Don Menza
Don Menza | |
|---|---|
 Menza at a concert in Germany, 2010 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | April 22, 1936 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 |
Don Menza (born April 22, 1936)[1] is an American jazz saxophonist.
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
- Cannonball Adderley, Big Man: The Legend of John Henry (Fantasy, 1975)
- Karen Alexander, Isn't It Always Love (Asylum, 1975)
- Paul Anka, The Music Man (United Artists, 1977)
- Benny Bailey, The Balkan in My Soul (SABA, 1968)
- Bill Berry, Hello Rev (Concord Jazz, 1976)
- Pat Boone, In a Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy (Hip-O 1997)
- Kenny Burrell, Heritage (AudioSource, 1980)
- Dee Dee Bridgewater, Bad for Me (Elektra, 1979)
- Glen Campbell, Rhinestone Cowboy (Capitol, 1975)
- Larry Carlton, Friends (Warner Bros., 1983)
- Pete Christlieb, For Heaven's Sake (CARS 1999)
- Eugen Cicero, Eugen Cicero Quintett (Metronome, 1968)
- Stanley Clarke, Let Me Know You (Epic 1982)
- Leonard Cohen, Death of a Ladies' Man (Columbia, 1977)
- Natalie Cole, Unforgettable with Love (Elektra, 1991)
- Michel Colombier, Wings (A&M, 1971)
- Rita Coolidge, Rita Coolidge (A&M, 1971)
- Mike Deasy, Letters to My Head (Capitol, 1973)
- Dion DiMucci, Born to Be with You (Collectables, 2010)
- Ned Doheny, Ned Doheny (Asylum, 1973)
- Ned Doheny, Hard Candy (Columbia, 1976)
- João Donato, A Bad Donato (Blue Thumb, 1970)
- Andrew Gold, What's Wrong with This Picture? (Asylum, 1976)
- Dave Grusin, Havana (GRP, 1990)
- John Lee Hooker, Born in Mississippi, Raised Up in Tennessee (ABC, 1973)
- Gloria Jones, Share My Love (Motown, 1973)
- Phil Keaggy, Love Broke Thru (New Song, 1976)
- John Klemmer, Constant Throb (Impulse!, 1972)
- Stan Kenton, Adventures in Time: A Concerto for Orchestra (Capitol, 1962)
- Claudia Lennear, Phew! (Warner Bros., 1973)
- Gloria Lynne, A Very Gentle Sound (Mercury, 1972)
- Henry Mancini, Hangin' Out (RCA Victor, 1974)
- Albert Mangelsdorff, Mainhattan Modern Lost Jazz Files (Sonorama, 2015)
- The Manhattan Transfer, Pastiche (Atlantic, 1978)
- Sergio Mendes, Homecooking (Elektra, 1976)
- Sergio Mendes, Brasil '88 (Elektra, 1978)
- Shawn Phillips, Do You Wonder (A&M, 1975)
- Walter Murphy, Discosymphony (New York, 1979)
- Walter Murphy, Rhapsody in Blue (Private Stock 1977)
- Michael Omartian, White Horse (ABC/Dunhill, 1974)
- Michael Omartian, Adam Again (Myrrh, 1977)
- Barry Mann, Barry Mann (Casablanca, 1980)
- Gayle McCormick, Flesh & Blood (Decca, 1972)
- Carmen McRae, Can't Hide Love (Blue Note, 1976)
- Barry McGuire, Seeds (Myrrh, 1973)
- Gil Melle, The Sentinel (La-La Land, 2019)
- Bette Midler, Broken Blossom (Atlantic, 1977)
- Hugo Montenegro, Others by Brothers (RCA Victor, 1975)
- Hugo Montenegro, Rocket Man (RCA 1975)
- Alphonse Mouzon, Angel Face (Tenacious, 2011)
- Maria Muldaur, Southern Winds (Warner Bros., 1978)
- Tom Pacheco, Swallowed Up in the Great American Heartland (RCA Victor, 1976)
- Dolly Parton, The Great Pretender (RCA Victor, 1984)
- Basil Poledouris, Amerika (Prometheus, 2004)
- Tito Puente, Special Delivery (Concord Jazz, 1996)
- Quicksilver Messenger Service, Comin' Thru (Capitol, 1972)
- Lou Rawls, Love All Your Blues Away (Epic, 1986)
- Helen Reddy, Music, Music (Capitol, 1976)
- Dianne Reeves, The Palo Alto Sessions 1981–1985 (Blue Note, 1996)
- Buddy Rich, Mercy, Mercy (World Pacific, 1968)
- The Righteous Brothers, The Sons of Mrs. Righteous (Haven/Capitol, 1975)
- Dick Rosmini, A Genuine Rosmini (Imperial, 1969)
- Ronnie Ross, Unforgettable Ronnie Ross (INMUS, 2000)
- Pete Rugolo, This World, Then the Fireworks (Varese Sarabande, 1997)
- Moacir Santos, Maestro (Blue Note, 1972)
- Moacir Santos, Carnival of the Spirits (Blue Note, 1975)
- Boz Scaggs, Down Two Then Left (Columbia, 1977)
- Diane Schuur, In Tribute (GRP, 1992)
- Lalo Schifrin, Gypsies (Tabu, 1978)
- Neil Sedaka, Laughter in the Rain (Polydor, 1974)
- Neil Sedaka, Sedaka's Back (Rocket, 1974)
- Seals & Crofts, Takin' It Easy (Warner Bros., 1978)
- Keely Smith, Keely Sings Sinatra (Concord Jazz, 2001)
- J. D. Souther, Black Rose (Asylum, 1976)
- Frank Strazzeri, Taurus (Revelation, 1973)
- Frank Strazzeri, Frames (Glendale, 1975)
- Donna Summer, Live and More (Casablanca, 1978)
- Supersax, Dynamite !! (MPS, 1979)
- Supersax, Chasin' the Bird (MPS, 1984)
- Dan Terry, Lonely Place (Happy Tiger 1969)
- Toto, Kingdom of Desire (CBS/Sony 1992)
- Narada Michael Walden, Awakening (Atlantic, 1979)
- Lenny Williams, Love Current (MCA, 1979)
- Jimmy Witherspoon, Spoonful (Blue Note, 1975)
References
- ^ ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
- ^ a b c d Yanow, Scott. "Don Menza". AllMusic. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
- ISBN 9781589793033.
- ^ "Don Menza BMHOF Class of 2005". Buffalo Music Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
- ^ Craig Sailor (January 12, 2017). "Megadeth drummer's gift to son stolen from Tacoma home". The News Tribune.
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)
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