On April 25th, the Hilo Jazz Orchestra (HJO) returns to the historic Hilo Palace Theater for a milestone event: the 10th Annual Frank Zappa Tribute Concert. This year’s performance is more than a celebration of Frank Zappa’s avant-jazz-rock-fusion; it serves as the official send-off and fundraiser for the ensemble’s upcoming journey to perform at Zappanale 35, the world’s biggest Zappa music festival, in Bad Doberan, Germany.

Led by director and guitarist Trever Veilleux, the 10th-anniversary concert lineup brings together a who's who of Big Island musicians. The stage will feature soulful lead vocals from Ka‘ikena Scanlan, alongside co-lead vocalist Josh Timmons who doubles on trumpet. Saxophonists Payton Meyer and Heather Sexton complete the horn section and sing harmony. Providing the rock-solid foundation for Zappa’s intricate rhythmic shifts are Isaac Nahuewai on bass and vocals, Jimi Little on keyboards, and Tom Yoes on drums, with Sean Luscombe and Jacob Markoff rounding out a formidable three-guitar attack.