Don Menza (born April 22, 1936) is an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

saxophonist.

Career

Menza was born in

Buffalo, New York Buffalo is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New York (behind only New York City) and the seat of Erie County. It is at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of the Niagara River, and is across the Canadian border from Sou ...

. 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 Stanley Newcomb Kenton (December 15, 1911 – August 25, 1979) was an American popular music and jazz artist. As a pianist, composer, arranger and band leader, he led an innovative and influential jazz orchestra for almost four decades. Though K ...

. From 1964 to 1968 he lived in Germany. Back in the U.S., he became a member of the

Buddy Rich Bernard "Buddy" Rich (September 30, 1917 – April 2, 1987) was an American jazz drummer, songwriter, conductor, and bandleader. He is considered one of the most influential drummers of all time. Rich was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, ...

band in 1968 and recorded a well-known solo with that band on "Channel One Suite". In the 1970s he was a member of ''The Tonight Show'' Band. He later lived in California and played with

Elvin Jones Elvin Ray Jones (September 9, 1927 – May 18, 2004) was an American jazz drummer of the post-bop era. Most famously a member of John Coltrane's quartet, with whom he recorded from late 1960 to late 1965, Jones appeared on such widely celebrate ...

and Louie Bellson. In 2005 Menza was inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame. Menza wrote two of the charts played by the Buddy Rich Band: "Time Check" and "Groovin' Hard".

Personal life

His son

Nick Menza Nicholas Menza (July 23, 1964 – May 21, 2016) was an American musician best known as the drummer for thrash metal band Megadeth from 1989 to 1998. He recorded drums on four of Megadeth's albums: ''Rust in Peace'' (1990), ''Countdown to Extin ...

(1964–2016) was the drummer for the heavy metal band Megadeth.

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 Joe Haider (January 3, 1936 in Darmstadt) is a German pianist and jazz educator. Life and works Haider performed as an amateur musician in the region Stuttgart between 1954 and 1959 and studied at Richard Strauss Conservatory in Munich from 196 ...

(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 Lester William DeMerle (born November 4, 1946, Brooklyn) is an American jazz drummer, vocalist, and bandleader. Career DeMerle first picked up drums at age ten. He studied drums and percussion with Bob Livingstone in New York from 1960 to 1965, j ...

* ''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 Paul Albert Anka (born July 30, 1941) is a Canadian-American singer, songwriter and actor. He is best known for his signature hit songs including " Diana", " Lonely Boy", " Put Your Head on My Shoulder", and "(You're) Having My Baby". Anka also ...

, ''The Music Man'' (United Artists, 1977) *

Benny Bailey Ernest Harold "Benny" Bailey (August 13, 1925 – April 14, 2005) was an American jazz trumpeter. Biography A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Bailey briefly studied flute and piano before turning to trumpet. He attended the Cleveland Conserva ...

, ''The Balkan in My Soul'' (SABA, 1968) * Bill Berry, ''Hello Rev'' (Concord Jazz, 1976) *

Pat Boone Patrick Charles Eugene Boone (born June 1, 1934) is an American singer and actor. He was a successful pop singer in the United States during the 1950s and early 1960s. He sold more than 45 million records, had 38 Top 40 hits, and appeared in mo ...

, ''In a Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy'' (Hip-O 1997) *

Kenny Burrell Kenneth Earl Burrell (born July 31, 1931) is an American jazz guitarist known for his work on numerous top jazz labels: Prestige, Blue Note, Verve, CTI, Muse, and Concord. His collaborations with Jimmy Smith were notable, and produced the 1965 ...

, ''Heritage'' (AudioSource, 1980) * Dee Dee Bridgewater, ''Bad for Me'' (Elektra, 1979) *

Glen Campbell Glen Travis Campbell (April 22, 1936 – August 8, 2017) was an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, actor and television host. He was best known for a series of hit songs in the 1960s and 1970s, and for hosting '' The Glen Campbell Good ...

, ''Rhinestone Cowboy'' (Capitol, 1975) * Larry Carlton, ''Friends'' (Warner Bros., 1983) *

Pete Christlieb Pete Christlieb (born February 16, 1945) is an American jazz bebop, West Coast jazz and hard bop tenor saxophonist. Biography Christlieb was born in Los Angeles, California, United States, and is the son of bassoonist Don Christlieb. Christlieb ...

, ''For Heaven's Sake'' (CARS 1999) *

Eugen Cicero Eugen Cicero (born ''Eugen Ciceu''; 27 June 1940 – 5 December 1997), nicknamed "Mister Golden Hands", was a Romanian-German jazz pianist who performed in the mixed classical-swing style. Biography Born in Vad, Romania, to Teodor and Livia Cic ...

