Newly opened in October 2016 the Blue Note Napa is a jazz club/gourmet restaurant venue occupying the first floor of the historic Napa Valley Opera House. The Blue Note Napa seamlessly blends the quintessential Greenwich Village jazz club experience – an intimate atmosphere where the stage is so close to you that you feel as if the performers are playing in your very own living room – mixed with the Northern California wine country ambiance and the historic architecture of the ninetieth century Napa Valley Opera House. The Blue Note Napa spotlights “Four Creative Pillars”; world-class music, gourmet farm to table cuisine, spectacular local wines and exciting art!
Tickets available at www.bluenotenapa.com
Tuesday 5/2 Locals Night featuring Sean Carscadden
7pm and 9:30pm, $10-20, 8 years & ove
With a crack team of musicians, the Sean Carscadden Trio is one of the most exciting bands in Northern California. Playing a mix of Blues, New Orleans Funk, Folk and old time songs with a contemporary touch, the group is energetic and known to gets some folks dancing! Carscadden is joined by bassist extraordinare Cliff Hugo Ray Charles, Supertramp, and behind the drums you will find either Mikey Cannon Gator Nation, or Kendrick Freeman Joe Craven, . And you can often find some of the bay area's best musicians popping in and joining the band on stage.
Locals Night features local artists on stage and all are welcome; however, upon presentation of an ID, locals will not be requested to pay the music fee for this night. Also, a special Locals Night menu is available.
Wednesday 5/3 Barrio Manouche
7pm and 9:30pm, $10-20, 8 years & over
Barrio Manouche is an acoustic San Francisco-based international septet Spain, Quebec, France, Brasil and California, playing music that will take you on a magical journey, frequently joined by artists from around the globe.
The San Francisco based ensemble has been recognized for its surprise concerts, innovative style, complex technique, and their passion for their musical improvisation.
The band performs a repertoire of original instrumental compositions with a unique sound that it's difficult to classify but instantly recognizable deeply influenced by a range of musical traditions, from the swing of Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet, to the hot jazz of Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli,the gypsy soul of eastern Europe, the flamenco of Paco de Lucía to the avant-garde sounds of Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman and John Coltrane.
Thursday to Saturday 5/4-6 Pete Escovedo Orchestra
7pm and 9:30pm, $45-55, 8 years & over
Legendary Percussionist Pete Escovedo is an artist who broke down the barriers between Smooth Jazz, Salsa, Latin Jazz and contemporary music. His name has been synonymous in the music industry for more than 50 years. Pete is known worldwide for his live performances, session work and solo albums.
As a young boy he would sit on the steps of nightclubs and watch musicians play. Music became his outlet. When he was 15 years old he began to also sketch and paint on wood or cardboard. Anything he could get his hands on, he would start to draw.
Sunday 5/7 Sandy Cressman
7pm and 9:30pm, $10-20, 8 years & over
Sandy Cressman celebates her love for Brazilian jazz on her new CD “Entre Amigos”. As founder and leader of the group Homenagem Brasileira, San Francisco-based vocalist/educator Sandy Cressman has had many opportunities over the last 20-plus years to forge creative partnerships with like-minded musicians from the Bay to Brazil.
Though the new CD is her first new recording since 2005’s Brasil—Sempre no Coração,Cressman never stepped away from music. “For a long while I concentrated on mining the treasures in the existing Brazilian music repertoire,” says Cressman. “But at a certain point I started writing and asking people to collaborate, and Entre Amigos collects many of these amazing connections.”
Significantly, “Entre Amigos” opens a new chapter for Cressman as a tunesmith; she contributed lyrics, in both Portuguese and English, for every track on the album.
Tuesday 5/9 Locals Night featuring Roem Baur
7pm and 9:30pm, $10-20, 8 years & over
Roem Baur is a multiple award winning touring songwriter and San Francisco resident. He has been featured on the main stage at Super Bowl City, NBC's The Voice, and at CES & SXSW conferences. A classically trained opera singer, he answered the call of rock n' roll shortly after college and began touring living rooms, cafes, and small clubs with "a voice that seems to burn with fire" Examiner, before forming his band and releasing his first studio EP with GRAMMY nominated producer, Damien Lewis Rihanna, Capital Cities, Kimbra, .
