Add in the mid-evening set by the Los Angeles trio La Lom \u2014 which specializes in a dance-happy mix of cumbia, boleros, rockabilly and more \u2014 and trying to steal the show becomes an even more daunting challenge.<\/p>\n
But don\u2019t be surprised if The Womack Sisters, whose opening set at Friday night\u2019s concert will mark their San Diego debut open, score the biggest triumph of the evening.<\/p>\n
The siblings \u2014 Kucha, Zeimani and BG \u2014 are fresh, vibrant singers who have deep musical bloodlines as the granddaughters of Sam Cooke. They are the daughters of singer-songwriters Cecil and Linda Womack, whose resum\u00e9 includes writing memorable songs that have been recorded by Wilson Pickett, James Taylor, Teddy Pendergrass, Eric Clapton, The O\u2019Jays and Bobby Womack, who is the late Cecil\u2019s brother.<\/p>\n
The three sisters cut their teeth as harmony singers on tours with their parents, whose own hits included \u201cTeardrops,\u201d \u201cLove Wars,\u201d \u201cCelebrate\u201d and \u201cUptown.\u201d Their parents\u2019 careers resulted in a lot of traveling and the sisters grew up in Bangkok, Paris, Johannesburg, Amsterdam and \u2014 primarily \u2014 London.<\/p>\n
The sisters were kids when they made their recording debut, along with their four other siblings, on their parents\u2019 terrific 1993 album, \u201cTransformation to the House of Zekkariyas.\u201d One of the sisters, Zeimani, was a baby when she appeared on the cover of Womack and Womack\u2019s 1983 album, \u201cConscience.\u201d<\/p>\n
Released Aug. 14, The Womack Sisters\u2019 self-titled debut album is an unassuming delight. Steeped in classic 1960s soul, the sisters deftly trade off on lead and harmony vocals. Their songs sound both fresh and nostalgic, and at times, evoke a reborn Diana Ross & The Supremes, by way of Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings.<\/p>\n
By coincidence, the sisters record for Daptone Records. That\u2019s the same Brooklyn label whose roster also includes Thee Sacred Souls and was the home to Sharon Jones until her death in 2016.<\/p>\n
The sisters\u2019 songwriting chops are solid \u2014 no surprise given their lineage \u2014 and their interplay as singers is a constant delight. Standout selections on the album include the blues-drenched \u201cI Just Don\u2019t Want You (To Say Goodbye),\u201d the musically jaunty \u201cIf I Let You,\u201d the alternately yearning and empowering \u201cChauffeur\u201d (a song inspired by the sisters\u2019 experiences as Uber drivers in Los Angeles) and the gospel-drenched \u201cMy Sisters and Me\u201d (which stylistically sounds like an homage to their legendary grandfather)<\/p>\n
Speaking of Sam Cooke, missing from the album is a Cooke classic that is a stirring staple of the sisters\u2019 live shows, a terrific 2022 version of \u201cA Change Is Gonna Come.\u201d\u00a0 Their concerts also include a potent rendition of their parents\u2019 biggest hits \u201cTeardrops.\u201d<\/p>\n
Having performed recently at the nearly 18,000-capacity Hollywood Bowl, The Womack Sisters are no strangers to large concert settings. Here\u2019s hoping their concert here in the shadow of Petco Park will be a home run.<\/p>\n
7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28. Gallagher Square at Petco Park, 899 J Street, downtown. $93.02. ticketmaster.com<\/a><\/p>\n Susan J. Weiand \/ Courtesy Stinkfoot Orchestra<\/p>\n The Stinkfoot Orchestra will salute the music of Frank Zappa with former Zappa band singer and saxophonist Napoleon Murphy Brock, shown at center in back and white t-shit. (Susan J. Weiand \/ Courtesy Stinkfoot Orchestra)<\/p>\n The Stinkfoot Orchestra, featuring Napoleon Murphy Brock<\/p>\n Quick! Name each and evert Frank Zappa tribute band that has emerged since the 1993 death of Zappa, the iconoclastic composer, guitarist, band leader and cultural provocateur who drummed in the San Diego band The Blackouts and attended both Mission Bay and Grossmont high schools.<\/p>\n That\u2019s a near impossible task given how many Zappa tribute groups have performed around the globe. They range from Connecticut\u2019s Z3 and New York\u2019s Ed Palermo Big Band and Project Object to\u00a0 Brazil\u2019s Let\u2019s Zappalin, Japan\u2019s Zoot, England\u2019s Zappatistas and the mid 1990s Irish band The Sons of Mr. Green Genes, which featured the then-19-year-old actor Cillian Murphy on guitar.<\/p>\n Closer to home, San Francisco\u2019s brassy Stinkfoot Orchestra was launched in 2021. Stinkfoot, which boasts a 14-member lineup, made its San Diego debut in 2024, with former Zappa band mainstay Napoleon Murphy Brock as its featured guest.<\/p>\n The group\u2019s return gig here Friday night at Music Box again teams them with singer and saxophonist Brock, who will be featured on such Zappa favorites as \u201cMontana,\u201d \u201cUncle Meat,\u201d \u201cCamarillo Brillo,\u201d \u201cI\u2019m The Slime\u201d and more. And for those who want to hear a Zappa live in the flesh, Frank\u2019s oldest son, Dweezil, will perform here Nov. 27 at The Magnolia in El Cajon as part of his \u201cLike Father, Like Son\u201d tour.<\/p>\n 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28. The Music Box, 1337 India Street, Little Italy. $31.66 (must be 21 or older to attend). ticketweb.com<\/a><\/p>\n Six bassists walk into a bar\u2026<\/p>\n That\u2019s no joke.<\/p>\n San Diego jazz standout Rob Thorsen debuted his annual bass summit concerts 18 years ago to showcase the wealth of area musical talent on the instrument he has devoted his life to.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s lineup will team him with former Miles Davis and Roberta Flack bass great Marshall Hawkins, Katie Thiroux, Collier Keitani, Justin Grinnell and Julian Esparza. Each will be featured individually and will team up for two songs together.<\/p>\n Pianist Melonie Grinnell and drummer Richard Sellers will accompany all of them. Admission is free, so arrive early to ensure you get a good seat \u2014 or any seat at all.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Stinkfoot.webp\")
<\/p>\n![\"Marshall](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/RPE-L-JAZZFEST-0523-06.jpg\")
Former Miles Davis and Roberta Flack basisst Marshall Hawkins will perform Sunday at the Bass Summit at Tio Leo\u2019s in Bay Park. (Courtesy of Scott Edwards-Silva, Idyllwild Arts)
\nRob Thorsen\u2019s Bass Summit, featuring Marshall Hawkins<\/p>\n