joe travers

Joe Travers was the drummer for Dweezil & Ahmet Zappa's group "Z", then fell into the job of "Vaultmeister" for the Zappa Family Trust to archive and preserve the contents of Frank Zappa's extensive vault. He is the Joe in "Joe's Corsage" and "Joe's Domage"...

Throughout this time Joe has been involved in a number of live performing groups (Duran Duran, Warren Cuccurullo, Lisa Loeb, Mike Keneally & Beer for Dolphins, Gryphon Labs & currently Zappa Plays Zappa) and studio projects in and around Los Angeles.

The WesFest 8 Festival featured Joe Travers & Friends (Scheila Gonzalez, Kurt Morgan, Ben Thomas, Rick Musallam, James Santiago and Rico Belled). For Wesfest 2013, Joe and his group were joined by special guest vocalist Holland Greco.

February 2015, Joe Travers teamed up with Kurt Morgan (and some more ZpZ-members) to perform as Yogurt.
The band did two Zappa shows at The Baked Potato.

	z: shampoo horn (1994, cd, usa, barking pumpkin r2 71760) / american edition, = ahmet & dweezil zappa, feat. mike keneally, joe travers, bryan beller, scott thunes, terry bozzio, morgan ågren
	mike keneally: boil that dust speck (2) (1994, cd, usa, immune records)
	z: music for pets (1995, cd, usa, zappa records) = ahmet & dweezil zappa, feat. mike keneally
66	frank zappa: frank zappa plays the music of frank zappa (1996, cd, usa, barking pumpkin)
	mike keneally & beer for dolphins: sluggo (4) (1997, cd, usa, immune records)
	lisa loeb: cake and pie (2002, cd, usa, a&m records 493 242-2) - feat.dweezil zappa, lala sloatman, joe travers
	lisa loeb: hello lisa (2002, cd, usa, sheridan square records 751151-2) - feat.dweezil zappa, lala sloatman, joe travers
71	frank zappa: halloween (2003, dvda, usa, dts entertainment 69286-01101-9-9) - vaultmeisterment
	bryan beller: view (2003, cd, usa, onion boy records obr-6913001) - feat. mike keneally, joe travers
	lisa loeb: the way it really is (2004, cd, usa, zoe records) - feat.dweezil zappa, joe travers
72	frank zappa: joe's corsage (2004, cd, usa, vaulternative records) - vaultmeisterment
73	frank zappa: joe's domage (2004, cd, usa, vaulternative records) - vaultmeisterment
74	frank zappa: quaudiophiliac (2004, dvda, usa, dts entertainment 69286-01125-9-9) - vaultmeisterment
75	frank zappa: joe's xmasage (2005, cd, usa, vaulternative records) - vaultmeisterment
	mike keneally band: guitar therapy live (2006, cd + dvd, usa, exowax 2408-1)
76	frank zappa: imaginary diseases (2006, cd, usa, zappa records) - vaultmeisterment
	mike keneally: boil that dust speck (2007, cd+dvd, usa, exowax) - reissue with bonus disc
	zappa plays zappa: zappa plays zappa (2007, 2dvd, eu, strobosonic strobo-d-100) - all compositions by frank zappa, feat.dweezil zappa, n.m.brock, s.vai & t.bozzio
	various artists: video games live - volume one (2008, cd, usa, emi) - feat.dweezil zappa, joe travers, pete griffin
	zappa plays zappa: zappa plays zappa (2008, cd, usa, razor & tie 7930182993-2) - all compositions by frank zappa, feat.dweezil zappa, n.m.brock, s.vai & t.bozzio
	zappa plays zappa: zappa plays zappa (2008, 2dvd, usa, razor & tie 7930182997-9) - all compositions by frank zappa, feat.dweezil zappa, n.m.brock, s.vai & t.bozzio
	zappa plays zappa: zappa plays zappa (2008, 2dvd + 3cd, usa, razor & tie 7930182997-9) - all compositions by frank zappa, feat.dweezil zappa, n.m.brock, s.vai & t.bozzio
83	frank zappa: one shot deal (2008, cd, usa, zappa records)
	gryphon labs: the blinded ep (2008, download, usa, --)
	various artists: the frank zappa aaafnraaa birthday bundle 21 dec 2008 (2008, itunes, -) - feat. frank, dweezil, ahmet & diva zappa
	mike keneally: scambot 1 (2009, 2cd, usa, exowax ex-2410) - limited, numbered edition with bonus disc
	mike keneally: scambot 1 (2009, cd, usa, exowax ex-2410)
	frank zappa: philly '76 (2009, 2cd, usa, vaulternative records) = vaultmeister & producer
	dweezil zappa: return of the son of... (2010, 2cd, usa, razor & tie) - all compositions by frank zappa // feat. ray white