After winning Bob Weir's The Grateful Dead, national "Road to TRI" contest, Baur and his band were invited to record a live EP in Weir's personal studio, the product of which can be found on Roem's YouTube page and has since propelled him to a whole new era of rock fans. In June of 2016 he released his most personal work, "Night Phases," that has been praised by music bloggers and critics as one of the best releases of the Summer.
Wednesday 5/10 Anybody’s Spring” CD Release Concert: Sherri Roberts Sings
7pm and 9:30pm, $10-20, 8 years & over
“Stylistically, Roberts bears a significant resemblance to gin ’n’ satin seductress Julie London. But where London’s voice was distant as a winter moon, Roberts’ is all dappled sunshine. . . shimmering delicacy. . . Enchanting.” - Christopher Loudon, JazzTimes
Vocalist Sherri Roberts celebrates the release of her newest cd, Anybody’s Spring, a jazzy tribute to everyone’s favorite season. Her 5th album as a leader and her third for Pacific Coast Jazz/ Blue House Recordings swings from the jazz compositions of Clifford Brown and Tadd Dameron to the standard and not-so standard fare of Rodgers and Hammerstein, Hoagy Carmichael and Blossom Dearie favorite- Bob Haymes. Drawing material from the cd and beyond, her performance at Blue Note Napa promises to be a spring lover’s dreams come true!
A leading torchbearer for the less-is-more school of jazz singing, Roberts owes a debt to “cool” vocalists like Helen Merrill, Irene Kral, and Chet Baker. Her velvet voice, laid-back phrasing, and understated delivery veil an uncommon depth of feeling and a deep understanding of lyric and nuance. As Kirk Silsbee of the Los Angeles City Beat so rightly says of Sherri, “She’s a breath of fresh air…pure and unaffected.”
Thursday 5/11 The Oakland Stroke
7pm and 9:30pm, $10-20, 8 years & over
With a name borrowed from legendary local giants Tower of Power, The Oakland Stroke pays homage to the Oakland tradition of mixing Funk, Soul and Jazz into unique musical hybrids. Inspired by great instrumental groups such as Booker T & the MG's, The Meters, Jimmy Smith and The JB's, the band expands on this musical heritage by adding influences from West African Afrobeat, Brazilian Samba and healthy doses of Jamaican Dub in which electronic effects become instruments of improvisation. With a repertoire ranging from groovy space age cocktail Jazz to full-on Funky dance floor throw-downs, The Oakland Stroke serve up surprising musical journeys for the mind and soul. The term The Oakland Stroke came from a Herbie Hancock biography in which he describes Mike Clark’s distinctive style as The Oakland Stroke.
Friday 5/12 Paula West
7pm and 9:30pm, $20-405, 8 years & over
Many professional singers have some musical spark in their backgrounds that initially fired their interest in a career in the music business. Many started out in the church choir. Others worked in regional musical theater. But for jazz singer Paula West, there was nothing in her background to indicate early on that she would end up where she is today: making albums and performing live at such swanky venues as the Oak Room in New York's Algonquin Hotel and the Ritz Carlton in San Francisco.
A native of San Diego and the daughter of a Marine, West was one of three children. Although she learned to play the clarinet during her childhood, jazz wasn't something that her parents frequently listened to around the house. Instead, her dad preferred classical music. It wasn't until she entered college that West began to dig deeper into the jazz tradition. Her own interest drove her on, independent of course work or other influences, and she sought out the recordings of Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Julie London, Maxine Sullivan, Peggy Lee, and Sarah Vaughan. After building up her confidence, she risked participation at open-mike nights. West supported herself by waiting tables. She made her recording debut in 1995 with Temptation.
Saturday 5/13 Jelly Bread
7pm and 9:30pm, $10-20, 8 years & over
Over a few short years of touring, Jelly Bread has risen from Reno/Lake Tahoe area favorites into a nationally- touring, powerhouse quintet that delivers a high-energy, chameleonic playlist all over the United States. Jelly Bread’s distinct style is identified by a blend of desert twang meeting the urban tones of funk and rock. Exceptional songwriting and storytelling interlaced with four part harmonies, intricate “in-the-pocket” drum and bass grooves, swampy lap steel guitar, dirt under the fingernails guitar licks, tasty talkbox, “take-’em-to-church” organ come together into a sound that is downright appetizing.
