music.wikisort.org - Composer

Don Menza (born April 22, 1936)[1] is an American jazz saxophonist.

Don Menza
Menza at a concert in Germany, 2010
Background information
Born	(1936-04-22) April 22, 1936 (age 86) Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Genres	Jazz, big band, jazz fusion
Occupation(s)	Musician, bandleader
Instrument(s)	Saxophone
Years active	1950s–present
Labels	Sackville, Palo Alto
Website	donmenza.com

Career

Menza was born in Buffalo, New York.[1] 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.[2] From 1964 to 1968 he lived in Germany.[2] 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".[2] In the 1970s he was a member of The Tonight Show Band.[3] He later lived in California and played with Elvin Jones and Louie Bellson.[2]

In 2005 Menza was inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame.[4]

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.[5]

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

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

References

External links

• Review of Menza Lines at All About Jazz
• Review of Menza Lines at All Music
• Don Menza Interview NAMM Oral History Library (2018)

На других языках

---

[de] Don Menza

Donald Joseph Menza, (* 22. April 1936 in Buffalo (New York)) ist ein US-amerikanischer Jazzmusiker (Tenorsaxophon, Klarinette, Flöte) und Arrangeur.

---

- [en] Don Menza

---

---