A Frank tribute to a musical innovator
Hoodoo
by Ryan O�Malley
Weekender Correspondent
http://www.theweekender.com/music/A_Frank_tribute_to_a_musical_innovator_12-29-2009.html
Sixteen years after his death from prostate cancer, Frank Zappa�s music
continues to reach millions of people and have one of the most
influential impacts on what can be done within the parameters of rock
�n� roll.
While the scope of his musical innovations might not be fully
appreciated for decades to come, another undeniable spawn of Zappa�s
vision is the amount of bands who continue to bring his music to
countless new fans. One act � the long-running Project/Object � is in
the middle of a brief tour, including a stop at the River Street Jazz
Caf? on Wednesday, Jan. 6.
For this run, Project/Object � Andre Cholmondeley, David Johnsen, Jim
Ruffi and Eric Svalgard � will be joined by Zappa�s longtime singer Ike
Willis and singer/guitarist Ray White, both of whom haven�t formally
performed together since Zappa�s 1984 tour.
�It�s like a family thing,� Willis said recently. �I�m Ray�s son�s
godfather, and Ray is my son�s godfather. It�s great, being on stage and
performing together again after all these years. It�s like it never
stopped.�
Constantly keeping busy, the two musicians are juggling multiple
careers. Both are solo artists, with White also having tie-ins to
various Steve Kimock outfits, but the Zappa label has never left. The
acknowledgment is fitting, but like Zappa�s music, there are a few
different angles to it.
�Frank gave me a lot,� White said. �I got to get to the big stage and
see how things are and do what I love to do. After that I was like,
�Thank you.� Go home, jam down and make the man proud.�
�It allowed me to become a performer and a producer and an engineer,�
Willis added. �When I was a kid starting off in bands in the �60s, I
wanted to be onstage playing my guitar and playing for people. � Once I
became involved with Frank, it became much more than that in terms of
composition, musical production and the whole creative process. I guess
that would be the biggest effect on my life.�
Almost two decades after his passing, Zappa�s music continues to not
only effect his former band members but also new acts like
Project/Object, who have built a strong reputation as one of the best
Zappa tribute bands around. Both White and Willis have done Zappa
tribute acts in the past � White with Zappa�s son Dweezil in Zappa Plays
Zappa and Willis being in �about 11 or 12� bands � but it�s the
authenticity of Project/Object that draws the two in.
�With Dweezil, I didn�t know what it was going to be, but I love
Dweezil,� White said. �I�ve known him since he was a kid, and that�s the
family � I�d do anything for them. � I know Andre (Cholmondeley) is an
incredible musician, and the kids he had with him were just awesome.
Everybody was smiling, so that means, �Uh oh, they�re happy.��
�I don�t take a band out on the road unless they can actually pull it
off,� said Willis. �Unless they can do it the way I was taught to do it
by Frank; it�s got to live up to a certain level of quality in terms of
musicianship in order to pull this stuff off. You can�t just mess around
with it.�
With all the Zappa tribute acts out there, Project/Object is doing
something right in order to have two of the most recognizable names from
the original source on the road with it. Whether it�s the authenticity
of the music, the euphoria of the crowd or the reward of being able to
pull off Zappa�s music properly, the band�s brilliant tackling of the
material will be the highlight for the show at the Jazz Caf?.
�When people come out to see Project/Object, at least give them the
thought that the music will be as close to Frank�s as possible,� Willis
said. �We�re lucky here because of people like myself and having Ray. In
the past, we�ve had people like Don Preston and Napoleon (Murphy Brock,
saxophone) and people like that. � It�s not a cover band. We�re playing
our parts the way we recorded it. Everybody is lending as much
authenticity to it as possible.�
�I think that any band � Project/Object, Zappa Plays Zappa, Ugly Radio
Rebellion � anybody out there playing Frank�s music, in a club or under
a tree somewhere, go and see them,� White added. �It�s about the music.
It�s not about personalities, it�s about the music. Come out, enjoy
yourself and let yourself go.�
--
"Think with your dipstick, Jimmy."
Look up the word 'dive' in the dictionary.
After the initial definitions regarding
aquatic and aeronautical topics, you'll
see a photo of this joint.