Robert Glasper and Musiq Souldchild perform during the Black Radio Experience at Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa on Sept. 1, 2024. Matt Pang/STAFF. NAPA — André 3000 struck a high note with his final three sets of improvisational flute music during the Black Radio Experience at the Meritage…

Idina Menzel, “Drama Queen.” Powerhouse vocalist Idina Menzel moves from the Broadway stage to the dance club on her seventh studio album, Drama Queen. Drama Queen Idina Menzel BMG, Aug. 18 7/10 Get the album on Amazon Music. The pop-centric project involved some of the biggest songwriters and producers…

Lizzo performs at BottleRock Napa Valley at the Napa Valley Expo on May 27, 2023. Steve Carlson/STAFF. NAPA — The impact was quick, if not immediate. The tension and excitement had been building, people jockeying for position and moving in as close to the stage as they could. With…

Nile Rodgers and Chic perform at Chase Center in San Francisco on Sept. 4, 2022. Sean Liming/STAFF. Nile Rodgers hasn’t stopped moving in years. The Chic cofounder and writer and producer of countless hits since the ‘70s—often the biggest hits of his collaborators’ careers—says his recent lifetime achievement award…

Le Sserafim, “Unforgiven.” Marking their one-year anniversary, rising K-pop stars Le Sserafim have unveiled their first full-length album, Unforgiven. This power-packed 13-track album features previously released songs that elevated the group to newfound levels of success in 2022 and new tracks that push the way the quintet defines itself musically with…

Duran Duran performs at Chase Center in San Francisco on Sept. 4, 2022. Sean Liming/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO —  Eighties pop music legends Duran Duran played songs from every period of their nearly five-decade-long music career Sunday night at Chase Center. Wearing sport coats with shoulder pads, the British band…

Cher performs at Chase Center in San Francisco on Nov. 21, 2019. Photos: Sean Liming. SAN FRANCISCO — After starring in “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again,” the sequel film based on the Broadway production that incorporated the music of ABBA as its songbook, Cher fell in love with the…

Clean Bandit, courtesy. I didn’t know all too much about Clean Bandit prior to February, when I was offered an interview with the English electronic-classical band, alongside another unknown, Jess Glynne, just prior to the Grammy Awards. I wasn’t in a position to meet up with them in Los…

Duran Duran performs at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley on Oct. 2, 2015. Roman Gokhman/STAFF. Overall, a fun, if slightly disjointed show. Duran Duran didn’t play much longer than Chic, and Clean Bandit performed about for 35 minutes, so it wasn’t always easy to remember the headliner. Simon Le…