Ike Willis to Perform at Stanhope House Oct. 7

Ike Willis is best known as the longtime guitarist and vocalist for the late Frank Zappa, particularly for his work on "Joe's Garage," Zappa's 1979 landmark rock opera. Willis performed on nearly every Zappa album and tour from 1979 to 1988.

What many may not know is that Willis is also a renowned solo artist. His two albums, "Should'a Gone Before I Left" and "Dirty Pictures," are superb slabs of progressive rock, pop and jazz, with some reggae mixed in. Now fans will get a chance to hear those solo tracks, along with Zappa material, as the Ike Willis Project sets out on a tour that includes a gig on Saturday, Oct. 7, at the Stanhope House in Stanhope.

Backing Ike up is a standout band featuring guitarist JP Cervoni (Buddy Miles, the Babys), two-time Grammy nominated drummer Duane Waider, keyboardist Shane Cotter (The Chambers Brothers, Bo Diddley), and bassist Robert Byrnes (Michael McDonald).

Make sure to come out early. Opening the show is Micki Free, who won a Grammy as a Prince protégé in the R&B/soul/funk band Shalamar.

We recently spoke to Ike Willis

This is your first tour as the Ike Willis Project. How will this show be different from your previous performances with Project/Object and other Zappa-centric bands?

I'll be playing a lot more of my solo material, which will be a lot of fun. There will be some Frank, naturally, from albums like "Joe's Garage."

How would you describe your solo work?

Everybody asks if it's inspired by Frank but it's really not. That's what Frank really liked about my original music, that I never tried to sound like him. Some of the people from his band go solo and their tunes end up sounding like Frank's. I think my music is as original as it gets. I get an idea and I put it down and I run with it. Sometimes the idea doesn't take shape as a song for 10 years. Sometimes it takes 10 minutes to form the song. There's no set formula.

How did you come to join Frank Zappa's band?

I was attending Washington University in St. Louis and Frank came to play in 1977. I was on the local crew and after the show, I don't know why, we were in the hospitality lounge and he called me over to his table and asked me if I played, if was I musician. I was trying not to bother him but he kept me there. We talked for like two hours. He handed me a guitar and made me play and sing. To make a long story short he invited me out to LA to audition for his band. The rest, as they say, is history.

Are you working on any new music at the moment?

I've got at least three or four albums of material. I've fallen behind! My wife and I have been house hunting for the past couple years, trying to get into a place that's suitable enough to write and record. My wife is a good songwriter and I plan to have a couple of her songs on my next album. It's coming, eventually. Hopefully next year.

More Info

www.ikewillis.com

www.facebook.com/theikewillisp...

www.facebook.com/OfficialMicki...

IF YOU GO

Ike Willis Project, Micki Free, Busse & the Vibes, The Space Cats, and Wig Party.

6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7.

$20.

Stanhope House, 45 Main St., Stanhope.

Stanhopehousenj.com or 973-347-7777.