The music of Frank Zappa comes to Joshua Tree with the Stinkfoot Orchestra featuring Zappa front man Napoleon Murphy Brock !!!
The Stinkfoot Orchestra pulls no punches – delivering 2 sets of Frank’s music via a 15-piece ensemble which incorporates a 6-piece horn section, tuned percussion and 5 vocalists.
Founded in 2019 by Nick Chargin – a 35-year veteran of the SF Bay Area music scene, the Stinkfoot Orchestra spent the pandemic honing their craft and are finally bringing the fruits of their labor to the stage. And, with the iconic voices of Zappa alumni leading the charge, the band leaves even the most critical Zappa fan pining for more.
NAPOLEON MURPHY BROCK
VOCALS & TENOR SAX & FLUTE & STYLE ICON
Napoleon Murphy Brock, front man for Frank Zappa in the early seventies, was first discovered by Frank on a day off in Hawaii. Frank and his band stopped into a club where Brock was leading his band through a set of originals and contemporary funk, rock and blues hits. Zappa was immediately struck by Brock’s voice and sax playing, but was particularly taken by his commanding stage presence.
Brock soon hit the stage and studio with Zappa, first appearing on the breakthrough album, Apostrophe (‘). By 1974, Napoleon had learned and memorized the Zappa Song Book (including new material written specifically for Napoleon) and recordings from the 1973 concerts were soon released on what many consider to be Frank’s penultimate live album – Roxy and Elsewhere. To this day, the all-star “Roxy Band” is commonly considered one of the greatest bands that Frank ever assembled.
The release of One Size Fits All followed which, like Roxy, became hugely influential on not only Zappa fans, but fans of progressive rock, fusion, and bluesy jazz-rock in general. In 1975 Zappa released the iconic Bongo Fury, a live album which documented the collaborative tour that year with the last Mothers lineup (including old friend and co-conspirator, Captain Beefheart).
After the 1975 and 1976 Zappa tours, Brock went on to tour and record with fellow Zappa alum George Duke in his
hugely popular George Duke Band. He went on to make several albums with Duke including Master Of The Game,
Follow The Rainbow, Dukey Treats, and Don’t Let Go (which spawned Duke’s huge hit “Dukey Stick”).
At the end of the 1970’s, Frank again called on Napoleon to provide vocals on the recording of Sheik Yerbouti – which went on to become Zappa’s biggest selling album worldwide. The fact that Frank called on Napoleon to lay down vocal tracks (including the lead vocal on “Wild Love”) speaks volumes about Frank’s continued respect and trust in Napoleon’s vocal prowess.
Since 2001, Brock has worked with several Zappa tribute bands around the world including Project/Object, the longest continually touring alumni-based Zappa tribute band in the world. In 2007, Napoleon received a Grammy Award for his work with Dweezil Zappa on the live album release from the inaugural tour of Zappa Plays Zappa. He continues to perform, record and lecture around the world.
outdoor show
all ages
20.00 cover
food and drinks available