AboutUs
GRAND WAZOO is a 14 + piece band, which provides the most authentic and entertaining Soul Music experience in Australia—featuring the great black soul hits & dance tunes, rare soul gems not performed by other outfits, along with Grand WaZoo originals in that same big brassy style. And not only does Grand WaZoo sound musically wonderful, but it also looks like a Soul Supergroup, with an attractive multi-generational, multicultural line up — with wide appeal to all ages.
The Band was founded in 1981 by Trumpeter & Arranger, John Montesante - who still leads the Band today. He had previously been a founding member-arranger of ‘Kush’ and toured with ‘Jo Jo Zep’ and other rock, soul and r&b bands, as well as performing freelance in numerous show bands, big bands and TV orchestras.
GRAND WAZOO offers musical excellence, longevity, experience and entertainment value second to none; and is widely revered as a "Soul Institution". The Band's usual offering is a Soul Extravaganza of up to 2 x 1 hour sets, or 3 x 40 min sets — with some flexibility for special events, functions, festivals and media. Grand WaZoo has backed and supported international and local well-known artists, and has fostered talents that have become names within the Australian industry. Just a sample has included Wilson Pickett Band, Sam & Dave, Venetta Fields, Jeff Duff, Marcia Hines, Kate Ceberano, Hollywood Brown, Bob Valentine, Peter Cupples, Hot Chocolate, Lisa Edwards, Renee Geyer, Normie Rowe, Jackie Love, Max Merritt and many others.
Grand WaZoo has recorded 4 band albums : Reverend Blues (1985), Band of 1000 Dances (1998), Tribute to Alvie Lee Johns Jnr (2005), Soul Monster (2007) & also backed Max Merritt on his 40 Year Live Concert Album (2003).
The Band has also performed “live” in the media - including regular appearances on Hey Hey Its Saturday, GMA (Good Morning Australia), Midday Show, Denise, The Don Lane Show, The Footy Show, and also on ABC Radio & numerous AM & FM radio outlets.
GRAND WAZOO is available for Prestige Tours & Corporate Events interstate, as well as International Gigs and Festivals. The size and status of the band places it at the higher end of the entertainment market.
SOUL HITS, RARE GEMS & ORIGINALS of...
AARON J CURTIS I ARETHA FRANKLIN | AL GREEN | ALBERT COLLINS | ALBERT KING | ALLEN TOUSSAINT | ARTHUR CONNELY | AVERAGE WHITE BAND | BARRY WHITE | B.B.KING | BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS | BLUES BROTHERS |
BOBBY “Blue” BLAND | BOOKER T + THE MGS | BUDDY MILES | BUDDY RICH | CAPITOLS | CHUCK BERRY | CLARENCE ‘Gatemouth’ BROWN | CLARENCE CARTER | CLARENCE WILLIAMS | COMMITMENTS | COMMODORES | CRUSADERS | CURTIS MAYFIELD | DELMOTT McCLINTON | DR JOHN | EARTH WIND + FIRE | EDDIE FLOYD | EDGAR WHITE | EDWIN STARR |\ ETTA JAMES | FONTELLA BASS | THE FOUR TOPS | FUNK BROTHERS |
GLADYS KNIGHT + THE PIPS | HERBIE | HANCOCK | IDES of MARCH | ISAAC HAYES | ISLEY BROTHERS |
JACKIE WILSON | JAMES BROWN | JIMI HENDRIX | JANIS JOPLIN | JERRY BUTLER | JOE COCKER | JOE TEX | JOHN MONTESANTE I JOHNNY ‘Guitar’ WILSON | JUNIOR WALKER | KC + SUNSHINE BAND | KING CURTIS | KING FLOYD | KOOL AND THE GANG | KUSH | LITTLE JUNIOR PARKER | LITTLE RICHARD | LITTLE WALTER | MAMAS & PAPAS |
MARVIN GAYE | MARY WELLS | MARTHA REEVES | MC HAMMER | MIRACLES | OC SMITH | OTIS REDDING |
PATTI LA BELLE | PLATTERS | PRINCE | RASCALS | RAY CHARLES | SAM COOKE | SAM & DAVE | SAM LINTON-SMITH l SLY + FAMILY STONE | SMOKEY ROBINSON | SOLOMON BURKE | STEELY DAN | STEVEN BALL I STEVIE WONDER | STYLISTICS | SYL JOHNSON | THE SHIRELLES | THE SUPREMES | THE TEMPTATIONS |
TINA TURNER | TOWER of POWER | WILLIE MITCHELL | WILSON PICKETT
Orchestrated & Arranged by John Montesante
COPYRIGHT GRAND WAZOO 2009
concerts
GRAND WAZOO... THROUGH THE YEARS
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL GRAND WAZOO REPERTOIRE!
