Colonel Mustard’s Mechanical Orchestra

Colonel Mustard’s Mechanical Orchestra is a New Orleans and Balkans styled brass band playing the music of Paul Fonfara. Our repertoire includes cinematic avant spy jazz, tango, klezmer, modern modal takes on traditional Balkans sounds and vintage-esque big band arrangements. Think John Zorn polka, Duke Ellington in an episode of Twin Peaks, the Johnny Quest theme played by Tom Waits, Ennio Morricone drinking cheap boxed wine, and Charles Mingus driving a 1976 Gremlin. Some tunes are thinkers and some are shakers. Paul’s last record received a 4-star review in Downbeat, he has composed film scores for Netflix, Hulu, NBC, and his playing can be heard in many TV shows such as Breaking Bad. 

The Mechanical Orchestra features the regular talents of Bill Simenson, Riley Helgeson, Jake Baldwin, Shane Cox, Brad Holden, Matty Harris, Ben Link, Matt Healy, Chris Hepola, Craig Hill and Eric Struve along with many guest musicians.