Grand WaZoo-Kings of Soul

Artist Information

Biography

GRAND WAZOO is Australia's only 13+ piece Black Soul Music Orchestra, with an unsurpassed record for presenting the finest, most entertaining and authentic Soul Music experience in Australia, continuously, for over 30 years.

The band was founded in 1981 by John Montesante, who remains leader today. He'd previously toured with ‘J.A.Madison’ been a founding member-composer-arranger-trumpet of ‘Kush’ ,freelanced with artists like Dutch Tilders and Tinsley Waterhouse, and toured with bands like ‘Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons’ and other rock, soul and r&b outfits. He was also engaged, performing trumpet, in numerous show bands, sessions, big bands and TV orchestras. Also a passionate Jazz musician, he decided to create his own outfit, to provide performance opportunites for his musical peers, instead of waiting upon the favour of venues and agents. Grand WaZoo was soon revered for his outstanding arrangements and energy, and the band became a rite of passage for many of the finest artists in Australia, who went on to stellar careers. Most local outfits that have followed in the soul genre, took their inspiration from this mighty band.

This reading soul orchestra of the highest calibre, with a repertoire of 310 superbly arranged and composed tunes, offers musical excellence, longevity, experience and entertainment value second to none; and is widely revered as a "Soul Institution". Grand WaZoo has backed and supported international and Australian artists, including Wilson Pickett Band, Sam & Dave, Venetta Fields, Jeff Duff, Marcia Hines, Hollywood Brown, Reg Livermore, Peter Cupples, Hot Chocolate, Lisa Edwards, Renee Geyer, Normie Rowe, Kate Ceberano, Jackie Love, Max Merritt, Bob Valentine, Joe Camilleri, and many others. After working with him in mid-8os,'Sam & Dave' invited John to become their international M.D, but his commitment to the Australian scene made that impossible at the time.

Not only does Grand WaZoo sound amazing, with its big brassy presence, but also looks like a soul outfit should, and is proud to present its outstanding, harmonious, multi-generational and multi-racial line up, with wide appeal to all age groups.The band has always worked at full strength and never cuts down in size. This has meant that Montesante has, at times, personally carried it through the hard times, in a roller-coasting music industry - with the band celebrating 30+ years mid 2011, due to his dedication and musicianship.

Each decade, another generation discovers this great music and seeks out Grand WaZoo, which is continually revitalizing its material and arrangements. The extensive repertoire and talent base means Grand WaZoo can create set lists for any and all occasions: Festivals, Major Events, Concerts, Parties, Nightclubs, Venues, Live Media, Corporate, Conference, Awards Nights & as a Show Band.

The Band's 'live' Media appearances over the years have included many TV spots on GMA (Good Morning Australia), Hey Hey It's Saturday, Midday Show, Denise, Don Lane Show,The Footy Show and several radio shows.

The usual offering is a Soul Extravaganza, with some flexibility for special events, functions, festivals and media. Grand WaZoo's quality, size and longevity takes it to the high end of the entertainment market , where it is the BAND OF CHOICE when superb music, unrivalled entertainment value and first class professionalism is required.

There is not another band in the southern hemisphere that makes Soul Music more enjoyable and engaging on ANY stage , anywhere!

Archival & recent video of band may be added from time to time on YouTube with this link:
http://www.youtube.com/Soulnjazz555

Instrumentation

JOHN MONTESANTE - Trumpet/Arranger/Composer/Leader
DAVE COUGHRAN-LANE - Lead Trumpet
ANDREW SERPELL - Trombone
NICK LESTER - alto sax
RUSSELL PRAETZ - Tenor Sax
AARON SEARLE - Baritone Sax/Composer/Arranger
PETER FORD - keyboards
SHANE GOONAN - Guitar
BARNEY LOVELAND - Bass
MICHAEL ROCHFORD - Drums
WYLIE J MILLER - Singer
ANGIE BEE - Singer
Garth Ploog - Singer/Songwriter/Composer
Joys Ferris - Guest Singer
John Toney - Guest Singer
Fem Belling - Guest Singer

Discography

1985: LP-Vinyl: "GW:Reverend Blues & The Blues Messengers"
1998: Studio CD : "Grand WaZoo-Band of 1000 Dances"
2002: Live Concert CD/DVD: "Max Merritt's 40th Anniversary Concert", backed by Grand WaZoo-Kings of Soul
2005: Tribute CD: "Grand WaZoo & The Legendary King of Soul, Alvie Lee Johns Jnr" (RIP)
2008: Live Gig Album: "Grand WaZoo:Soul Monster-Live". Historic one-take "live" recording on 10 year anniversary of band's weekly Sunday Soul Sessions @ the Rainbow Hotel.
Grand WaZoo plans to record some new original tracks in the near future.