Sunday 5/14 Mother’s Day Celebration featuring Clairdee & her Band
3p and 7pm, $15-35, 8 years & over
In the tradition of all great vocalists, Clairdee infuses her own unique style while always remaining true to the song.” —Nancy Wilson
Clairdee is a recording and international touring artist. Her lustrous voice, soulful delivery, and scene stealing charisma have highlighted performances with acclaimed instrumentalists including 2017 NEA Jazz Master Dick Hyman, Bucky Pizzarelli, Boz Scaggs, Ken Peplowski, Cyrus Chestnut, and Houston Person. In addition to headlining with her world-class ensemble, Clairdee performs with symphony pops orchestras and big bands and has opened for artists as diverse as David Sanborn, the Count Basie Orchestra, Johnny Mathis, and Etta James. With three highly praised albums to her credit, Clairdee’s newest recording project and touring program, A Love Letter to Lena Horne, celebrates the groundbreaking singer, actress and activist who personified glamour and became a catalyst for social justice. The album release is scheduled for late 2017. Clairdee is an inspiring and devoted educator, sharing the joy of music with audiences, aspiring vocalists, and children alike. A former vocal jazz instructor at UC Berkeley’s Jazz Department and Diablo Valley College, she is a teaching artist with San Francisco Symphony’s children’s program, ‘Adventures in Music,’ and an Advisory Board member and active mentor for Jazz in the Neighborhood, the Bay-Area-based nonprofit mentoring program. “My mission is to engage, uplift and build community through music,” she says, “creating narrative that inspires beyond the stage.”
Tuesday 5/16 Locals Night featuring Jules Lehe
7pm and 9:30pm, $10-20, 8 years & over
It’s hard to find a true blues guitarist in today’s musical landscape, but that’s exactly what you get with Jules Leyhe. Armed with a degree in Guitar Performance from the esteemed Berklee College of Music and with the soul of a musician three times his age, Leyhe combines classic blues guitar with modern electronic instrumentation and creates a sonic mesh you’ll surely feel in your core.
Named one of Guitar Player Magazine’s 12 Players of Christmas in 2014 as well as the Bay Area Blues Foundation’s All Stars in 2015, Leyhe has already shared the stage with many of Blues’ greatest talents – including Buddy Guy, Charlie Musselwhite, Chris Cain, Jimmy Vivino, Barry Goldberg, Nick Gravenites, Elvin Bishop, and Maria Muldaur.
Both with his band and on his own, Leyhe has been taking over the San Francisco Bay Area one venue at a time, playing everywhere from the seminal Boom Boom Room to the Sweetwater Music Hall, The Great American Music Hall, Slims, and continually sells out performances at the famed Biscuits & Blues.
Wednesday 5/17 An Evening with Holly Bowling: Music of Phish/Grateful Dead on Solo Piano
7pm and 9:30pm, $15-25, 8 years & over
Texture, nuance, and a gift for dexterous high-wire improvisation are the hallmarks of San Francisco-based classically trained pianist Holly Bowling, who infuses jam band music with a technically advanced, emotionally rich style. After studying piano performance at SF State University, Bowling has turned her agile mind and interpretive prowess to the works of Phish on 2013’s Distillation Of A Dream album and the newly released Grateful Dead focused Better Left Unsung released December 9, 2016 through The Royal Potato Family, . Her instantly compelling playing and unerring ability to successfully collaborate with other musicians in an impressive array of styles has brought her to the attention of Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Branford Marsalis, and other luminaries who’ve asked Bowling to perform with them.
Thursday to Saturday 5/18-20 David Benoit Trio
7pm and 9:30pm, $45-55, 8 years & over
For three decades, the GRAMMY®-nominated pianist/composer/ arranger David Benoit has reigned supreme as one the founding fathers of contemporary jazz. Born in Bakersfield, California, he grew up in Los Angeles and was bitten by the jazz bug after watching a Charlie Brown special on television and listening to the music of Vince Guaraldi in 1965. “I was already a fan of the comic strip,” he says, “but when I heard that jazz piano trio, that was the defining moment when I decided that I wanted to play like Vince Guaraldi.”
