.
Of course, jazz will be jumping with a long list of musicians ready to play. Expect Terrace Martin, Derrick Hodge, Kenneth Whalum, Taylor McFerrin and Marcus Gilmore featuring Bobby McFerrin, Frédéric Yonnet, DOMi & JD Beck, Soulive, The Soul Rebels featuring Keyon Harold, Nicholas Payton, Mononeon, Yussef Dayes, Ghost-Note and Weedie Braimah to all show up and show out.
The rest of the artist roster reads like our eclectic music collections and playlists come to life. There’ll be a range of performers such Ari Lennox, Gary Clark Jr., Parliament Funkadelic featuring George Clinton, PJ Morton, Meshell Ndegeocello, BJ The Chicago Kid, Cory Henry and Adam Blackstone.
After the daily festival performances, attendees can shake a tailfeather or relax, relate and release at nightly after parties that will feature DJ sets by DJ Trauma and a rotating list of guest turntablists including 9th Wonder, J.Period, Jazzy Jeff and Paak as DJ Pee.Wee.
Much like last year, July’s Blue Note Jazz Festival Napa Valley sounds like it’s going to be an explosion of Black music and a helluva good time. Last year’s reviews were lit, and this year’s roster speaks for itself. If you know, you know!
- Advertisement -Blue Note Jazz Festival Napa Valley 2023 ticket and hotel packages sold out quickly in February, but 3-day ticket VIP and GA packages go on sale this Friday (April 7th) at 9 a.m. PDT. If you’re interested in attending, bookmark the Blue Note Jazz Festival Napa Valley website, get your coins together quickly and set a few reminders and alarms so that you can be ready for when tickets become available.
