http://www.johnmontesantejazz.com/john-montesante-quintet.html
On the last track of the prior album of Australian horn-led modern jazz combo, 'John Montesante Quintet', (JMQ-Live @ Atlantis), bandleader Montesante engaged an 'augmented' horn line-up, expanding the band to nine instruments. A reviewer described that track as 'a brassy blaster that inspires the desire to catch the band at one of its live gigs around the traps' .
He later decided to create an entire new album in that vein, so he set about arranging and orchestrating some of his chosen tunes for ten instruments, thereby doubling the quintet to a dectet. 'The LITTLE BIG HORN Project' was born.
He invited musician friends and singers to join the project and breathe life into his new, always handwritten, charts. Over an extended period, involving four whole band studio sessions, with further horn and vocal pick ups, nineteen stellar artists dedicated considerable time, talent and energy to bring this album to completion. As well as the ten piece lineuo, four singers added their voices to the project. The album comprises four instrumental tracks and nine vocal tracks.
The 'JMQ Jazz Dectet' gave a live performance of the tracks on the new album
at a prominent Melbourne Jazz club, prior to the launch. The reception was enthusiastic
and the band will be introducing more new arrangements at live gigs and may also
produce a follow up album down track.
Meanwhile, we hope you will find the JMQ-Jazz Dectet's project interesting, with its particular
arrangements and soloists and that the more it is listened to the more it will grow upon you.
As for the album title, Montesante is an American Civil War history enthusiast
and selected the name with a dual purpose - to indicate the larger horn line up, while also referencing
his other passion.
Enjoy!