Links

• MySpace
• Facebook
• Grand WaZoo You Tube Channel

Audio

• TAKE ME TO THE RIVER
  Listen  
• MISSIN YOU BABY
  Listen  
• NATURAL WOMAN
  Listen  
• Move
  Listen  
• CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF YOUR LOVE.mp3
  Listen  

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Mr GIL ASKEY [25 years Musical Director @ Motown Records, USA] on Grand WaZoo [+ Show ]
  

  Quoting Mr. Gil Askey: 25 years Musical Director at Motown Records, USA “Thank you for letting ...Quoting Mr. Gil Askey:
  25 years Musical Director at Motown Records, USA
  
  “Thank you for letting me hear your wonderful band; I am still riding on a big high. Your band is so “hot” that when I woke up today, I couldn’t go back to sleep thinking about that great band. I really enjoyed your music Man and great charts too. You’ve been writing your butt off....and what a Horn Section! Man, they work as hard as the guys did with James Brown. I can’t wait until next time. Thank you again!” Dec 2009
  
  

• DJ's Reviews: GW Soul Monster-Live [+ Show ]
  

  GRAND WAZOO- Soul Monster 'Live' 2007 I live and breathe the soul that flows through me when I... GRAND WAZOO-
  Soul Monster 'Live' 2007
  
  I live and breathe the soul that flows through me when I listen to this cd. Thanks guys. I absolutely love it!
  
  DJ Micky Jones Australia
  
  
  Soul Monster-Live is nice and tight,good production too...kept forgetting it was live !!
  
  DJ Dean Bristol, United Kingdom
  
  
  

• Grand WaZoo Album Launches [+ Show ]
  

  The local legend that is the Grand Wazoo experience just added another chapter to their impressive b...The local legend that is the Grand Wazoo experience just added another chapter to their impressive book. They are the proclaimed Kings of Soul, the 14 piece band was founded in 1981 by arranger-musician John Montesante, who remains leader today. Featuring 4 vocalists, 6 horns and 4 rhythm players and a repertoire exceeding 300 Black Soul & Rhythm & Blues tunes, the outfit has performed thousands of live gigs since its inception. ...Celebrating 10 years of weekly Sunday Soul Sessions at Melbourne's Rainbow Hotel, Grand Wazoo recorded that gig live before an audience, with only one take of each tune. The band invited singer Jeff Duff ( a former Kush band colleague of John Montesante) to join the line-up that day, and perform 2 songs on the album. Well this Sunday sees them return to the Rainbow Hotel to launch the album; they will also be doing a late show at The Espy, as well as an early bird show for those who can't wait, at The Spot tonight... ( end 2007) Mark Wilkins

• We've come to the end The Rainbow [+ Show ]
  

  ...The Rainbow has always been the beating pulse of Australia's scene and has hosted everyone from i......The Rainbow has always been the beating pulse of Australia's scene and has hosted everyone from international superstars to upstart bands.....some of Melbourne's finest musicians are determined to give the venue fitting farewell.
  The action starts this Sunday as the Grand Wazoo launch their latest album 'Soul Monster-Live'. Recorded live at the Rainbow itself, this is a smoking slab of white-hot soul performed by some of Australia's most talented musicians...
  (2007) Matthew Frederick

• Special Treat [+ Show ]
  

  We have a very special treat in store this Sunday for fans of Soul Music. Melbourne soul giants, T...We have a very special treat in store this Sunday for fans of Soul Music.
  Melbourne soul giants, The Grand Wazoo, are celebrating the tenth anniversary of their famous Sunday residency at Fitzroy's Rainbow Hotel.
  Sundays at the Rainbow have become an institution for Melbourne music hounds of all stripes, and to celebrate, the band will be recording a live album this Sunday ...and you are all invited as their special guests.
  (2007) Matthew Frederick

• Grand Occasion [+ Show ]
  

  For the past 25 years, John Montesante has played at least one gig a week with soul band, Grand Wazo...For the past 25 years, John Montesante has played at least one gig a week with soul band, Grand Wazoo.
  Montesante, a musician and arranger, began the group in 1981 ...The size of the band has ranged between 12-18 members, and past and present players are celebrating Grand Wazoo's 25th birthday with a bash at their Sunday gig... (2006)
  
  

• WaZoo @ The Rainbow [+ Show ]
  

