Jill Scott performs during the Black Radio Experience at Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa on Aug. 30, 2024. Martin Lacey/STAFF.

NAPA — The Blue Note Jazz Festival’s Black Radio Experience kicked off on Friday at The Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa on Friday. The three-day event, an intimate re-imagining of the three-year-old Robert-Glasper-created event, was headlined by vocalist Jill Scott and included performances by Andra Day, Common with Pete Rock, and Marcus Miller.

André 3000 of Outkast performed multiple sets of his flute music in a “wine cave” (he’s doing so each day of the event) while John Legend and Glasper were set to headline on Saturday and Sunday. But the festival is about more than music. It’s a celebration of Black culture, as well as Napa cuisine and wine. Glasper was still the artist in residence, while radio DJ Sway Calloway replaced Dave Chappelle as host.

Festival planners have struggled to find a permanent home for the event, balancing the needs of the festival but impacting both traffic and the lives of North Bay residents. The event has hopped from Charles Krug Winery in St. Helena in 2022 to the Silverado Resort and Spa in 2023. Blue Note Napa moved its Summer Session concert series of concerts to The Meritage last year, and then scaled down and rebranded its festival in the same location, south of central Napa and away from residential areas.

Andra Day performs during the Black Radio Experience at Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa on Aug. 30, 2024.

The Black Radio Experience still offered several stages, both inside and out. Although not listed on the event’s lineup, Oakland pianist Kev Choice led a band on one of the smaller stages throughout the afternoon on Friday, drawing a sizable crowd. The restaurants and shops at the Meritage opened their doors to festival attendees. Restaurants offered tasting menus with seats that offered views of performers. Wine tasting rooms also offered tastings and wine by the glass, and there was a special section for Black-owned wine brands.

Food trucks set up for business nearby.Oher dining options included Stateline Road Smokehouse’s Chef Darryl Bell’s exploration of Kentucky-style BBQ, while chef Keem Hughley and musician Terrace Martin presented on Afrofuturism in food and music.

Common performs during the Black Radio Experience at Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa on Aug. 30, 2024.

Flanked by her band and backup singers, Friday headliner Jill Scott was in full diva mode as she belted out reimagined versions of hits like “A Long Walk,” and “The Way.” Her hair was arranged in a bold, flamboyant array of curls that surrounded her head like a halo. Improvising, scatting and revisiting the melodies of familiar songs, she made them sound new. Glasper joined her on piano for their duet, “Calls.” She closed the show with “He Loves Me (Lyzel in E flat),” which included a mash-up with De La Soul’s “Stakes is High.”

Andra Day preceded Scott with songs from her latest album, May’s CASSANDRA (cherith). Day was backed by her entire crew with whom she recorded, including band members, producers and singers. The ensemble wore sand-colored outfits to match Day’s elaborate dress. One highlight was her rendition of “Rise Up,” from her 2015 album Cheer to the Fall. Day looked at ease and having fun the entire time.

Marcus Miller performs during the Black Radio Experience at Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa on Aug. 30, 2024.

Rapper Common showed off his lyrical stylings and quick wit, performing some of his best material and songs from his latest album with DJ-producer Pete Rock, The Auditorium, Vol. 1. He touched on some of his collaborations with others, like his verse on Erykah Badu’s “Love of My Life (an Ode to Hip Hop)” and Black Star’s “Respiration.” He and Rock performed “Dreamin'” and “Fortunate.” Common also brought up a woman from the audience and freestyled for her for three minutes. He threw in a diss about ex-girlfriend Tiffany Haddish during his flow, rapping that he was glad the on-stage guest (also a “Tiffany”) wasn’t “that Tiffany.”

Bassist Marcus Miller capped off the performances on the indoor Blue Note Stage. After being introduced by comedian Alonzo Bodden, he started in right away with “Let It Whip,” by the Dazz Band. It was standing room only for renditions of Al Green favorites like “Still in Love” and “Let’s Stay Together,” for which he brought up a guest vocalist.

The day’s other performances included rapper Madlib, drummer Daru Jones (of Jack White’s band) and musician-actor Martin Luther McCoy. The day’s famous guests included actor and “America’s Got Talent” host Terry Crews.

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