, ''Eugen Cicero Quintett'' (Metronome, 1968) *

Stanley Clarke Stanley Clarke (born June 30, 1951) is an American bassist, film composer and founding member of Return to Forever, one of the first jazz fusion bands. Clarke gave the bass guitar a prominence it lacked in jazz-related music. He is the first ja ...

, ''Let Me Know You'' (Epic 1982) *

Leonard Cohen Leonard Norman Cohen (September 21, 1934November 7, 2016) was a Canadian singer-songwriter, poet and novelist. His work explored religion, politics, isolation, depression, sexuality, loss, death, and romantic relationships. He was inducted in ...

, ''Death of a Ladies' Man'' (Columbia, 1977) *

Natalie Cole Natalie Maria Cole (February 6, 1950 – December 31, 2015) was an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She was the daughter of American singer and jazz pianist Nat King Cole. She rose to success in the mid-1970s as an R&B singer with the h ...

, ''Unforgettable with Love'' (Elektra, 1991) *

Michel Colombier Michel Colombier (23 May 1939 – 14 November 2004) was a French composer, arranger, and conductor. Career Colombier wrote the scores of several motion pictures and TV productions. He also wrote chamber music and ballets. With composer Pierre H ...

, ''Wings'' (A&M, 1971) *

Rita Coolidge Rita Coolidge (born May 1, 1945) is an American recording artist. During the 1970s and 1980s, her songs were on ''Billboard'' magazine's pop, country, adult contemporary, and jazz charts, and she won two Grammy Awards with fellow musician and the ...

, ''Rita Coolidge'' (A&M, 1971) *

Mike Deasy Michael William Deasy (born February 4, 1941) is an American rock and jazz guitarist. As a session musician, he played on numerous hit singles and albums recorded in Los Angeles in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He is sometimes credited as Mike De ...

, ''Letters to My Head'' (Capitol, 1973) *

Dion DiMucci Dion Francis DiMucci (born July 18, 1939), better known simply as Dion, is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. His music has incorporated elements of doo-wop, pop, rock, R&B, folk and blues. Initially as the lead singer of Dion and t ...

, ''Born to Be with You'' (Collectables, 2010) *

Ned Doheny Patrick Anson Doheny "Ned" Doheny (born March 26, 1948) is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist from Malibu, California, who has recorded eight albums and has performed with other artists including Don Henley and Glenn Frey of the Eagl ...

, ''Ned Doheny'' (Asylum, 1973) * Ned Doheny, ''Hard Candy'' (Columbia, 1976) *

João Donato João Donato de Oliveira Neto is a Brazilian jazz and bossa nova pianist from Brazil. He first worked with Altamiro Carrilho and went on to perform with Antonio Carlos Jobim and Astrud Gilberto. Career A professional at the age of 15, Donato play ...

, ''A Bad Donato'' (Blue Thumb, 1970) *

Andrew Gold Andrew Maurice Gold (August 2, 1951 – June 3, 2011) was an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and record producer who influenced much of the Los Angeles-dominated pop/soft rock sound in the 1970s. Gold played on scores of reco ...

, ''What's Wrong with This Picture?'' (Asylum, 1976) *

Dave Grusin Robert David "Dave" Grusin (born June 26, 1934) is an American composer, arranger, producer, jazz pianist, and band leader. He has composed many scores for feature films and television, and has won numerous awards for his soundtrack and record w ...

, ''Havana'' (GRP, 1990) * John Lee Hooker, ''Born in Mississippi, Raised Up in Tennessee'' (ABC, 1973) *

Gloria Jones Gloria Richetta Jones (born October 19, 1945) is an American singer and songwriter who first found success in the United Kingdom, being recognized there as "The Queen of Northern Soul". She recorded the 1965 hit song " Tainted Love" and has w ...

, ''Share My Love'' (Motown, 1973) * Phil Keaggy, ''Love Broke Thru'' (New Song, 1976) *

John Klemmer John T. Klemmer (born July 3, 1946) is an American saxophonist, composer, songwriter, and arranger. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, United States, and began playing guitar at the age of five and alto saxophone at the age of 11. His other ear ...

, ''Constant Throb'' (Impulse!, 1972) *

, ''Adventures in Time: A Concerto for Orchestra'' (Capitol, 1962) *

Claudia Lennear Claudia Lennear (born Claudia Joy Offley; 1946) is an American soul singer and educator. Lennear began her performing with the Superbs before becoming an Ikette in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. She was also a background vocalist for various acts ...

, ''Phew!'' (Warner Bros., 1973) *

Gloria Lynne Gloria Lynne (born Gloria Wilson; November 23, 1929 – October 15, 2013), also known as Gloria Alleyne, was an American jazz vocalist with a recording career spanning from 1958 to 2007. Career Lynne was born in Harlem in 1929 to John and Mary W ...

