JMQ: John Montesante Quintet or Dectet
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | Established. Jan 01, 1990 | INDIE
Music
Press
"Tracks from your CD have been in my playlist rotation this past month and have received very good ratings from my listeners... That's 10 well-rated "above average" tracks. I look forward to your future CD. Thanks again for sharing your music with my listeners at Jazz Radio."
Ron Ryder
Station Manager
Jazz Radio-Sound of Jazz
USA - JazzRadio - Sound of Jazz USA
..."And there is the John Montesante Quintet. Brilliant. Relaxing. What a way to end a working day!" - Epicure (Press)
"The Jazz Quintet is mesmerising as they swing in amongst the suits drinking after work" - The Age,( Press)
John Montesante - tpt/flg; James Glasson - alt sax; John Ruberto - pno; James Clark - dbl bs/recording engineer; Mark Voogd - dms.
Guest vocalists - Rebecca Mendoza, Yvette Johansson, Bob Valentine, Julie O'Hara.
Also guest horn players (Track 13 only)
"This is a new band to me, though it was formed in 1990 by jazzer/arranger John Montesante, who is also well known around the Melbourne R'n'B/Soul music scene. This CD was recorded at the Atlantis Studios in front of a small audience who don't get in the way of some very good music of the vocal and instrumental varieties. Of the latter, there are Bop versions of Invitation, Where or When and Tell me a Bedtime Story, each giving rein to the invention of the soloists in between the fine arrangements. The four vocalists, who have appeared with the band on club dates, are all expert in swingers and ballads, of which the classic Bye, Bye Blackbird by Yvette Johansson, At Last by Rebecca Mendoza, Just One of Those Things by Julie O'Hara and Night & Day by Bob Valentine, are representative of the 10 vocal tracks. The final track is by the augmented line-up and is a brassy blaster that inspires a desire to catch the band at one of its 'live' gigs around the traps, where you'll surely buy this CD."
Reviewed by Ron Spain - Jazz Scene
Thank you so much for the JMQ's fabulous music at the Commune on Thursdays. I would be heart-broken if you stopped. I enjoy all the artists and guest artists, so keep up the good work. JB - Website Review
Got invited to the Water Rat for dinner with friends I live locally and had not been there before .What a surprise great place for dinner food was perfect , wine not overpriced and good selection .Staff very attentive and chatty even though they were very busy. The biggest surprise was they have Jazz on Thursdays which everybody in the group enjoyed. Thanks Guys will be back
Date of visit: November 2017 - Website (Trip Advisor)
@ Water Rat Hotel
Went here with friends for the Thursday night jazz. It starts at 7pm and they have well priced drinks and food on offer in addition to top class musicians and singers. Another great live music spot in our neighborhood. Date of visit: March 2018 - Website Review (Trip Advisor)
Tonight we went to the regular Rat Jazz night upstairs at this well known pub. Great staff , wonderful music , very affordable and a very happy night . Nichaud Fitzgibbon sang beautifully and the band had a big big dose of talent . The parma looked wonderful and sizeable , the mussels were excellent and my gnocchi was spicy and very enjoyable
Well done Ratties
Date of visit: April 2019 - Website (Trip Advisor)
@ Water Rat Hotel
Great night out at The Rat - with two hours of jazz and a very good pub meal upstairs. For next month female singers feature. Lots of personality and fun on our night. Sit at tables or if not dining there’s a top bar with seating to kick back.
Date of visit: May 2019 - Website (Trip Advisor)
Discography
"JMQ : John Montesante Quintet-Live @ Atlantis". 2009 (WaZoo Records).
Available via iTunes, CD Baby & Digital Sales.
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/montesante
"JMQ Dectet - The LITTLE BIG HORN Project". 2013. (WaZoo Records)
Available via iTunes, CD Baby & Digital Sales.
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/johnmontesante
Photos
Bio
The John Montesante Quintet is a stylish, horn-led ensemble formed in 1990 by Jazz Trumpet, Arranger, Composer, John Montesante.
Influenced by bebop, the band offers a modern take on Blue Note Standards as well as John Montesante's special Jazz arrangements. The JMQ has gained respect in the discerning jazz scene due to its quality musicianship, versatility, entertainment value and ability to perform with any outstanding vocal and musical artists from in or out of town.
With an always stellar line-up of A list jazz musicians, and a diversity of vocal artists performing with the JMQ, the band has a freshness, versatility and vitality that engages its audience. As well as a variety of jazz gigs at clubs and festivals, this is illustrated by the JMQ sustaining a weekly residency in Melbourne for nearly 16 years [until Covid] when their residency venue closed, so the band hopes to move seamlessly to a new base as soon as possible.
Montesante has also created a 10 piece lineup - using his core JMQ musicians, adding four horns and a guitar and this outfit is called JMQ Jazz Dectet.
Since its inception, the JMQ Jazz Ensemble has performed at Melbourne International Jazz Festival, Australian Jazz Conventions, Stonnington Jazz Festival, Phillip Island Jazz Festival, Fine Food Wine & Music By The Bay Festival, Fox Museum, Ninety-Nine, McClelland Gallery, Exhibition Buildings, International Flower & Garden Show, Ruby Reds, Peninsula @ Atlantic, Uptown Jazz Cafe, Paris Cat Jazz Club, Dizzy's Jazz Club - former & current sites, Crown NYE, Myer Family functions, The Commune Cafe-Bar, Leroy Espresso Bar, Phamish, Water Rat Hotel & Bird's Basement, as well as various major events & corporate functions. Available for Festivals, Concerts, Venues, Media & all Events, the JMQ offers quality musicianship, great entertainment value and the capacity to perform with any outstanding jazz singer or instrumentalist.
Over the years these talents have included: Julie O Hara, Emma Gilmartin, Louisa Rankin, Tamara Kuldin, Wilbur Wilde, Elly Hoyt, Yvette Johansson, Rebecca Mendoza, Fem Belling, Rita Satch, Jacqueline Gawler, Rod Gilbert, Daina Jowsey, Emma Franz, Hetty Kate, Miriam Waks, Samantha Morley, Kimba Griffith, Martin Breeze, Andrew Swann, Margaret Morrison, Sarah Maclaine, Bob Valentine, Nichaud Fitzgibbon, Olivia Chindamo, Sarah McKenzie, Shem Benebig, Nick Haywood, Tom Lee, Hugh Harvey, David Hicks, Michael Harding, Ben Robertson, Matthew Kirsch, Daniel Gassin, James Sherlock, Darrin Archer, Tom Lee, Craig Fermanis, Paul Dunn, Jamie Oehlers, Mark Fitzgibbon, Mark Elton, Sam Lemann, John McCall, Phillip Rex, Jack Pantazis, Joe Chindamo, Kim May, Scott Lambie, Darryn Farrugia, David Rex, Nick Haywood, Daniel Farrugia, Eric Budd, Craig Schneider, Dean Cooper, Niko Schauble, Gideon Marcus, Mirko Guerrini, George Washingmachine, Tim Wilson, Shane Gillard, Tony Hicks, John Hoffman, Michel Benebig (New Caledonia), Carlo Alberto Canevali (RIP), Trent White (WA) ,James Flynn (WA), Andy Firth (NSW), Gary Costello (RIP), Gil Askey (RIP), Jeff Duff (NSW) & others.
The JMQ Ensembles showcase the finest artists, performing outstanding jazz and providing top class entertainment value as well. Available to venues, festivals, private functions, corporate or special events.
Band Members
Links