clubs & showcases
CLICK HERE: CONTACT
Where you may have seen Grand Wazoo since 1981:
A Abbey, Albert by the Lake, Anchor & Hope, Atlantic South Wharf, Armadillo, , Atrium, ABC Southbank (live in studio) Art Galleries (various)
B Bayside Festival, Billboard, Bensons, Brunswick St Festival, The Boulevard, Box Hill Town Hall, The Basement (Sydney), Blue Diamond Club
C Catarina Club, Carlton Crest, Carousel, Casey's Night Spot, Casino Opening, Central Club, Central Pier, Chevron, Circa (The Prince), City Square: 150 Years Celebration, Continental Cafe, Corner Hotel, Cotton Lounge,
Crown Showroom, The Club Collingwood, Café Deco Millennium ((Hong Kong)
D Denise (TV) , 10 Darling St, Duxton Hotel
E The Espy, Edwards Tavern, Exhibition Buildings Carlton, Exhibition Centre CBD
F Falls Creek Snowfields, Federation Square, Ferntree Gully Hotel, Free Entertainment in the Parks, Footy Show (TV), Fine Food Wine + Music by the Bay Festival
G Gershwin Room, The George, The Grainstore, Grand Central, Grand Hyatt, Grand Prix, Good Morning Australia (TV). Globe to Globe World Music Festival, Grand Prix (Adelaide), Glen Eira Town Hall , Grand Prix Parties
H Harvest Festival, Hilton Ballroom, Her Majesty's Theatre, Hey Hey It's Saturday (TV), Hong Kong, Huntingdale Golf Club
I Inflation, International Flower Show (Exhibition Gardens), International Blues & Music Festival, International Jazz Festival
J K Jeff's Shed (Exhibition Centre), Joker Bar , King Island Festival
L Lazars, Le Mirage, Leonda, Lincoln of Toorak, Linfox Museum, LIVE@Crown, Lygon Street Piazza, Luna Park
M Moomba Waterfest, Manchester Lane, Melbourne Convention Centre, Melbourne Museum, Melbourne Town Hall, Mercury Lounge, Metro, Middle Park Hotel, Moomba, Myer Mansion, Midday Show (TV). Malvern Town Hall, Manor on High
N No 12 Kensington, Next Blue Nightclub
O Octoberfest, Odeon, Ormond Hall
P Q Peninsula @ Central Pier, Palace, Palladium Ballroom, Panton Hill Hotel, Park Hyatt, Peacock Inn. Prince Bandroom, Prince Patrick, Prince of Wales, Power House, Prince Rooftop, Prahran Town Hall
R Rainbow, Redback, Redheads, Rialto, Regent Theatre, Rosatis, Royal Geelong Yacht Club, Royal Showgrounds, Ruby Reds, River
S Southbank, Saloon Bar, Sandown Racecourse, Silvers Nightclub, Skandia Geelong Festival, Sofitel, Soulgroove66 (radio), Spot, Station Tavern, St. Kilda Festival , Summer Fun In The Parks, St Kilda Army & Navy Club, Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race Party (Hobart)
T Tankerville Arms, Town Halls (galore), The Club Collingwood, Twilight Rhythms Concerts
U V Underground Nightclub, Village Green Hotel
W X Wool Exchange Nightclub, Wrest Point Casino (Hobart) World Music Festival (Namatjira Gardens)
Y Z Yarra Valley Wineries, Yacht Clubs (various), Yea Shire Hall, Zoological Gardens, Melbourne
AND ELSEWHERE!
backing name artists
major events
clubs
&
showcases
special & corporate functions
festivals/ outdoor concerts
COPYRIGHT GRAND WAZOO 2009-2010
media