	chicanery: chicanery (2010, cd, usa, dpulse) = a warren cuccurullo project / feat. terry bozzio, joe travers
	frank zappa: congress shall make no law... (2010, cd, usa, zappa records zr20011)
	gryphon labs: modern mythology (2010, download, usa, --)
	frank zappa: hammersmith odeon (2010, 3cd, usa, vaulternative records 20101) - production & vaultmeisterment
	various artists: the frank zappa aaafnraaaa birthday bundle 21 dec 2010 (2010, itunes, -) - feat. frank, dweezil, ahmet zappa
	bryan beller: wednesday night live (2011, cd, usa, onion boy records obr-6913004) - feat. mike keneally, joe travers
	bryan beller: wednesday night live (2011, dvd, usa, onion boy records obr-6913005) - feat. mike keneally, joe travers
	frank zappa: penguin in bondage - the little known history of the mothers of invention (2011, download, usa, zappa records) - vaultmeisterment
	mike keneally band: bakin' @ the potato (2011, cd/dvd, usa, exowax) - feat. bryan beller, joe travers
	gryphon labs: the red room (2011, download, usa, bandcamp)
	dweezil zappa: live - 'in the moment' (2011, 2cd, usa, fantom records fr1 112011)
91	frank zappa & the mothers of invention: carnegie hall (2011, 4cd, usa, vaulternative records) - vaultmeisterment
	dweezil zappa: return of the son of... (2011, 3lp, eu, music on vinyl movlp257) - all compositions by frank zappa // feat. ray white // vinyl release of the 2010 2cd album
	dweezil zappa: f.o.h. (2012, 2cd, usa, fantom records) - all compositions by frank zappa / = zappa plays zappa
	dweezil zappa: f.o.h. III - out of obscurity (2012, cd, usa, fantom records) - all compositions by frank zappa / = zappa plays zappa, feat. scott thunes
92	frank zappa: road tapes - kerrisdale arena, vancouver bc, 25 august 1968 (2012, cd, usa, vaulternative records)
93	frank zappa: understanding america (2012, 2cd, usa, zappa records)
94	frank zappa: finer moments (2012, cd, usa, zappa records) - vaultmeisterment
	various artists: jazzism - colive! (2013, cd, nl, radio 6 / ntr / jazzism) - feat. mike keneally, napoleon murphy brock & steve vai
	mike keneally: you must be this tall (2013, cd, usa, exowax) - feat. bryan beller, joe travers, marco minnemann
	mike keneally: sluggo! (2013, 2cd + 2dvd, usa, exowax) = reissue with lots of bonus material
	morgan ågren: conundrum (a percussive misadventures) (2013, dvd, usa, bend bars / lift gates films) - feat. frank zappa, mats öberg, dweezil zappa, marco minnemann, mike keneally, joe travers
	morgan ågren: conundrum undone - the deleted scenes (2014, download, usa, bend bars / lift gates films) = deleted scenes from the conundrum documentary
	various artists: the frank zappa aaafnraa 2014 birthday bundle (2014, download, --, barfko-swill)
	dweezil zappa: via zammata' demos and rarities (2015, download, usa, private release) - incl. 'dragonmaster (frank zappa / dweezil zappa), incl. z's '70's medley nyc 1995' with snippets of frank zappa compositions ('florentine pogen', 'i'm the slime')
	warren cuccurullo: n'liten up (2015, download, --, bandcamp) - feat. joe travers, dale bozzio, shenkar
101	los angeles philharmonic: frank zappa - 200 motels the suites (2015, 2cd, usa, zappa records zr0019)
104	frank zappa: the crux of the biscuit (2016, cd, usa, zappa records zr20020)
105	frank zappa: frank zappa for president (2016, cd, usa, zappa records zr 20021)
	mike keneally: scambot 2 (2016, 2cd, usa, exowax ex-2015-1) - feat.ben thomas, pete griffin, bryan beller, marco minnemann, joe travers
106	frank zappa: zappatite (2016, cd, usa, zappa records zr20023) = compilation
	frank zappa: rollo / portland improvisation (2017, 10", usa, zappa records bpr1230) - record store day release
	documentary: frank zappa - summer '82 - when zappa came to sicily (2017, blu-ray, usa, mvd visual) - featuring massimo bassoli, frank, gail, dweezil, moon and diva zappa, thomas nordegg and steve vai
	bryan beller: scenes from the flood (2019, 2cd, usa, onion boy records) - feat. joe satriani, joe travers, mike keneally, jamie kime, guthrie govan