Sunday 5/21 Tony Saunders Band
3pm and 7pm , $10-25, 8 years & over
Tony Saunders’ life story could be the script to a hit movie. Son of legendary keyboardist and composer Merl Saunders, Tony’s life has been a musical adventure. As a child, Herbie Hancock taught him piano and for his tenth birthday, he received an electric organ as a gift from Sly Stone. Growing up around his dad and the Fantasy Records family of artists he was constantly surrounded by music royalty, including famed record and film executive Saul Zaentz. His passion for the bass guitar began while sitting in on recording sessions with musicians Anthony Davis, who played with Walter Hawkins, and Lee Miles of Miles Davis fame. Tony’s musical journey has continued on from that era through to the present. He has played and recorded with an astonishing list of great musical talents including Eric Clapton, David Crosby, Jo Sample, Chaka Khan, Ringo Star, bo Diddley, The Hawkins Family and many others. Tony has played on hundreds of albums, won two Emmy Awards for soundtracks and has written award winning commercial jingles and movie scores.
Monday 5/22 Brendan James plus Imports
7pm and 9:30pm, $10-$17.50, 8 years & over
Brendan James’ latest EP, The Howl, finds the singer-songwriter steering into new territory, discovering the courage to release a brave new sound, while staying respectful to his meaningful history and the depth of his lyric and message. From the opening declaration of “Bring My Love Home” to its conclusion, it is clear James has out done even his own expectations.
For those who have followed Brendan James from his 2008 major label debut, to his current ranking among today's top troubadours; the journey has been a pretty remarkable one. Born in New Hampshire, schooled in Chapel Hill, signed by Capitol Records by the age of 25, and road tested with over 1,000 shows to date, James' has certainly lived the troubadour life. His songs have landed spots on over 15 major television shows and feature films, as well as achieving the #1 Singer Songwriter spot on iTunes, multiple times. He has formed relationships with music legends Carly Simon and Cat Stevens, enjoyed on stage experiences with the likes of John Legend, John Mayer, and Paula Cole.
Tuesday 5/23 Locals Night featuring Roem Baur
7pm and 9:30pm, $10-20, 8 years & over
Roem Baur is a multiple award winning touring songwriter and San Francisco resident. He has been featured on the main stage at Super Bowl City, NBC's The Voice, and at CES & SXSW conferences. A classically trained opera singer, he answered the call of rock n' roll shortly after college and began touring living rooms, cafes, and small clubs with "a voice that seems to burn with fire" Examiner, before forming his band and releasing his first studio EP with GRAMMY nominated producer, Damien Lewis Rihanna, Capital Cities, Kimbra, .
After winning Bob Weir's The Grateful Dead, national "Road to TRI" contest, Baur and his band were invited to record a live EP in Weir's personal studio, the product of which can be found on Roem's YouTube page and has since propelled him to a whole new era of rock fans. In June of 2016 he released his most personal work, "Night Phases," that has been praised by music bloggers and critics as one of the best releases of the summer.
Wednesday 5/24 Foreign Frontiers
7pm and 9:30pm, $10-20, 8 years & over
Foreign Frontiers is an indie rock duo that started in Benicia, California. Phinehas Spielman and Byron Mayhew having been writing and playing music together in different projects since middle school. As things became more serious, the two began to form a clearer image of what Foreign Frontiers is now. After a few years of gigging, the band was discovered by Richard Segovia of Puro Bandido who has toured with Santana, Eddie Money and more, who took them under his wing. Through Segovia, the duo connected with Guillermo Landaker bass, and Victor Bejarano Jr. drums, who make up the rhythm section of the band's live performance. Since adding Bejarano and Landaker to Foreign Frontiers' live show, the band has played at Slim's in San Francisco and the Great American Music Hall and the band is currently heading to headline at Slims this spring. Along with these achievements, band has opened up for Salvador Santana Carlos Santana's son, and have been crowned Battle of Band Finalist. The writing duo, draws inspiration from bands such as Kings of Leon, Young the Giant, Hippo Campus and other indie rock powerhouses. Currently the band is the recording studio working on their newest full length EP, "Stubborn" coming soon
Thursday 5/25 Alvon Johnson: Ambassador of the Blues
7pm, $10-20, 8 years & over
Alvon Johnson is one of the most versatile musicians, singers, and entertainers on the music scene today. He travels the world singing and swinging jazz standards with big bands. He also gallops the globe performing the songs that he performed while working with the rock and roll hall of fame group, The Coasters. When he travels to Russia he is referred to as the “King of the Blues” and the “Ambassador of the Blues”. Large and enthusiastic audiences all over the world share his love and respect for the American Art form.
