Don Menza

Don Menza is a powerful tenor saxophonist who has a distinctive sound of his own. Menza started playing tenor when he was 13. After getting out of the Army, he was with Maynard Ferguson’s Orchestra (1960-1962) as both a soloist and an arranger. After returning to the U.S., he was with Buddy Rich’s big band in 1968, recording a famous solo on “Channel One Suite” that utilized circular breathing and was quite classic.  He settled in California and has worked with Elvin Jones (1969), Louie Bellson, as an educator, and in the studios. 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 (GRP). Don was also a long time member of The Tonight Show Band, with Johnny Carson.

His work as a jazz educator is renowned among his peers, as exemplified by numerous guest appearances at the conventions of the International Association for Jazz Education. His compositions, such as “Groovin’ Hard” and “Time Check” (both favorites of Doc Severinsen’s NBC Orchestra and Buddy Rich’s Big Band) have become standard repertoire in jazz studies programs at colleges and universities worldwide.