From: Stan Ivester (ivester@utk.edu)
the current vaultmeister, Joe Travers, has recently stated that he's continuing to assemble concert tapes for future projects down in the vault. When anything else will be released, however, is anyone's guess.

From: Stu Mark (stumark@earthlink.net)
Here's the link:
http://www.idiotbastard.supanet.com/you-call-that-news-/odyframe.htm

and here's the relevant copy:
Recently asked by Privacy "What's going on with the Zappa material? What does a vaultmeister do?" Joe Travers had this to say: "Well, not much going on at the moment. Hopefully that will change soon. A vaultmeister is a person who looks after the tape vaults and knows all the necessary information to document the contents. I preserve the tapes by transferring them to an updated format. By doing so I get to listen to unreleased music for future projects. I've been doing it now for a few years and have come across some great things. I love my job. And I love Frank Zappa's music."

From: Antal Adriaanse (antal67SPAM@SPAMhotmail.comZbrg)
Note: the Vaultmeister will be touring the UK with Duran Duran next month. (12/00)

From: MASTERRINGO
I know Joe doesn't work there every day when he's on tour so is the studio closed up when he's not there? or do other continue to tweeze the masters work.

From: Jon Naurin (naurin@mbox300.swopnet.se)
I don't know the exact details about how and when they are working, but I know Joe has (or had last I heard) at least one colleague (who is not a full-time employee).

From: Andrew Greenaway (idiotbastard@supanet.com)
Just thought you oughta know about The Idiot Bastard's new and exclusive interview with the Vaultmeister, Joe Travers. Find out what he thinks about Chelsea FC and a bunch of other stuff at
http://www.idiotbastard.supanet.com/interviews/odyframe.htm

From: Antal Adriaanse
I can't remember having seen this mentioned here:
http://www.eyeinhand.com/travers.html

Joe Travers is known among the Zappa fans for beeing the "Vaultmeister": the legendary human who preserves the Zappa masters from getting damaged by the passing of time and the lucky one that can hear all the unreleased gems from the greatest composer ever and gets paid to do it.
But he is also an incredibly gifted drummer who has played with "Z", "Mike Keneally & Beer For Dolphins", Warren Cuccurullo and Glenn Hugues among others. He has recently joined "Duran Duran" on tour, so watch out for "Duran Duran" concerts near you to see Joe in action.

JT: I got my first drumset on my 5th birthday 8/20/73. There is a picture of that important day on the splash page of my website. Why? I was born with it in my blood, so it wasn't really a choice. It was all I knew, all I felt. Made total sense to me at an insanely young age.

JT: My Uncle Gary played me "Sheik Yerbouti" when it came out in 1979. I was 10 years old.

