John Montesante Dectet

The JOHN MONTESANTE DECTET is a quality 10 piece Jazz band, that boasts six horns, a matchless rhythm section, with additional guest vocalists – performing exceptional jazz arrangements, based on the Blue Note & Bop epoch. Along with the 'who's who' of  Australian jazz musicians, featured singers on October 24 shall be Samantha Morley & Craig Schneider.

This Dectet had its genesis in Montesante’s stylish, horn-led Quintet, (JMQ - formed 1990) which performs regularly at venues, events, and festivals, and is lauded for its quality, longevity and versatility. Over 5 years ago, Montesante added a further four horns and guitarist for special jazz events, to breathe life into his dedicated Blue Note arrangements. And he regularly creates new instrumental and vocal charts, constantly expanding the repertoire. The John Montesante Dectet performs Jazz for those who savor undiluted virtuosity, outstanding soloists and big horn arrangements of Blue Note standards and bebop. 
 
One featured singer will be SAMANTHA MORLEY, one of our most versatile Jazz artists, who has worked with many of Australia's finest, including  BSharp Big Band, Daryl Mackenzie Jazz Orchestra, John Montesante Quintet and Grand WaZoo as well as her own various Jazz Ensembles, on land and sea, and recorded her first Jazz Album, The Nearness of You in 2012.  The RAAF band has also engaged her as primary singer in their Jazz, Big Band & other outfits, to perform in Australia and overseas. As part of the Funky Divas, she toured with the late, legendary Barry White, and has also toured the world in musical shows such as The Boy From Oz, Billy Elliot, Sound of Music, Fiddler On The Roof and CATS, to name a few. As an actress, she has many television and film credits across a professional career spanning over twenty years. Her great musical love has always been Jazz and she shall return to those roots with the Dectet this evening.
 
Again featured on vocals is  CRAIG SCHNEIDER,  a multi-award-winning pianist, vocalist, composer, arranger, educator, and musical director. Equally, at home on the concert stage or in an intimate jazz club or cabaret venue, he has performed all over the world. During years in London, he established himself as one of the leading pianist/vocalists in the city, becoming a resident pianist at the Savoy and a regular artist at the Dorchester, Claridges and the Ivy Club where he performed for celebrities. He has released six albums and leads his own shows and bands. He has become a master of the Mark Murphy repertoire and some of those tunes shall be presented at this evening's concert. 
If you enjoy iconic tunes like Tell Me A Bedtime Story, Nica's Dream, Round Midnight, Falling In Love With Love, Boplicity, You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To, Don't Misunderstand, Arabia, Stolen Moments,  and more, with horn features, then THIS is your bag! 
 

Not to be missed!