Friday 5/26 The Sextones
7pm, $10-20, 8 years & over
The Sextones are a highly respected band formed from West Coast’s finest musicians. Mark Sexton guitar / vocals, , Alexander Korostinsky bass, , Daniel Weiss drums, and Ryan Taylor keys, together have toured across the nation and shared stages with Macy Grey, Ziggy Marley and renowned funkologist Alan Evans of Soulive.
Now, The Sextones are showcasing their brand of smoked out soul on their debut album, Moonlight Vision, and whetting appetites with the first single, “Drunk Off Your Love”. Fueled by smooth grooves, a growling bass line and catchy vocal acrobatics courtesy of Mark Sexton, “Drunk Off Your Love” is delightful and easy to groove to. Described as “obsessive compulsive perfectionists,” The Sextones spent over a year in post-production, tweaking the knobs and placing the project under a microscope until it reached its final state.
Saturday 5/27 Royal Jelly Jive
7pm, $10-20, 8 years & over
Few bands have the ability to evoke an old-school throwback vibe and yet sound entirely fresh and new at the same time. Royal Jelly Jive is one of those bands. Combining elements of Soul, Rock, Swing and Hip-Hop, Royal Jelly shakes up any dance-party and grooves harder than your typical rock n' roll band dares to go. Fronted by the enigmatic singer Lauren Bjelde, who brings a one-of-a-kind sultry voice to her magnetic stage presence, Royal Jelly leans on the sounds of swingin' horns, gritty keys and a bumpin' rhythm section to carry a crowd into bliss... creating an unforgettable live experience that will leave you wanting more.
Since forming in San Francisco's own Boom Boom Room in the summer of 2013, Royal Jelly has quickly ascended to become one of the Bay Area's most anticipated acts. After releasing their debut album to a packed house at Slims in late 2014, they hit the road and have been touring non-stop ever since. Playing hi-energy shows and festivals in cities and towns all across the West Coast, they have captivated the ears and hearts of almost all who hear them, intoxicating the masses with their unique and infectious music. They have been lucky enough to share stages with notable acts such as Michael Franti, Rebrirth Brass Band, The California Honeydrops as well as performing at this year’s BottleRock and selling out major venues in San Francisco. With their new album, Stand Up, Royal Jelly is off to making 2016 their biggest and best year yet
Sunday 5/28 Funk Revival Orchestra
7pm, $10-20, 8 years & over
Founded in Oakland, California in 2008 the Funk Revival Orchestra was established to bring old school funk and soul back and deliver it to the masses. A hard charging, 8-piece, horn fronted congregation of the east bay's finest dedicated to curating the finest rare groove delicacies.
Tuesday 5/30 Locals Night featuring Sean Carscadden
7pm and 9:30pm, $10-20, 8 years & over
With a crack team of musicians, the Sean Carscadden Trio is one of the most exciting bands in Northern California. Playing a mix of Blues, New Orleans Funk, Folk and old time songs with a contemporary touch, the group is energetic and known to gets some folks dancing! Carscadden is joined by bassist extraordinare Cliff Hugo Ray Charles, Supertramp, and behind the drums you will find either Mikey Cannon Gator Nation, or Kendrick Freeman Joe Craven, . And you can often find some of the bay area's best musicians popping in and joining the band on stage.
Locals Night features local artists on stage and all are welcome; however, upon presentation of an ID, locals will not be requested to pay the music fee for this night. Also, a special Locals Night menu is available.
Tickets available at www.bluenotenapa.com
