Don Menza
Donald Joseph Menza ( born April 22, 1936 in Buffalo ( New York)) is an American jazz musician (tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute) and arranger.
Menza learned 1953/54, in high school saxophone and in-depth expertise in this study at the State University of New York. During his time in the army in Stuttgart, he studied clarinet and was from November 1956 Member of the "7 Army Jazz Band " played in the then Don Ellis, Leo Wright, and Cedar Walton. In 1957, he stepped on the German Jazz Festival in a " Four Brothers " formation with Joki friend, Hans Koller and Willi Sanner on, before he returned to the United States. In 1959 he played with Al Belleto and was honored at Notre Dame Festival as the best tenor saxophonist. 1960 and 1961 he worked with Maynard Ferguson, then with Stan Kenton before he was active with its own quintet in Buffalo.
Between 1964 and 1968 he was part of the orchestra by Max Greger and was also the co-leader of the jazz ensemble of the Bavarian Radio. Joachim Ernst Berendt produced in 1965 with his album " Morning Song " ( with ao Rick Kiefer, Fritz Pauer, Pierre Favre ). In 1967, he was exposed at the Montreux Jazz Festival and has appeared in various formations, even with the Kenny Clarke / Francy Boland Big Band, on. In the 1960s, during his work-related stay in Munich, had Menza substantial contribution to the sound of the legendary jam sessions in the jazz club Schwabing "Domicile ".
After returning to the United States Menza worked with Buddy Rich before he was active as a composer, arranger and studio musician in Los Angeles and it worked well for a long period with Louie Bellson and his band. His record "Bones Blues " (1979) was nominated for a Canadian Juno Award. Since 1980 Menza initiated repeatedly own big band, with whom he einspielt his compositions and arrangements in a modern mainstream variant. In addition, he also worked with the hr -Bigband and other European big bands, such as those by Bobby Burgess or Harald Rüschenbaum. In addition, he has taught since 1989 at the University of Las Vegas, is in the " International Association for Jazz Education" active and gives workshops.
The saxophonist has a strong tone and plays vital, melodic solos. He worked with, among others, to recordings of Carmen McRae, Ernestine Anderson, Dave Grusin, Jimmy Witherspoon, Horace Silver, Klaus Weiss, Peter Herbolzheimer or Dianne Reeves. As a guest star of Harald Rüschenbaum Trio in BR- broadcast it occurs in autumn 2012 " The stage is set in Studio 2 " in front of the Munich audience. The broadcast date of the live recording is scheduled for December 7, 2012 in the " Jazz Time " on BR -Klassik.
The Heavy Metal drummer Nick Menza ( Megadeth ) is his son.
Secondary literature
- Martin Kunzler, Jazz Encyclopedia Vol 2 ISBN 3-499-16513-9