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The Band
Dweezil Zappa
Guitar
Guitarist Dweezil Zappa has cocooned himself away
in the studio this past year engineering his own
metamorphosis. "In order for me to play my
father's music correctly I needed to understand
the fundamentals of his music more thoroughly,
which meant a lot of studying." His goal
was to emerge as a "better musician"
as well as a "better guitarist." The
autodidactic Zappa utilized the fruits of his
labor to startling effect on his first album project
in more than six years - Go With What You Know
- featuring a unique guitar rendition of the elder
Zappa's classic instrumental, Peaches En Regalia.
"I actually played along with Frank's guitar
solo from the original 'Hot Rats' master tapes.
He had dedicated that album to me since he was
working on that around the time I was born. It's
cool to hear us playing together note for note
in a stereo time machine."
The album will be independently released to coincide
with the "Zappa Plays Zappa" European
tour which hits the road this May. This is the
first official live concert event of Frank Zappa's
Music since his untimely passing in 1993. Joining
Dweezil on stage will be a hand-picked band of
new, young musicians as well as some legendary
Zappa alumni including Steve Vai, Terry Bozzio,
and Napoleon Murphy Brock.
Dweezil has recorded under his own name and with
his brother, Ahmet, in their band Z. Six-string
heroics aside, Dweezil has nurtured a successful
television career, starting early on as an MTV
veejay when he was only 17. He has appeared in
films (Pretty in Pink, The Running Man with Arnold
Schwarzenegger) and composed the music for several
television shows including the Ben Stiller Show
and the hit WB comedy, The Jamie Kennedy Experiment.
In addition to cauterizing his fingertips learning
to play the music of Frank Zappa for the upcoming
tour, and lending his studio wizardry to the Zappa
archives (his multi-channel production work on
the recent Frank Zappa release, QuAUDIOPHILIAc,
is positively mind-blowing), Dweezil has this
to say about his upcoming album,"To me the
record is like a weird audio movie. I really tried
to create an interesting flow with it." And
the tour rehearsals, "Prepping for the tour
has been like preparing for a medieval battle
where going into it your sharpest weapon is a
spoon. But I'm pretty deadly with that spoon now."
Aaron Arntz
Keyboards & Trumpet
Aaron Arntz is a musical mad scientist, with the
pointy beard to prove it. He owes as much of his
musical abilities and proclivities to his love
of Calculus as he does to twenty-plus years of
dedicated cultivation. In 2003, Arntz earned a
Bachelor of Science degree in Jazz Studies from
the University of Southern California, where he
studied jazz piano under like-minded maniacs,
such as Alan Pasqua and Bill Cunliffe. He also
gleaned a thing or two about composition under
Donald Crockett. Over the last six years, many
L.A. rock bands (Troika, B.R.A.M., The Red Elvises,
Telepathy, and Ascendant) have served as suitable
laboratories for Arntz’s sonic experiments,
enabling him to showcase his unique talents across
the nation.
Scheila Gonzalez
Saxophone, Flute, Keyboards & Vocals
Scheila Gonzalez was born in Los Angeles, California
on August 5th, 1971. Her mother first enrolled
her in piano lessons at the age of four. At the
age of twelve she fell in love with the saxophone
and she has never looked back. This versatile
artist and educator can be heard on numerous recordings
and in a variety of musical settings. Scheila
has toured throughout Europe and Japan and extensively
in the United States. She has had the opportunity
to perform in prestigious venues such as Lincoln
Center, The Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, Walt
Disney Hall and the Kodak Theater. Over the years
Scheila has performed with Lionel Hampton, Diane
Schuur, Joe Williams, Nancy Wilson, Alex Acuna,
Billy Davis, Marylin McCoo, Ray Parker Jr. and
Billy Preston to name a few.
Some of her television appearances include The
Tonight Show with Jay Leno backing up country
music artist Garth Brooks and more recently the
BET Music Awards with Sheila E. supporting Best
Hip-Hop Artist Nominee T.I. She will soon be seen
in the new Christopher Guest film "For Your
Consideration" scheduled for release this
Fall.
Scheila is an exceptional performer who embraces
opportunities to play in diverse musical situations.
Scheila's skills on woodwinds, keyboards and vocals
keep her in demand. She thrives on the challenge
and her passion for life is felt in every note
she plays. Regardless of what style or instrument
she's playing, every phrase is soulful and she
performs with the ease of a true professional.
She approaches all of her musical endeavors with
great joy and if you ask her you will find that
Scheila feels extremely blessed to get to do what
she does.
Pete Griffin
Bass
Griffin grew up outside of New York and has been
playing music since he was young. He began on
the trumpet during elementary school, but it wasn't
until he received his first bass in the seventh
grade that his passion was fully ignited. Soon
he was playing with his high school's jazz band,
and then eventually his local All-County and All-State
jazz bands.
Unfortunately, tragedy would compel Griffin to
make music his life's calling. In 1996, Griffin's
friend and teacher, Dan Binggeli, died at the
age of nineteen. For a time, Pete's only comfort
was in playing music. Soon, Griffin was asked
to join Uncle Funkle, Binggeli's band, and he
decided to seize the chance for a life in music
Binggeli never had.
