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The Stinkfoot Orchestra pulls no punches – delivering 2 sets of Frank’s music via a 14-piece ensemble which incorporates a 6-piece horn section, tuned percussion and 5 vocalists. Oh, and, just to add a little extra garlic, the band is also fronted alternately by 3 of Frank’s most iconic vocalists.Founded in 2019 by Nick Chargin – a 35-year veteran of the SF Bay Area music scene, the Stinkfoot Orchestra spent the pandemic transcribing the music and honing their craft – finally bringing the fruits of their labor to the stage in September of 2021. SFO is dedicated to presenting Zappa’s compositions with the respect they deserve and the musicianship required to execute properly.
The ensemble has toured up and down the West Coast since the Summer of 2022 – constantly expanding their reach and exposing a whole new generation to the music as it was meant to be heard while leaving even the most critical Zappa fans pining for more.
Given the amount of effort required to perform much of Zappa’s material, one might question what motivates this group of musicians to dedicate themselves to such a huge undertaking. Nick’s response is simple…
“This music is historically important – and I feel it is the responsibility of those who ‘get it’ to help keep it alive and, hopefully, introduce more people to it. On any given night, I realize that we may serve as someone’s first exposure to Frank Zappa – and I don’t take that responsibility lightly.”
“It has been a tremendous amount of work, but I cannot even begin to list the ways in which it has been fulfilling for me as a musician”, Nick continues. “Yes, getting the lines under our fingers has been a challenge, but that merely scratches the surface of what it has taken to bring this project to the stage. Most of the horn charts were transcribed by ear from various (Zappa) ensembles by Dbone, Hassan and me – but I had never created a horn chart in my life – quite a way to cut one’s teeth…” he says. “Never mind the logistics involved with getting such a large group of working musicians together and dealing with all managerial aspects of the band. Yeah – it’s been a full-time job for me for the past few years, but well worth the effort. I’m very proud of what we have put together. Perhaps I’m a bit biased, but I think people are going to be blown away by this project.”
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Rogue Theatre, 143 SE H St, Grants Pass, OR 97526-3036, United States
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