With toast-worthy events happening year-round, there’s always something to celebrate in Downtown Napa! Take a peek at what’s coming up and start planning your next adventure.
The Bob James Quartet comes to the Blue Note on Saturday, March 11, at 6:30 and 9 p.m. and Sunday, March 12, at 3 and 6:30 p.m.
Discovered by Quincy Jones at the Notre Dame Jazz Festival in 1963, James recorded his first solo album, Bold Conceptions, that year. Fifty-eight albums and innumerable awards would follow through five decades. He honed his skills working with Creed Taylor on albums for Hank Crawford and Grover Washington, Jr. and others. While James is recognized as one of the progenitors of smooth jazz, his music has also had a profound effect on the history of hip hop, having been sampled often. Two of James’ songs, “Nautilus” from 1974’s One and “Take Me to the Mardi Gras” from 1975’s Two, are among the most sampled in hip hop history. According to whosampled.com, “Nautilus” and “Take Me to Mardi Gras” have been sampled in 32 and 43 hip-hop recordings, respectively.
Tickets are $37 to $67.
Blue Note, 1030 Main St., Napa, www.bluenotenapa.com