JT: Z was a blast. As of late it's "BALL". (A band I play in here in L.A.)
clik here for more- http://www.briantichy.com

JT: I really can't choose one. It changes so much & I love them all. Probably "Hot Rats" is way up there!

EIHE: You play in the new Dweezil Zappa CD Automatic. When was the music recorded?

JT: Some of it is from the "Shampoo Horn" sessions 1991. The stuff with me was recorded over a period of a couple years or so. Late 90's-early 2000.

EIHE: It must be a long time ago, because I thought Mike and Dweezil had sort of discontinued theyr relationship after Mike left Z and I laso thought Scott Thunes did not want to play anymore.

EIHE: Having played with Mike Keneally during all these years and also as a Zappa employee must have been a little bit difficult since Mike and the Zappas didn't talk each other. What did you think about this situation?

JT: Well, It was unfortunate that it turned out the way it did. I have respect for both of them so I tried to not get invoved in the dirt.

JT: Warren Cuccurullo saw me play with Z, asked me to play in his solo project, eventually asked me to play with Duran.

JT: Nine Inch Nails-Things Fall Apart, Steel Pulse-Handsworth Revolution, Never Mind The Bollocks Here's The Sex Pistols.

EIHE: What can you tell us about the new video release announced in the Zappa.com website?

EIHE: What can you tell us about the 1998 Ryko CD versions of You are what you is and Tinseltown Rebellion. Did they sound the old versions bad to you? Why do you think Frank would have approved those masters if they sound so bad?

JT: Yeah, that is depressing. Those aren't the only two that sound bad. Most of the ryko masters are shitty thanks to Bob Stone. Frank just didn't put the time into them. He was working on so many different projects near the end. He just wanted to get all the titles out on cd & mostly put the remastering in the hands of Bob. Bob did all sorts of fucked up processing & effects that totally devalued the original masters. The vinyl is the way to go, if you can still find them. I hope one day that the original 2track vinyl masters will be used for the definitive issues on cd. Frank remixed alot of stuff too. Uncle Meat, most of Freak Out, Hot Rats, Ruben. They need to be restored. Frank just got bored with the originals & had his digital way with the multi track masters. Although you have to respect his decisions, hopefully it will be done right one of these days. That is what bothers me the most. Frank's music & masterworks aren't given the TLC they deserve. Look at the Hendrix catalog, or Miles Davis. Or Elvis. That's the way it should be. Frank deserves THAT! I wish I could change it.

EIHE: A lot of people think that Frank did not a really good job when he remixed the music for CD. What do you think about it?

JT: Well, it was interesting in some cases. But for a person who like nostalgia, I'd rather have the originals. Thank god "Were Only In It For The Money" was restored.

EIHE: A couple of years ago started at the zappa site the sale of a lot of equipment. Because of the page is not updated very often the sale is still there. What happened with it? Is all the stuff already sold? Can anybody still buy pieces of gear?

JT: The website hasn't been updated in years. It shouldn't even be up on the net. If anyone is interested in that gear, call Marqueson at Joe's Garage.
818-765-4261

JT: Hopefully have my hand in releases from the vault. Continue to play drums on a professional level. Try & enjoy life.

From the december 2004 issue of grammy.com, nothing new, maybe, but nice to read:

Unlocking Zappa Treasures
Preservation and restoration results in releases from legendary Zappa Vault

Under Frank Zappa's family house in Los Angeles, the "Vault" is jam-packed from floor to ceiling with every possible recordable audio, video and film media. Within its concrete walls, the temperature-controlled Vault contains literally thousands of tapes, all neatly organized and labeled. "The Vault is infamous among Zappa fans as a treasure trove of material," says Joe Travers, official "Vaultmeister." Bit by bit, the gems are emerging.

These jewels represent the late Zappa's prolific output, spanning 30-plus years and musical genres from doo-wop to classical. Decades before the global economy, Zappa was selling out international venues that other popular musicians of the time never even dreamed of playing. From his early days around Los Angeles in the 1960s with the original Mothers Of Invention, to world tours, experiments on the Synclavier, and his orchestral works, Zappa relentlessly recorded his musical
adventures.

