NAPA — André 3000 struck a high note with his final three sets of improvisational flute music during the Black Radio Experience at the Meritage Resort & Spa on Sunday, alongside performances by Nile Rodgers and Chic, Ledisi, Musiq Soulchild and Robert Glasper.

Attendees at the event, produced by Blue Note Jazz Festival, staked out precious real estate along the edges of the multiple outdoor and indoor stages. The former OutKast rapper and now flautist, performing in a literal wine cave with a capacity of around 200, appeared to be the toughest to see, with 30-minute-long lines to see him perform.

His performance space includes a glass of water perched atop a white traffic cone, various types of flutes and whistles, and myriad percussion instruments like bells, chimes and drums.

André 3000 and his band entered in darkness as green lasers refracted on the water glass, while muted amber lights set off a warm glow. Immediately upon taking stage, the band started up a cacophony of sound. A percussionist played everything from hanging shells to bound palm fronds. The result was outer-worldly and abstract. Each musician seemed caught in the throes of their own personal set, diving in without worrying about moving toward some cohesive finale. After about eight minutes of free-styling, it came to an end.

As he did at several other Bay Area performances supporting his surprise 2023 flute album, New Blue Sun, he explained how all these songs were completely improvisational, likely to never be repeated, and spoke gibberish that he at first tried to pass off as a foreign language, all for fun. The group went on to perform a total of four improvised works, each with a different tone and flavor. André 3000 was warm and affable. Toward the end, he noticed rapper Young Jeezy in the audience, giving him a shoutout.

Nile Rodgers and Chic brought back the disco era during their hour-long evening set. Preceding main stage headliner (and artist in residence) Robert Glasper, the trio shined from head to toe, decked out in shimmery gold and silver. Chic provided strong vocals to accompany Nile Rodgers’ lively guitar “chucking” as they rolled through iconic ’70s hits like “I Want Your Love,” “Dance, Dance, Dance,” “Everybody Dance” and “Le Freak.”

They followed up their string of hits with Rodgers flexing the string of hits he penned for other artists in a medley. Diana Ross’ “Upside Down” and Sister Sledge’s “He’s the Greatest Dancer” featured prominently.

Earlier in the day, Bay Area favorite Ledisi brought her powerful vocals and a strong stage presence. Draped in a yellow kimono-style dress, she started off with songs from her new album, Good Life. Kicking it off with the title track, she mixed it up with fan favorites like “Alright” and “I Think of You,” before moving back to Marsha-Ambrosius-penned, “Magic.”

“I own all my masters now,” she announced at one point, celebrating a win for the now-independent artist.

Bassist Christian McBride brought on a slew of talented musicians like keyboardist Christian Sands, singer-guitarist Ella Feingold, drummer Nikki Glaspie and DJ Jahi Sundance. Following a traditional jazz number that included solos by everyone, he invited ’80s and ’90s hitmaker, soul singer Alyson Williams, onstage for a lively version of Dizzy Gillespie’s “Night in Tunisia.”

McBride and Williams had a hilarious rapport onstage.

“At some point, our illustrious leader decided we were going to do this old school. We weren’t going to write nothing down,” Williams noted. “We’re going to be like neighborhood number runners.”

McBride traded an upright bass for an electric as the group went down deep into the funk—or as McBride put it, “like onions and old fish funky”—with an extended cover of James Brown’s “Cold Sweat.” Each musician put their own spin on it.

To start off the afternoon, Cimafunk and RC and The Gritz both had to overcome sound issues. Cimafunk delivered a heavy dose of Afro-Cuban-laced funk, incredible vocals and standout jamming by the brass section that did double duty, also singing and dancing. The band stayed in the pocket the entire time and encouraged fans win the back to push their way forward.

RC and The Gritz brought jazz, reggae, R&B and funk. The group, which was recently Erykah Badu’s backing band on tour, is well known for having standout vocalists like Durand Bernarr. At the Black Radio Experience, lead vocalist Miracle Foster didn’t disappoint. The band also had a powerful brass section, while RC Williams helmed the performance from a keyboard.

The day ended with a delayed set by Robert Glasper, who brought up Ledisi to perform their duet from 2013’s Black Radio II, “It Don’t Matter,” before being joined by Musiq Soulchild for their duet from 2022’s Black Radio III, “Everybody Love.” The artist, born Taalib Johnson, ended the set with several of his own hits.

Follow photographer Matt Pang at Twitter.com/mattpangs.