By Bill Vaughan
Entertainment Writer
For the first time ever, the Blue Note Jazz Festival will converge upon Napa Valley July 30-31. Multiple stages outdoors will be set up at the region’s pioneering Charles Krug Winery in St. Helen.
The boss line-up from the Festival’s Artist-in-Residence Robert Glasper includes his set to be hosted by Dave Chappelle with special guests Erykah Badu, Ledisi, D Smoke, Terrace Martin and BJ The Chicago Kid; as well as performances by Maxwell, Thundercat, the yasiin bey/Talib Kweli reunited Black Star, Maurice “Mobetta” Brown featuring Anderson. Paak, Flying Lotus, The Soul Rebels featuring GZA, and Corinne Bailey Rae.
DJ Jazzy Jeff and DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown (aka Ms. Badu) are spinning at the Saturday after party with some surprise guests.
For details, visit www.bluenotejazzfestival.com/napa/#experience
TICKET WATCH: The irrepressible Lizzo is coming back on the Special Tour with guest Latto, opening Sept. 23 in Sunrise, Florida, and ending Nov. 18 at the Kia Forum. Tickets go on sale April 29 at 10 a.m. on ticketmaster.com with a hook-up available via t-mobile.com/music for their customers. The tour is the three-time Grammy winner’s first in support of a new album “Special” out July 15.
Multi-platinum award-winning superstar Lil Nas X will embark on his first ever tour, the Live Nation produced Long Live Montero tour this fall. It kicks off at the Fillmore in Detroit on Sept. 6 and will make its L.A. stop on Oct. 18 at the YouTube Theater. For tickets, on sale April 29 at 10 a.m., and more information, visit longlivemontero.com.
FESTIVAL FILE: Netflix Is A Joke is in full effect this week with a full slate of nights featuring Dave Chappelle, Pete Davidson, Wanda Sykes, Marlon Wayans, Sarah Cooper, Maya Rudolph, our girl Luenell, Nicole Byer, Sasheer Zumata, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin (whose “Grace and Frankie” Netflix series ends this week), Janell James, Craig Robinson, Blll Burr, Shang, David A. Arnold, Ron Funches, Snoop Dogg, and Aziz Ansari (whose debut as a feature film director was derailed last week by Bill Murray’s alleged misbehavior on set).
The Dymally International Jazz and Arts Festival returns April 30 to Carson’s Dignity Health Sports Park with Poncho Sanchez, David Sanborn, The Original Wailers, Kirk Whalum featuring Kevin Whalum, Avery Sunshine, Keyon Harrold and more.
Attended the Amplify Decatur Music Festival recently held in the Georgia city’s town square. A pleasant day, easy accessibility, goodwill in abundance and sweet sounds in the air. What’s not to like? Especially with headliners like The War and Treaty (a sensational band led by electrifying husband-and-wife powerhouses Michael and Tanya Trotter; Ben Harper (who played his stirring songs of love and protest solo flanked by guitars), Son Volt and Old Crow Medicine Show. Mark your travel calendars for next year’s edition set for April 28–30.
DESTINATION (DC): When TASTY CLIPS heard that guitar virtuoso Stanley Jordan Plays Jimi was on tour, the fire was certainly expected. But not only that. He transforms into Jimi Hendrix with his hair and iconic dress.
A late show at the historic Blues Alley found him shredding gems like “Hey Joe,” “Foxy Lady,” “Voodoo Child” and a crowd-lifting “Star Spangled Banner” with powerful backing by Michael Bowie on bass and Mark Pitts on drums.
“There are a lot of great Hendrix tribute bands out there, so there’s no need to reinvent the wheel,” he said from the stage breaking character at the end. “I decided well how bout imagining a show that Jimi would be doing today if he were still alive. So that’s the concept of the show that you just saw.”
Your experience is up June 1 when Stanley Plays Jimi at The Mint.
D.C. composer and playwright Nolan Williams, Jr. and Pulitzer Prize-nominated playwright Nikkole Salter’s amazing “Grace,” is having its world-premiere production through May 14 at the historic Ford’s Theatre.
The musical about a family gathering to mourn the loss of their matriarch who ran a landmark Philadelphia eatery has a lot of truth telling in its script. The engaging ensemble and their soaring voices are binding in the briskly paced one-act show. Nova Y. Payton as Ruthie has her “Dreamgirls” moment with the song “Again?,” which shook the room.
Broadway bound? Bet on it.