, ''A Very Gentle Sound'' (Mercury, 1972) *

Henry Mancini Henry Mancini ( ; born Enrico Nicola Mancini, ; April 16, 1924 – June 14, 1994) was an American composer, conductor, arranger, pianist and flautist. Often cited as one of the greatest composers in the history of film, he won four Academy Award ...

, ''Hangin' Out'' (RCA Victor, 1974) * Albert Mangelsdorff, ''Mainhattan Modern Lost Jazz Files'' (Sonorama, 2015) * The Manhattan Transfer, ''Pastiche'' (Atlantic, 1978) *

Sergio Mendes Sergio may refer to: * Sergio (given name), for people with the given name Sergio * Sergio (carbonado), the largest rough diamond ever found * ''Sergio'' (album), a 1994 album by Sergio Blass * ''Sergio'' (2009 film), a documentary film * ''Se ...

, ''Homecooking'' (Elektra, 1976) * Sergio Mendes, ''Brasil '88'' (Elektra, 1978) *

Shawn Phillips Shawn Phillips (born February 3, 1943) is an American singer-songwriter and musician, primarily influential in the 1960s and 1970s. His work is rooted in folk rock but straddles other genres, including jazz fusion and funk. Phillips has re ...

, ''Do You Wonder'' (A&M, 1975) *

Walter Murphy Walter Anthony Murphy Jr. (born December 19, 1952) is an American composer, keyboardist, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known for the instrumental " A Fifth of Beethoven", a disco adaptation of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony which top ...

, ''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 Gayle McCormick (November 26, 1948 – March 1, 2016) was an American singer, best known for her work with the rock band Smith. She attended Pattonville High School in Maryland Heights, Missouri and sang high soprano with the Suburb Choir, a 150-v ...

, ''Flesh & Blood'' (Decca, 1972) *

Carmen McRae Carmen Mercedes McRae (April 8, 1920 – November 10, 1994) was an American jazz singer. She is considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century and is remembered for her behind-the-beat phrasing and ironic interpre ...

, ''Can't Hide Love'' (Blue Note, 1976) *

Barry McGuire Barry McGuire (born October 15, 1935) is an American singer-songwriter primarily known for his 1965 hit " Eve of Destruction". Later he would pioneer as a singer and songwriter of Contemporary Christian music. Early life McGuire was born in O ...

, ''Seeds'' (Myrrh, 1973) *

Gil Melle Gil or GIL may refer to: Places * Gil Island (disambiguation), one of several islands by that name * Gil, Iran, a village in Hormozgan Province, Iran * Hil, Azerbaijan, also spelled ''Gil, a village in Azerbaijan * Hiloba, also spelled ''Gil, ...

, ''The Sentinel'' (La-La Land, 2019) * Bette Midler, ''Broken Blossom'' (Atlantic, 1977) *

Hugo Montenegro Hugo Mario Montenegro (September 2, 1925 – February 6, 1981) was an American orchestra leader and composer of film soundtracks. His best-known work is interpretations of the music from Spaghetti Westerns, especially his cover version of Ennio M ...

, ''Others by Brothers'' (RCA Victor, 1975) * Hugo Montenegro, ''Rocket Man'' (RCA 1975) *

Alphonse Mouzon Alphonse Lee Mouzon (November 21, 1948 – December 25, 2016) was an American jazz fusion drummer and the owner of Tenacious Records, a label that primarily released Mouzon's recordings. He was a composer, arranger, producer, and actor. He ga ...

, ''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 Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman, known primarily for her work in country music. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton made her album d ...

, ''The Great Pretender'' (RCA Victor, 1984) *

Basil Poledouris Basil Konstantine Poledouris (; August 21, 1945 – November 8, 2006) was an American composer, conductor, and orchestrator of film and television scores, best known for his long-running collaborations with directors John Milius and Paul Verho ...

, ''Amerika'' (Prometheus, 2004) *

Tito Puente Ernest Anthony Puente Jr. (April 20, 1923 – June 1, 2000), commonly known as Tito Puente, was an American musician, songwriter, bandleader, and record producer of Puerto Rican descent. He is best known for dance-oriented mambo and Latin jazz ...

, ''Special Delivery'' (Concord Jazz, 1996) *

Quicksilver Messenger Service Quicksilver Messenger Service is an American psychedelic rock band formed in 1965 in San Francisco. The band achieved wide popularity in the San Francisco Bay Area and, through their recordings, with psychedelic rock enthusiasts around the globe, ...

, ''Comin' Thru'' (Capitol, 1972) * Lou Rawls, ''Love All Your Blues Away'' (Epic, 1986) * Helen Reddy, ''Music, Music'' (Capitol, 1976) *

Dianne Reeves Dianne Elizabeth Reeves (born October 23, 1956) is an American jazz singer. Biography Dianne Reeves was born in Detroit, Michigan, into a musical family. Her father sang, her mother played trumpet, her uncle is bassist Charles Burrell, and h ...

