Ray White and Ike Willis Reunite with Project/Object

PROJECT/OBJECT PEFORMING THE MUSIC OF FRANK ZAPPA REUNITES
FORMER ZAPPA ALUMNI IKE WILLIS & RAY WHITE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 25 YEARS

Project/Object

For the first time in 25 years Project/Object will have, as special guests, Ike Willis and Ray White. These amazing and unique voices were clearly favorites of Frank Zappa‘s, as he recorded and toured with one or both of them from 1976 till his last tour in 1988. Together, they created some of the most memorable performances of Frank Zappa’s music, and Project/Object will bring them together for the fans; performing songs they are each known for, as well as songs from classic Zappa albums they recorded together.

Ike Willis is the legendary 10-plus year Zappa vocalist and guitarist whose career with Frank began in the role of “Joe” on the quintessential Zappa album, Joe’s Garage. He toured with Zappa’s band in 1978 and appeared on every Zappa tour thereafter; and almost every album until Frank Zappa’s tragic early death. Ike played an integral role in Zappa’s final tour in 1988, which some say was his most historic tour, and one that he richly represented to his fan base with several live recordings.

Ray White is a soul vocalist and rock and blues guitarist, best-known as a member of Frank Zappa’s touring ensembles. He was drafted into Zappa’s band in the fall of 1976, being featured on rhythm guitar and vocals, forming a memorable vocal harmony partnership with Ike Willis on later tours in 1980 and 1984. He participated on the albums Zappa in New York, Joe’s Garage, Tinsel Town Rebellion, You Are What You Is, and more. Ray has also worked with jam-oriented groups like KVHW and Umphrey’s McGee since his contributions to the Zappa band, and more recently, in summer 2007 White joined Dweezil Zappa as a special guest for the Zappa Plays Zappa Tour.

One of Frank’s greatest skills was his incredible sixth sense in identifying something magical in each of the musicians he hired. Recognizing this – Project/Object continues it’s singular mission to present the music as it was recorded – but also to respect and develop the creative “live” aspect that Zappa always pushed his band towards.

The members of Project/Object feel that Frank Zappa is one of the 20th Century’s greatest and most important composers, and they are on a mission to bring his music to the masses by faithfully recreating the live Zappa experience. The band strives to stay true to Frank’s vision of constantly challenging the musicians and the audiences.

In addition to Willis and White, many other Zappa alumni have performed with the band including Napoleon Murphy Brock, Jimmy Carl Black, Don Preston, Bunk Gardner, Denny Walley, Mike Keneally, Arthur Barrow, Ed Mann, Roy Estrada, Billy Mundi, and even Al Malkin. Other notable artists they’ve collaborated with include Phish‘s Jon Fishman, Capt. Beefheart/Jeff Buckley guitarist Gary Lucas, Chuck Garvey, Al Schnier, and Jim Loughlin of moe., New York City big band leader and “Zappologist” Ed Palermo, and Dweezil Zappa drummer Jerry Cucurullo. In every new market they visit, Project/Object converts the curious into dedicated fans. They want to remind old Zappa fans of the way it used to be and let younger fans, that never experienced a Zappa show, see and hear the way it was.

Project/Object Holiday Tour Dates
12/27/09 Sun Sellersville Theater 1894 Sellersville, PA
12/28/09 Mon The 8X10 Baltimore, MD
12/29/09 Tue Rex Theater Pittsburgh, PA
12/30/09 Wed Beachland Ballroom/Tavern Cleveland, OH
12/31/09 Thu Mac’s Bar Lansing, MI
01/01/10 Fri Martyrs’ Chicago, IL
01/02/10 Sat Martyrs’ Chicago, IL
01/03/10 Sun The Miramar Theatre Milwaukee, WI
01/05/10 Tue Appalachian Brewing Company Harrisburg, PA
01/06/10 Wed River Street Jazz Cafe Wilkes Barre, PA
01/07/10 Thu B.B. King Blues Club New York, NY
01/08/10 Fri Regattabar Cambridge, MA
01/09/10 Sat Revolution Hall Troy, NY
01/10/10 Sun Toad’s Place New Haven, CT