Don Menza
American jazz saxophonist

Don Menza

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American jazz saxophonist
Gender:
Male
Places:
United States of America
Is:
MusicianComposerSaxophonistJazz musician
Work field:
Music
Birth:
22 April 1936(Buffalo, Erie County, New York, USA)
Star sign:
Taurus
Genres:
JazzSwing music
Instruments:
SaxophoneFluteAlto saxophoneTenor saxophone
Family:
Children:
Nick Menza
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The details
Biography

Introduction

Don Menza (born April 22, 1936) is an American jazz saxophonist.

Career

Menza was born in Buffalo, where he attended Grover Cleveland High School. After serving in the U.S. Army, he was part of the Maynard Ferguson Orchestra from 1960 to 1962 and then briefly worked for Stan Kenton. From 1964 to 1968 he lived in Germany. Back in the U.S., he became a member of the Buddy Rich band in 1968 and recorded a well-known solo with that band on "Channel One Suite". In the 1970s he was a member of The Tonight Show Band. He later lived in California and played with Elvin Jones and Louie Bellson.

In 2005, Menza was inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame.

Menza wrote two of the charts played by the Buddy Rich Band: "Time Check" and "Groovin' Hard".

Personal life

His son Nick Menza (1964–2016) was the drummer for the heavy metal band Megadeth.

Discography

As leader

  • Morning Song (SABA, 1966)
  • First Flight (Catalyst, 1977)
  • Horn of Plenty (Discwasher, 1979)
  • Burnin (M&K, 1981)
  • Hip Pocket (Palo Alto, 1982)
  • Ballads with Frank Strazzeri (Fresh Sound, 1987)
  • Live at Claudios with Pete Magadini (Sackville, 1991)
  • Bilein with Joe Haider (JHM, 1998)
  • Dream Suite (Corsaro, 2002)
  • Jack Rabbitt with John Bacon, Bobby Jones (Cadence, 2004)
  • Menza Lines (Jazzed Media, 2005)
  • Voyage with SWR Big Band (Hanssler/SWR, 2006)
  • Very Live at Groovy (Artie Music, 2008)
  • Forget the Woman (Pro Jazz, 2011)

As sideman

Don Menza
Menza performing in 1979

With Louie Bellson

  • Louie Rides Again! (Percussion Power 1974)
  • The Louis Bellson Explosion (Pablo, 1975)
  • Sunshine Rock (Pablo, 1978)
  • Note Smoking (Discwasher, 1978)
  • Matterhorn (Pablo, 1979)
  • Dynamite! (Concord Jazz, 1980)
  • Side Track (Concord Jazz, 1981)
  • Louis Bellson and Explosion (Pausa, 1984)
  • Live at Joe Segal's Jazz Showcase (Concord Jazz, 1988)
  • Hot (Musicmasters, 1988)
  • East Side Suite (Musicmasters, 1989)
  • Airmail Special (Musicmasters, 1990)
  • Jazz Giants (Musicmasters, 1990)

With Les DeMerle

  • Concerts by the Sea (Bar T, 1978)
  • Transcendental Watusi! (United National, 1979)
  • On Fire (Palo Alto, 1983)

With Neil Diamond

  • Tap Root Manuscript (UNI, 1970)
  • Beautiful Noise (Columbia, 1976)
  • In My Lifetime (Columbia, 1996)

With Maynard Ferguson

  • Straightaway Jazz Themes (Roulette, 1961)
  • Si! Si! M.F. (Roulette, 1962)
  • Maynard '62 (Roulette, 1962)
  • A Message from Maynard (Roulette, 1963)
  • The World of Maynard Ferguson (Roulette, 1964)

With others