  For the last 10 years The Grand Wazoo has been entertaining the crowd at the Rainbow Hotel with the ...For the last 10 years The Grand Wazoo has been entertaining the crowd at the Rainbow Hotel with the sort of soul-funk review only a 14+ piece band can provide.
  Formed in 1981 by frontman, John Montesante, the Wazoo play classic tracks, as well as from their own library. It's an amazing show and the pilgrimage should be made at least once in your lifetime.
  (2007) Mark Wilkins

• Grand Stand [+ Show ]
  

  Legendary Kings of Soul, Grand Wazoo- Australia's finest and longest running outfit presenting Afro-...Legendary Kings of Soul, Grand Wazoo- Australia's finest and longest running outfit presenting Afro-American soul music, will perform its entertaining Soul Legends Revue at the revamped Manchester Lane this Friday at 10pm and there on a three weekly rotation basis afterwards. Not to be missed! (Music News : 2004)

• Sticky Carpet-Local Scene [+ Show ]
  

  If the Blues Brothers 2000 movie didn't satisfy your soul fix, Melbourne's 15 piece GRAND WAZOO- per...If the Blues Brothers 2000 movie didn't satisfy your soul fix, Melbourne's 15 piece GRAND WAZOO- perform meticulous versions of soul classics. ...They helped launch Kate Ceberano's career.
  See them at the Ritz tonight and Rainbow on Sunday.
  1998. Patrick Donovan

• Max Merritt with Grand WaZoo [+ Show ]
  

  Now based mainly in America, Merritt took the stage at The Rainbow on Sunday night in front of local...Now based mainly in America, Merritt took the stage at The Rainbow on Sunday night in front of local soul band The Grand Wazoo (whose members in the past have included Kate Ceberano). This band has been a fixture at the pub for more years than most people care to remember and draws strong crowds every week with their repertoire of soul. It is somewhat like a black music jukebox and an ideal foil for the veteran singer's voice.
  
  Merritt opened his bracket with the classic 'Fannie Mae' and then sang his biggest hit of the '60s, 'Western Union Man', before adding 'Can't Turn You Loose', Otis Redding's 'Try A Little Tenderness' and an interesting version of Steely Dan's 'Dirty Work'......Brian Wise. 2001
  
  

• Funky Town [+ Show ]
  

  Twilight descends on Fitzroy. The cosy public bar of the Rainbow Hotel vibrates to the classic soul ...Twilight descends on Fitzroy. The cosy public bar of the Rainbow Hotel vibrates to the classic soul of Grand Wazoo.... Soul music is passionate and sexy and cuts to the heart of the human experience....
  Soul is emotional, melodic and sophisticated, with its roots in the American South and gospel, and its lurking within the rock and jazz-oriented crevices of Melbourne....
  On Sundays its hard to find a piece of floor for your feet as the 15 piece Grand Wazoo bring down the house...
  Lesley Sharon Rosenthal (1999)

Setlist

The Band usually performs a "Soul Extravaganza" gig. But for Media and Festivals, performances are adapted to suit program. The repertoire varies, depending upon whether the performance is for a Festival, Major Event or Corporate Client or Music Venues, where the repertoire is more various and expansive, depending upon tastes & requirements. Within the Band's 310 tune repertoire, there are 30 instrumentals and 280 vocals. We shall email PDF of entire repertoire, upon request, or check our website : www,grandwazoo.com.au and 'repertoire' link.

A *SAMPLE Only FESTIVAL or VENUE SET 60 mins. NB. Every Gig varies

TIME IS TIGHT
IN THE BASEMENT
MISSING YOU (original)
AIN'T THAT LOVIN YOU
FUNKY FEVER
MOVE (original)
GROOVE ME
NIGHTTIME IS THE RIGHTTIME
YOU'RE SO FINE
MOVE ON UP
IT'S YOUR THING
SOUL SEARCHIN' (original)
TELL MAMA
SUPERFLY
NEW ORLEANS
Play off
___________

A Typical CORPORATE or MAJOR EVENTS SET
(where POPULAR tunes are often required)
60 mins-
NB *SAMPLE Only. Every Gig varies, depending upon taste & requirements.


LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL
SING A SIMPLE SONG
TAKE ME TO THE RIVER
HARD TO HANDLE
CANT HURRY LOVE
AINT NO MT HIGH ENOUGH
GET BACK
WHAT BECOMES OF THE BROKENHEARTED
JUMPIN JACK FLASH
PROUD MARY
EASY STREET
GIMME SOME LOVIN
DO YOU LOVE ME
THINK
Play off
___________
We can also tailor Gigs around your choices from our Repertoire; if you want more Ballads for example, or love a particular artist whose material we perform and so on.
______________

Basic Requirements

Calendar