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About Us

GRAND WAZOO is a legendary 13 piece soul music orchestra, with 10 musicians and 3 singers, which provides the most authentic and entertaining Soul Music experience in Australia—featuring the great hits & dance tunes, rare  gems not performed by other outfits, along with Grand WaZoo originals in that same big brassy style. .It is also a quality reading, backing outfit of 10 musicians + 3 singers, who can perform any style or genre, in the vein of the extraordinary Funk Brothers. And not only does Grand WaZoo sound musically wonderful, but it also looks like ‘Soul’, with a 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 ‘J.A.Madison’, ‘Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons’ and other rock, soul and r&b bands, like ‘Dutch Tilders’ & Tinsley Waterhouse Bandas well as performing freelance in numerous show bands, big bands and TV orchestras. Many faceted — also a passionate Jazz musician —he determined to create quality work opportunities for his peers. Grand WaZoo then became a rite of passage for many of the finest artists in Australia, and most outfits that have followed in the Soul genre, have taken their inspiration from this mighty band. 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 — with some flexibility for special events, functions, festivals and media. 

Grand WaZoo has backed and supported international and local well-known artists, including  The Temptations, Wilson Pickett Band, Sam & Dave, Venetta Fields, Leo Sayer, Ross Wilson, Anthony Callea, Rhonda Burchmore, Jon Stevens, Joe Camilleri, Max Merritt, Normie Rowe, Mahalia Barnes, Ian Stenlake, Tim Campbell, Jeff Duff, Marcia Hines, Kate Ceberano, Hollywood Brown, Bob Valentine, Peter Cupples, Hot Chocolate, Lisa Edwards, Renee Geyer, Jackie Love 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 many times - 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  local Shows and Concerts, 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.

Band performs SOUL HITS, RARE GEMS & ORIGINALS of .....


AARON J CURTIS I AARON SEARLE l 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


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COPYRIGHT GRAND WAZOO 2009

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Grand WaZoo.. through the Years...

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 Bird’s Basement, Bayside Festival, Billboard, Bensons, Brunswick St Festival, The Boulevard, Box Hill Town Hall, The Basement (Sydney), Blue Diamond  Club, Burswood Entertainment Centre (WA)

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, Caravan Music Club

Crown Showroom, The Club Collingwood, Café Deco Millennium ((Hong Kong), Craigieburn Festival.

D Denise (TV) , 10 Darling St, Duxton Hotel

E  Eltham Jazz, Food & Wine Festival, The Espy, Edwards Tavern, Exhibition Buildings Carlton, Exhibition Centre CBD, Edgewater  Hotel, Eddie’s Band Room, 

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, Flying Saucer Club

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 Hummingbird, 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, The Italian.  

J  K Jeff's Shed (Exhibition Centre), Joker Bar , King Island Festival , Karralyka, Kingston Town Hall.

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 , MEMO Music Hall.

No 12 Kensington, Next Blue Nightclub, Northcote Social Club 

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 , Red Scooter , Royal Hotel, Mornington

S Satellite Lounge, 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), Toff In Town, Club Collingwood, Twilight Rhythms Concerts, Thornbury Theatre, 

U V Underground Nightclub, Village Green Hotel, Velvet Room-TT, Victory Room -Etihad Stadium, Village Green Hotel.

W X Wool Exchange Nightclub, Wrest Point Casino (Hobart) World Music Festival (Namatjira Gardens), Wheelers Hill Hotel, Whittlesea Major Event

Y Z Yarra Valley Wineries, Yacht Clubs (various), Yea Shire Hall, Zoological Gardens, Melbourne


AND ELSEWHERE!

  major events

festivals & outdoor gigs

        COPYRIGHT GRAND WAZOO 2009 -2023

media

backing international artists

concerts

  corporate & special functions

   weddings

clubs & showcases