, ''The Palo Alto Sessions 1981–1985'' (Blue Note, 1996) *

, ''Mercy, Mercy'' (World Pacific, 1968) *

The Righteous Brothers The Righteous Brothers are an American musical duo originally formed by Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield but now comprising Medley and Bucky Heard. Medley formed the group with Hatfield in 1963. They had first performed together in 1962 in the Lo ...

, ''The Sons of Mrs. Righteous'' (Haven/Capitol, 1975) *

Dick Rosmini Richard John Rosmini (October 4, 1936 – September 9, 1995) was an American guitarist, at one time considered the best 12-string guitarist in the world. He was best known for his role in the American "folk revival" of the 1960s. Life Rosmini was ...

, ''A Genuine Rosmini'' (Imperial, 1969) *

Ronnie Ross Albert Ronald Ross (2 October 1933 – 12 December 1991) was a British jazz baritone saxophonist. Life Born in Calcutta, India, to Scottish parents, Ross moved to England in 1946 and was educated at the Perse School in Cambridge. He bega ...

, ''Unforgettable Ronnie Ross'' (INMUS, 2000) *

Pete Rugolo Pietro "Pete" Rugolo (December 25, 1915 – October 16, 2011) was an American jazz composer, arranger and record producer. Life and career Rugolo was born in San Piero Patti, Sicily. His family emigrated to the United States in 1920 and settle ...

, ''This World, Then the Fireworks'' (Varese Sarabande, 1997) *

Moacir Santos Moacir Santos (26 July 1926 – 6 August 2006) was a Brazilian composer, multi-instrumentalist and music educator. Musicians such as Baden Powell, Bola Sete and Wilson das Neves studied under him. As a composer, Santos worked with Nara Leão, Ro ...

, ''Maestro'' (Blue Note, 1972) * Moacir Santos, ''Carnival of the Spirits'' (Blue Note, 1975) * Boz Scaggs, ''Down Two Then Left'' (Columbia, 1977) *

Diane Schuur Diane Joan Schuur (born December 10, 1953), nicknamed "Deedles", is an American jazz singer and pianist. As of 2015, Schuur had released 23 albums, and had extended her jazz repertoire to include essences of Latin, gospel, pop and country music ...

, ''In Tribute'' (GRP, 1992) * Lalo Schifrin, ''Gypsies'' (Tabu, 1978) *

Neil Sedaka Neil Sedaka (; born March 13, 1939) is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. Since his music career began in 1957, he has sold millions of records worldwide and has written or co-written over 500 songs for himself and other artists, collabo ...

, ''Laughter in the Rain'' (Polydor, 1974) * Neil Sedaka, ''Sedaka's Back'' (Rocket, 1974) *

Seals & Crofts Seals and Crofts was an American soft rock duo made up of James Eugene Seals (October 17, 1942 – June 6, 2022) and Darrell George "Dash" Crofts (born August 14, 1938) They are best known for their hits " Summer Breeze" (1972), " Diamond Girl" ...

, ''Takin' It Easy'' (Warner Bros., 1978) * Keely Smith, ''Keely Sings Sinatra'' (Concord Jazz, 2001) * J. D. Souther, ''Black Rose'' (Asylum, 1976) *

Frank Strazzeri Frank Strazzeri (April 24, 1930 – May 9, 2014) was an American jazz pianist. Career Strazzeri began on tenor saxophone and clarinet at age 12, then switched to piano soon after. He attended the Eastman School of Music, then took a job as a h ...

, ''Taurus'' (Revelation, 1973) * Frank Strazzeri, ''Frames'' (Glendale, 1975) * Donna Summer, ''Live and More'' (Casablanca, 1978) *

Supersax Supersax was an American jazz group, created in 1972 by saxophonist Med Flory and bassist Buddy Clark as a tribute to saxophonist Charlie Parker. The group's music consisted of harmonized arrangements of Parker's improvisations played by a saxoph ...

, ''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 Leonard Charles Williams (born February 16, 1945)"Biography by Alex Henderson"
AllMus ...

, ''Love Current'' (MCA, 1979) *

Jimmy Witherspoon James Witherspoon (August 8, 1920 – September 18, 1997) was an American jump blues singer. Early life, family and education Witherspoon was born in Gurdon, Arkansas. His father was a railroad worker who sang in local choirs, and his mot ...

, ''Spoonful'' (Blue Note, 1975)

References

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) {{DEFAULTSORT:Menza, Don United States Army soldiers American male saxophonists American music arrangers American male composers 21st-century American composers Living people Jazz arrangers Palo Alto Records artists 1936 births 21st-century American saxophonists 21st-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians Sackville Records artists Musicians from Buffalo, New York