Don Menza

Last updated

Don Menza
Don Menza UP.jpg
Menza at a concert in Germany, 2010
Background information
Born (1936-04-22) April 22, 1936 (age 88)
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Genres Jazz, big band, jazz fusion
Occupation(s)Musician, bandleader
InstrumentSaxophone
Years active1950s–present
Labels Sackville, Palo Alto
Website donmenza.com

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

Contents

Career

Menza was born in Buffalo, where he attended Grover Cleveland High School. [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

As sideman

Menza performing in 1979 Don Menza 1979.jpg
Menza performing in 1979

With Louie Bellson

With Les DeMerle

With Neil Diamond

With Maynard Ferguson

With others

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References

  1. 1 2 Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 1663. ISBN   0-85112-939-0.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Yanow, Scott. "Don Menza". AllMusic. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  3. Don Sweeney (2006). Backstage at the Tonight Show: From Johnny Carson to Jay Leno. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 120. ISBN   9781589793033.
  4. "Don Menza BMHOF Class of 2005". Buffalo Music Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  5. Craig Sailor (January 12, 2017). "Megadeth drummer's gift to son stolen from Tacoma home". The News Tribune .