To help guide his new found sense of direction,
Griffin chose to further study his craft. He was
accepted to Northwestern University's well-known
School of Music outside of Chicago. There he was
deeply immersed in the study of jazz and classical,
while also taking lessons under Steve Rodby of
the influential jazz outfit The Pat Metheny Group.
From him, Griffin learned to concentrate on playing
less notes and making them count more.
Graduating in 2001 with a B.A. in Music, Griffin
immediately moved to Los Angeles. Eventually,
he began to work at the Musician's Institute as
a teacher's assistant, as well as attending every
audition he heard about. After playing a few shows
with Save Ferris's Monique Powell, Griffin began
to play bass for Hanson in 2003, touring the US
and Asia in 2004 and appearing on several TV shows
including The Tonight Show, The Today Show, and
Good Morning America. In 2005 Pete played on Hanson's
live album "Live and Electric," in addition
to playing a few shows with the Edgar Winter Band.
In early 2006 Pete was picked to play for the
Zappa Plays Zappa tour with Dweezil Zappa, Steve
Vai and others.
Billy Hulting
Marimba, Mallets & Percussion
Billy was born with non-violent inclinations.
He was also born with an extreme desire to hit
things. He did, at an early age, find some common
ground in this dichotomy in the world of percussion.
After eleven years, the tolerating Mr. and Mrs.
Hulting agreed to let him start with the drums.
Music led him to college at California State University
at Northridge where he got a Bachelor of Music
Degree in the Studio Music Option (so what if
it took six years). Two weeks after graduation
he went on the road with Maynard Ferguson’s
High Voltage 2. He later toured with Maynard’s
60th Birthday Big Band and recorded albums with
both groups. During the Maynard days he did the
Nia Peeples tour of Japan. He then toured for
two years with Natalie Cole followed by Barry
Manilow.
Billy had been touring for over thirteen years
with Lou Rawls until he passed away recently.
In the last few years Billy also toured with The
Rippingtons, Patti Labelle, and The Manhattan
Transfer. Billy also co-wrote one of the songs
on their CD "Vibrate." He is now touring
with Zappa Plays Zappa - a band led by Dweezil
Zappa performing the music of Frank Zappa. Several
years ago Billy released his first CD - The Hundredth
Monkey on the Truemedia label. He has worked with
many others including Clare Fisher, Luci Arnaz,
and Howard Hewitt. Billy also stays busy in town
doing shows, sessions, playing with his trio and
his fusion group. His hobbys include sailing,
SCUBA diving, skating in-line marathons, and cooking
spicy vegan foods from all over the world (his
Jamaican Jerk Marinade is not for the weak).
Jamie Kime
Guitar
A native of San Diego, CA., guitarist Jamie Kime
attended the Musician’s Institute in Hollywood,
CA., studied improv privately with Peter Sprague
and harmony with Ted Greene, and has performed,
recorded, and/or toured with Jewel, Michelle Branch,
and legendary Austin, Texas-based blues/soul vocalist
Malford Milligan in The Boneshakers, and many
other amazing artists that, according to Jamie,
“you’ve probably never heard of”.
When he’s home in Los Angeles, he hosts a
weekly Monday night gig at the world famous Baked
Potato.
On his gig with ZPZ, Jamie says, “Upon being
asked by Dweezil to be a part of the band, I knew
it would be equal parts challenging and rewarding.
But, I had no idea how much of a junkie I would
become for this music. I’m now constantly
searching Frank’s vast catalog for new songs
to learn in addition to periodically revisiting
the songs we’ve been playing for months now,
every time discovering new things I hadn’t
heard before. Every musician should take some
time to immerse themselves in the music of Frank
Zappa - you’ll be hooked for life, and be
a better player for it!”
Joe Travers
Drums & Vocals
From Erie, PA. Schooled at The Berklee College
Of Music from 1988-1992. Drummer for numerous
live outfits over the years including but not
limited to Z (Ahmet & Dweezil Zappa), Duran
Duran, Billy Idol, Lisa Loeb and Drake Bell. Vaultmeister
for the Zappa Family Trust since 1995. Currently
drumming with Zappa Plays Zappa.
SPECIAL GUESTS:
Napoleon Murphy Brock
Vocals, Saxophone & Flute
Check back for Napoleon's bio soon...
Terry Bozzio
Drums
Steve Vai
Guitar
Described as "the world's most gifted guitar
virtuoso," Steve Vai's sheer breathtaking
facility on the guitar is acclaimed in the rock
world and beyond. Starting with his groundbreaking
"Passion and Warfare" album in 1990,
and throughout the years since, Vai has consistently
used music as a microscope peering into the human
spirit, with equal attention paid to both the
darkest obsessions and the most exalted impulses
contained there. While Vai clearly had what was
needed to make indelible impressions during his
stays with Frank Zappa, David Lee Roth and Whitesnake,
it's as a solo artist that he's made his most
precious contributions. Each of his solo releases
are unique, varied, compelling and, even when
the music is looking darkness square in the face,
genuinely uplifting. His latest album, "Real
Illusions," is a major achievement from a
musical alchemist of the highest order and earned
Vai his tenth Grammy nomination. In addition to
his recording and touring career, Steve is involved
with many worthwhile organizations. He is a Trustee
for NARAS (National Academy of the Recording Arts
and Sciences) and works closely with his own Make
a Noise Foundation, raising money for music education.
For tour dates go to www.zappa.com
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