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 | Saxophone |
| Years active | 1950s–present |
| Labels | Sackville, Palo Alto |
| Website | donmenza |
Don Menza (born April 22, 1936) [1] is an American jazz saxophonist.
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".
His son Nick Menza (1964–2016) was the drummer for the heavy metal band Megadeth. [5]
With Louie Bellson
With Les DeMerle
With Neil Diamond
With Maynard Ferguson
With others
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