Home » Jazz Musicians » Don Menza
Don Menza
A short stint with Stan Kenton and a year leading a quintet in Buffalo preceded a period living in Germany (1964-1968). 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. Don Menza, who has made far too few records, recorded as a leader for Saba (1965) in Germany, Discwasher (1979), Realtime, and Palo Alto (the latter two in 1981). Long time member of The Tonight Show Band, with Johnny Carson.
Tags
The Don Menza Big Band: Menza Lines
![Read "Menza Lines" reviewed by Edward Blanco](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/old/styles/dmenza2005.jpg)
by Edward Blanco
Laying the tracks from Stratospheric, a Los Angeles Jazz Institute four-day celebration of the career of trumpeter/bandleader Maynard Ferguson, former alumni Don Menza directs his own big band on the live recording Menza Lines. The album, the second for the Menza Big Band after the well-regarded Burnin (1981), was recorded at the LAX Four Points Sheraton Hotel in 2004. It's a big band album without a wall-to-wall big band sound. While solo performances are a characteristic of all ensemble recordings, ...
read moreJazzing Around L.A.
![Jazzing Around L.A.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/donmenza100x100.jpg)
Source:
All About Jazz
Saxist Don Menza Vibrato Bel Air Saturday
Elliott Caine Quintet with Mahesh Balasooriya, piano Jax Glendale Saturday
Guitarist Anthony Wilson Trio Blue Whale Saturday
Vibist Nick Mancini Bleecker Street 18640 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana 818-996-3008 Saturday
Cannonball/Coltrane Project The Lighthouse Hermosa Beach 11 a.m Sunday
Saxophonists Louis Van Taylor ...
read more
Don Menza Big Band CD release party September 27th at Charlie O's in Van Nuys, CA
![Don Menza Big Band CD release party September 27th at Charlie O's in Van Nuys, CA](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/logo/bd38a72ed12128b10ddc05c6087dacb8.jpg)
Source:
All About Jazz