More Info on Don MenzaSimilar Undetermined MusicSearch Artistopia
Biography
Infobox musical artist | name = Don Menza| image = Don Menza UP.jpg| caption = Don Menza at a concert in Germany 2010| birth_date = birth date|mf=yes|1936|4|22| birth_place = Buffalo, New York , United States| instrument = Saxophone| genre = Jazz , big band , jazz fusion|fusion | occupation = Bandleader , saxophonist, arranger, educator, session musician| years_active = 1950s-present| background=non_vocal_instrumentalist Don Menza (born April 22, 1936) is an American saxophonist , arranger , composer , session musician , and jazz educator noted for his many contributions to American jazz and big band music. Allmusic|class=artist|id=p7118|pure_url=yes Allmusic
Early years
Don Menza was born and raised in Buffalo, New York, where he began playing tenor saxophone when he was 13. He studied saxophone with musician and teacher John Sedola. After serving in the U. S. Army, he worked with Maynard Ferguson 's Orchestra (1960–1962) as both a soloist and an arranger. A short tenure with Stan Kenton and a year leading a quintet in Buffalo preceded a period living in Germany (1964–1968). Later, he returned to the United States and joined Buddy Rich 's 1968 big band in the "jazz tenor" chair, recording the famous solo cadenza on "Channel One Suite" (Recorded "live" at Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas) that utilized circular breathing and has become known as a classic among music educators and musicians alike. In the late 1960s, he settled in California and performed in the bands of Elvin Jones (1969) and Louie Bellson . Other artists with which Menza has recorded include Keely Smith , Cold Blood (band)|Cold Blood , Natalie Cole , Pat Boone , and Leonard Cohen .
Educator and composer
His compositions, such as "Groovin' Hard" and "Time Check" (both favorites of Doc Severinsen 's The Tonight Show Band|NBC Orchestra and Buddy Rich 's Big Band) have become standard repertoire in jazz studies programs at colleges and universities worldwideCitation needed|date=April 2010. In addition to numerous recordings as a sideman, Menza has recorded as a leader for Saba (1965) in Germany, Discwasher (1979), Realtime, Palo Alto (the latter two in 1981), and Verve Records|Verve (GRP).
Don Menza is the father of drummer Nick Menza , best known for his work in thrash metal band Megadeth .
Don is an accomplished hand engraver and has engraved many of his own saxophones.
Discography
cleanup|date=January 2012
As leader
Don Menza - Very Live at Groovy - (2008) Label: Artie Music http://www.artiemusic.com. Personnel: Markku Johansson , Esko Linnavalli , Jesper Lundgaard , Esko Rosnell
Burnin - (2002) Label: Real Time Records|Real Time . Personnel: Chuck Findley , Ron King , Jack Nimitz , Don Rader , Bill Reichenbach Jr. , Joe Romano , Frank Strazzeri , Bobby Shew and Frank Szabo .
Menza Lines - The Don Menza Big Band. (2005) Label: Jazzed Media . Personnel: Don Menza: leader, tenor saxophone; Chuck Findley , Bobby Shew , Don Rader , Ron King , Frank Szabo : trumpet; Bill Reichenbach Jr. , Alex Iles , Bob McChesney , John Hasselback : trombone; Lanny Morgan , Russ D'Alba , Doug Webb , Tom Peterson (musician)|Tom Peterson , Jack Nimitz : reeds; Mike Abene : piano; Chris Conner : bass; Mark Waggoner : guitar; Mike Stephans : drums
Voyage - Don Menza & the http://www.swr.de/swr2/faszination-musik/orchester/bb/en/index.html SWR Big Band. (2007) Label: Hänssler Classic . Personnel: Don Menza (tenor saxophone), Don Rader , Claus Reichstaller , Felice Civitareale , Klaus Graf (saxophone), Klaus Wagenleiter (piano), Marc Godfroid (trombone), Andreas Maile , Axel Kuhn , Ian Cumming , Joe Gallardo , Karl Farrent , Rudolf Reindl (flugelhorn)
Jack Rabbitt - Don Menza (sax), Bobby Jones (organist)|Bobby Jones (Hammond B3 Organ), John Bacon (drummer)|John Bacon (Drums). Cadence Jazz Records 1184
First Flight ( Catalyst Records (jazz)|Catalyst Records , with Frank Rosolino and Alan Broadbent (1977)
As sideman
The Best of Buddy Rich LIVE - Buddy Rich (2006). Label: LRC Ltd. Contains Menza's composition, "Time Check."
The Best Of Buddy Rich : The Pacific Jazz Years - Buddy Rich. (1997) Label: Blue Note Records . Contains Menza's composition, "Groovin' Hard"
Mercy, Mercy - The Buddy Rich Big Band. Contains Menza's famous solo (the "Menza Cadenza") during "Channel One Suite"
Dallas Jazz Orchestra Plays Dee Barton (1994, Grammy nominated, 1996), Dallas Jazz Orchestra , featuring Don Menza
Dynamite "Live" at The Concord Jazz Festival (1980), 150 MPH (1974), Matterhorn (1978), Explosion (1975), East Side Suite (1989) - The Louie Bellson Orchestra
On Fire - Les Demerle with Bobby Shew and Lanny Morgan (1981)
Hip Pocket - Menza (playing alto and baritone saxophones) with Sal Nistico and Sam Noto (1981)
''"Live" At Joe Segal's Jazz Showcase - The Louie Bellson Quartet (1988)
''"Live" At Claudio's - Pete Magadini (1991)
Lonely Place - Dan Terry Orchestra & Chorus (1969)
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php? id=19857 Review of "Menza Lines" CD at AllAboutJazz.com
http://www.vervemusicgroup.com/artist.aspx? ob=per& src=prd& aid=3827 Don Menza bio at Verve Music Group website
Allmusic|class=artist|id=p7118|pure_url=yes Don Menza Bio at Allmusic website
Allmusic|class=album|id=r801707|pure_url=yes Review of "Menza Lines" CD at Allmusic
Article: "Recommended Jazz Ensemble Repertoire," published in http://www.iaje.org/journal.asp Jazz Education Journal, the official publication of the International Association for Jazz Education
http://www.jazzimprov.com/subscribe/back_issues.cfm Jazz Improv Magazine website
http://www.ejazzlines.com/search=Don+Menza/ Don Menza listings on Ejazzlines.com
Persondata | NAME = Menza, Don | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH = April 22, 1936 | PLACE OF BIRTH = Buffalo, New York , United States | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Menza, Don Category:United States Army soldiers Category:American saxophonists Category:American session musicians Category:American music arrangers Category:American composers Category:Living people Category:Jazz arrangers Category:Palo Alto Records artists Category:1936 births
de:Don Menza
Copyright Citations
This article is licensed under the GNU License
Click here for original article: Don Menza
