Member Since: 8/15/2006
Band Website: grandwazoo.com.au
Band Members: The mainly long-time and very talented Band Members who perform in GRAND WAZOO include: Band Leader, Arranger & Trumpet-JOHN MONTESANTE, Lead Trumpet-CHRIS DYER , Guest Trombone-SIGMUND SOKOLOWSKI Alto Sax-NICK LESTER, Tenor Sax-RUSSELL PRAETZ, Section Leader & Baritone Sax-AARON SEARLE, Alternate Saxophone-MARTIN ZAKHAROV, Guest Saxophones-ANDREW WILLIAMSON, Lead Male Vocal & MC-WYLIE J MILLER, Lead Female Vocal -SHIRLEY DAVIS, Lead Guest Vocalist - JOHN TONEY Lead Guest Vocalist BOB VALENTINE Female Vocal - JOYS FERRIS, Electric Bass- BARNEY LOVELAND, Guest Bass - DAVE DHARUMASENA, Drums - MICHAEL ROCHFORD, Guitar-SHANE GOONAN, Keyboards-PETER FORD, Guest Male Vocalists-JEFF DUFF & GARTH PLOOG.
Influences: The Great Black Afro-American artists, released on the Savoy, Stax, Motown and Atlantic labels in the golden era of Soul. Also some of the iconic Bands & Artists of the period....This list covers most of the artists you may hear, played by ’Grand Wazoo’.ARETHA FRANKLIN AL GREEN ALBERT COLLINS ALBERT KING ALLEN TOUSSAINT ARTHUR CONNELY BARRY WHITE B.B.KING BILLIE HOLIDAY BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS BLUES BROTHERS BOOKER T + THE MGS BUDDY MILES 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 JOE TEX JOHNNY ’GUITAR’ WATSON JUNIOR WALKER KC + SUNSHINE BAND KING CURTIS KING FLOYD KOOL AND THE GANG KUSH LITTLE JUNIOR PARKER LITTLE RICHARD LITTLE WALTER MACEO PARKER MAMAS & PAPAS MARVIN GAYE MARY WELLS MARTHA REEVES MC HAMMER MIRACLES OC SMITH OTIS REDDING PATTI LA BELLE PLATTERS PRINCE RAY CHARLES SAM COOKE SAM & DAVE SLY + FAMILY STONE SMOKEY ROBINSON SOLOMON BURKE STEELY DAN STEVIE WONDER STYLISTICS SYL JOHNSON THE SHIRELLES THE SUPREMES THE TEMPTATIONS TINA TURNER TOWER of POWER WILSON PICKETT
Sounds Like: Due to economic factors involved in sustaining a large outfit, there are very few Bands today anywhere in the world, that have the big Brassy authentic Soul & Rhythm n Blues sounds that 'Grand Wazoo' offers.... Such outfits were more prevalent in the 60s and 70s. Think of the Bands who performed behind James Brown, Wilson Pickett, The Platters, The Temptations... Think about the Funk Brothers who played on many of the great Black artists' records...and then you have Tower of Power, Blood Sweat & Tears, Earth Wind & Fire.....When you attend a 'Grand Wazoo-Kings of Soul' gig...the sound is rich & full and the repertoire is extensive....and the experience of the Band is addictive....which is why it has already lasted for 27 glorious years! This is due to the passion and dedication to this art-form by founder/arranger/band leader, John Montesante
Record Label: Wazoo Records
Type of Label: Indie