The limitations of existing technology made it generally prohibitive for most artists to do so, but Zappa used mobile recording gear to capture his lengthy concerts. Travers learned how to "bake" the resulting tapes, heat-treating them in a convection oven at 130 degrees for four to eight hours. "Baking the tapes secures the oxide to the tape's backing so it won't shed when it's being played back," Travers explains. "If it sheds and turns into gummy residue, it's gone forever." So far, Travers has baked about 100 tapes.

When he started as Vaultmeister in the mid-'90s, Travers' job was to identify and catalog the material. He created a database, designating Zappa's ever-changing band personnel and determining song titles and which material had already been released. Travers pored over documents, publications and Web sites, and talked with the musicians involved.

Inside the Vault, Travers also found "a helluva lot of film and video, from 8 mm all the way up to one- and two-inch masters." Travers says there is early-'60s footage of Zappa's original Studio Z and from later years at the family house. There are outtakes from Zappa films Uncle Meat and Baby Snakes, and Zappa concerts on Halloween 1977 and live at
the Roxy in 1973, and more.

The Vault also houses rehearsal tapes, Zappa interviews, trim reels and other remnants. "After Frank got a mix using razor-blade edits, this was the stuff that didn't make it onto the record," Travers says. "There are a lot of rough mixes and versions of albums before Frank ripped them apart. I get to hear the missing pieces of the large puzzle."

Prior to becoming Vaultmeister, Travers already held some of the pieces. A drummer who played with Zappa sons Dweezil and Ahmet in their band Z during the mid-'90s, Travers was a serious Frank Zappa fan from an early age. "I had a massive collection," he says. "I read every book and had every Zappa record, dozens of bootlegs. And this was before eBay!"

One day in 1995, Joe requested a tour of the legendary Vault. "Just by looking at the names on the boxes," Travers remembers, "I knew more about the contents of the Vault than anyone working there at the time," including various audio experts. "The staff went back and told [Frank's widow] Gail that I knew more about what's in the Vault than anybody
else. She said, 'Great, he's the Vaultmeister.'"

Before 2003, Travers focused on refining his digital editing skills while cataloging and baking the tapes. Then the Zappas refurbished the recording studio adjacent to the Vault, allowing Travers to "dive into other tape formats with the best possible technology," he says.

In EQ-ing and mastering Zappa's music, Travers is salvaging arcane nuggets to appeal to hardcore Zappa fanatics, "material that otherwise wouldn't find a home on a major Zappa release." These obscurities are becoming the "Joe's" album series, starting with the current Joe's Corsage , whose title is a play on Zappa's 1979 Joe's Garage albums.

Joe's Corsage includes Zappa demos from 1965, '60s interview snippets, and perhaps the rarest of all Zappa rarities, a love song: "I'm So Happy I Could Cry." In typical Zappa fashion, it later mutated into the irreverent "Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance" from the classic Zappa album We're Only In It For The Money.

Starting in 2002, Vault packages are being released on the Vaulternative label, created by Gail Zappa. Among its live concert recordings, a possible documentary and other as-yet-unreleased projects, "we're working on four different albums right now," Travers says. "I submit material to Gail and Dweezil for them to decide upon, or they come to me and say, 'We need material from this-or-that era.'"

While Dweezil Zappa concentrates on remixing his father's recordings into surround sound for future Vaulternative albums, Gail Zappa is instituting a subscription service for purchasing Vault releases. "There are most likely 40 albums that can come out of the Vault, not including the series I'm doing," says Travers.

"There's so much I don't even know about yet. The more I dive into the Vault, especially in the formats I wasn't able to document or play before now, the more possibilities keep coming up."

(Laurel Fishman is a writer and editor specializing in entertainment media. She reports regularly for GRAMMY.com, writes the EducationWatch column, and is an advocate for the benefits of music-making, music-listening, music education, music therapy and music-and-the-brain research.)

2013/03/03 Joe Travers & Friends - concert "Wesfest 8"