TASTY QUIP: “I feel all of my energy. I feel like God is so much bigger than the ‘he’ or the ‘she.’ And if I am from God, I am everything. I am everything. But I will always, always stand with women. I will always stand with Black women. But I just see everything that I am. Beyond the binary. I feel like that opens you up to fall in love … with any beautiful spirit.” – JANELL MONAE to Jada Pinkett Smith’s “Red Table Talk”
CLIPPETTES: On April 30, 93.5 KDAY’s Krush Groove at Crypto.com Arena has Ice Cube, T.I., Method Man & Redman, DJ Quik, Suga Free, Slim Thug, Paul Wall and more; Dru Hill is at the Saban Theatre; Pato Banton & the Now Generation jam at the Venice West; and Supernova Comedy with Tiffany Haddish is at The Whitley …
Additionally, internationally renowned flutist Hubert Laws supports famed David Bowie keyboardist Mike Garson at Soka Performing Arts Center; with his brother saxophonist Ronnie Laws and Katalyst playing the next night in a Jazz Is Dead show at the Lodge Room …
Nas with the LA Phil presents a 20th anniversary performance of “Illmatic” in its entirety May 1 at Walt Disney Concert Hall …
First casting has been announced for the Hollywood Bowl’s upcoming production of “Kinky Boots” (July 8-10). Multiple Emmy Award-winning and Grammy Award-nominated Wayne Brady (who plays Largo May 2) will be Lola; Jake Shears (Scissor Sisters) is Charlie; and Kelly Marie Tran (“Star Wars Episode VIII & IX”) will be Lauren …
Celebrate the 30th anniversary of Leslie Harris’ “Just Another Girl On the I.R.T.” on May 4 with a special screening at the Ted Mann Theater paired with her doc short “Never Forget,” on the role of the church in African-American history.
TASTY QUIP: “This will be unlike any awards show. I’m bringing the love and setting the frequency at an all-time high. The Billboard Music Awards truly represent the artists and where music is today, so I’m excited to curate the biggest live performances and surprises. The world has to tune in to see.” – SEAN “DIDDY” COMBS, named host and exec producer of the 2022 edition live from Las Vegas May 15 on NBC
TC ON TV: April 29 – “International Jazz Day” (PBS): With Herbie Hancock serving as host and artistic director and John Beasley as musical director, participating artists include Shemekia Copeland, José James, Gregory Porter, Lizz Wright, Joey Alexander, Hiromi, Ray Lema, Terri Lyne Carrington, Brian Blade, Marcus Miller, Ravi Coltrane, Mark Whitfield, Randy Brecker and Grégoire Maret, among others. This concert will be webcast worldwide at 2 p.m. April 30 at at jazzday.com, unesco.org, and YouTube. “Ozark” (Netflix): Having what co-star Alfonso Herrera describes to TV Line as an “unimaginable” ending. “The Real” (Fox): Stokely “Friday Night Vibes” (TBS): Chef Raw and Chef Lovely along with Arius George visit for “Bad Boys” and “Bad Boys II.”
May 1 – “The Color of Care” (Smithsonian): A look at Oprah Winfrey‘s multi-platform effort to catalyze a movement to eliminate racial disparities in the delivery of U.S. health care. “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” (Bravo): Kandi Burruss, Kenya Moore, Shereé Whitfield and Drew Sidora return, as does former friend and now peach holder Marlo Hampton. Newest housewife Sanya Richards-Ross joins as a four-time Gold Medal Olympian, mother, wife and businesswoman. “Stalker” (TV1): An actress suspects one of her two entanglements of going too far in this film with Meta Golding and Christian Keyes. “Nomad with Carlton McCoy” (CNN): Documenting the chef and master sommelier’s cool journeys. “The Rookie” (ABC): More of Niecy Nash as the oldest FBI recruit. With Frankie Faison. “Ziwe” (SHO): “Critical Race Theory”
May 2 – “Ellen” (NBC): Serena Williams “E! Live From The Red Carpet” (E!): “Met Gala 2022” “Celebrity IOU” (HGTV): “Snoop Dogg’s Winning Gift” “Lil Jon Wants To Do What?” (HGTV): The Grammy Award-winning producer, rapper and DJ turned out-of-the box home renovator helps skeptical homeowners who feel trapped in a boring home.
May 3 – “Nick Cannon Presents: Wild ‘N Out” (VH1): Kid ‘N Play
May 4 – “The Porter” (BET): Alfre Woodard leads an ensemble in this Charles Officer directed piece inspired by real events in the 1920s highlighting the moment when railway workers from both Canada and the United States joined together to give birth to the world’s first Black union.
May 5 – “The Pentaverate” (Netflix): A Michael Myers, Keegan-Michael Key and Ken Jeong comedy series concerning a secret society. “Star Trek: Picard” (Para+): Closes its excellent season as the prequel “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” featuring younger versions of Spock (Ethan Peck) and Nyoto Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding), begins.
END QUOTE: “You can never let someone else’s insecurities make you insecure.” – MEGAN THEE STALLION to Gayle King on “CBS This Morning”
As featured in the Los Angeles Wave and Independent, Tasty Clips is one of the leading entertainment columns in the nation, serving nearly one million weekly readers. Bill Vaughan may be reached at tastyclips@yahoo.com, via Twitter @tastyclips, or Instagram @tasty_clips.
