About/Press

PROJECT/OBJECT formed in the early ’90s as an offshoot from an annual Frank Zappa birthday celebration that took place in guitarist Andre Cholmondeley’s basement in New Jersey. As the event grew in size and popularity, PROJECT/OBJECT decided to take their show on the road, performing Zappa’s music in more cities and larger venues, with a growing set list from every era of Zappa’s 30-year recording career. The band strives to stay true to Frank’s vision of constantly challenging the musicians and the audiences.

During Zappa’s 1984 and 1988 tours, members of PROJECT/OBJECT became friendly with Ike Willis, 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. In 1995, the members of PROJECT/OBJECT sent a tape of a live show to Ike and he was impressed enough that he agreed to come out to the East Coast to join the band onstage for a few gigs in the New York area. After that tremendous first outing, Ike agreed to repeat this experience in the future.

Ike felt the members of PROJECT/OBJECT were able to recreate the fun and excitement that he felt with Frank Zappa on stage. Many other Zappa alumni feel the same way, which has also inspired them to perform with the band, some for entire tours. Since 1998, when the band first took their act on the road, the following alumni have performed with the band: Willis, Napoleon Murphy Brock, Jimmy Carl Black, Ray White, 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.

Frank Zappa was extremely influential to many musicians and bands, especially many jambands, including Phish, moe. and Umphrey’s McGee. While many jamband fans are aware that Frank Zappa was influential, they are largely unfamiliar with his music. Of those who are familiar, many were too young to have seen him in concert. PROJECT/OBJECT is the closest they will get to the live Zappa experience, and the band has been enjoying increasing support from this growing scene.

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.

For Immediate Release Contact: Howie Schnee 11/30/2009 howie@cegmusic.com, (212) 634-0427 x-6 Project/Object Performing The Music Of Frank Zappa Reunites Former Zappa Alumni Ike Willis & Ray White For The First Time In 25 Years Project/Object’s Winter tour is sure to be a memorable one. For the first time in 25 years, Ike Willis & Ray White will tour together, as special guests of the band. These amazing & unique voices were clearly favorites of Frank Zappa’s, as he recorded & 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 & 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 Ray 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 Ike Willis & Ray 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 December 2009 27 Sun Sellersville Theatre Sellersville PA 28 Mon 8×10 Club Baltimore MD 29 Tues Rex Theater Pittsburgh PA 30 Wed Beachland Ballroom Cleveland OH 31 Thurs Mac’s Bar E. Lansing MI January 2010 1 Fri Martyrs Chicago IL 2 Sat Martyrs Chicago IL 3 Sun Miramar Theater Milwaukee WI 5 Tues Appalachian Brewing Co. Harrisburg PA 6 Wed River Street Plains PA 7 Thurs BB King Blues Club New York NY 8 Fri Regatta Bar Cambridge MA 9 Sat Revolution Hall Troy NY 10 Sun Toad’s Place New Haven CT # # #

“Frank Zappa’s music was never easy to play. It called for players who loved both basic three-cord rock and all the whizzing, swerving, whimsical complexities that Zappa could devise. Musicians are still willing to devote themselves tot its wayward intricacies, and Project/Object has been working its way through the Zappa repertory for years.” - New York Times

“Project/Object play Zappa music but they become their own unique band when they jam. Sure Zappa wrote the music and the verses, chorus and heads of all the songs, but Project/Object add electronic accents, textures and sounds to help paint the Zappa canvas.” – Jambands.com

“Project/Object have simultaneously created one of the more scorching guitar albums and the scathing political albums of the past year. It is this powerful one-two punch of mesmerizing musicianship and political/sociological satire that makes “Absolutely Live” one of the strongest albums released in 2000.” - Jambands.com

“Project/Object is one of the top Zappa cover bands touring the country right now and has worked with Ike Willis frequently over the last few years, even collaborating on the very first 'live' production of one of Zappa’s magnum opuses, 'Joe’s Garage'.” – Buffalo News

“When Project/Object hits the road, they make it bleed. While many tributes keep the vibe by donning outfits or looks similar to their heroes, these guys have just worked the chops and capture the sound and complexity of FZ’s staggering work.” – Detroit City Search

“We’re going to be hearing what Frank Zappa sounded like in the past. Actually, at many different points in the past, the Sixties, the Seventies, and the Eighties, all at the hands of Project/Object and their friend, former Zappa lead vocalist, Ike Willis.” – Cosmik Debris Magazine

“Project/Object performs music from every era of Zappa’s 30 year recording career and strives to stay true to Zappa’s vision of constantly challenging both musicians and audiences.” - Freetime Magazine, Rochester

“Frank Zappa is one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, for his virtuosity, for his compositions, and for his fight for freedom of speech. Project/Object is here to show you why.” – Sign On San Diego

“Project/Object, a one-time New Brunswick-based cover band has grown into the most popular Frank Zappa tribute act in the world.” - Courier News, NJ

“Frank Zappa’s musical legacy lives on in performances by tribute bands such as Project/Object, a Red Bank-based band that plays music composed by Mr. Zappa during each of the vastly different phases of his musical life.” - New York Times

“Few people would argue that it’s a courageous task to act as a Frank Zappa tribute band. After all, Zappa was a true icon and musical genius. Nonetheless, there are few such bands, and Project/Object is one that has tackled the matter fairly successfully.” - Relix Magazine

“Project/Object has a repertoire of over 100 Zappa songs, with several arrangements of each tune. (Ike) Willis likens their task to a symphony playing Bach or Beethoven.”– Boston Globe

“Project/Object is a national touring that jams local clubs with fans too young to remember Zappa firsthand and older ones who miss one of rock’s least pretentious and most eccentric and musically gifted geniuses.” - Erie times News

“If Frank Zappa’s December ’93 death cut your chances of ever seeing one of American’s greatest composers, you missed out. But, if you want to see how good a replacement can be to the bona fide article-check out Project/Object.” - Bloomington Independent

“The musicianship was amazing. The song list culled from all parts of Zappa’s long career-was impeccable and true to Zappa tradition, there were lots of stage antics and humor.” - Richmond Music Journal

If you are a diehard fan of legendary Frank Zappa, you definitely don’t want to miss this.” – New Hampshire Online

“Cover bands usually opt for the obvious-yr KISSes, yr Zeppelins, yr Neil Freaking Diamonds-but Project/Object takes no such easy exit, instead choosing to recreate the raunchy surrealism of Frank Zappa.” - Willamet Weekly