Don Menza & Sam Noto - Steppin'

Styles: Saxophone And Trumpet Jazz
v Year: 2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 79:31
Size: 182,6 MB
Art: Front

(16:18) 1. Something Old, Something Blue
( 9:11) 2. Lover Man
(15:47) 3. Spanish Boots
(14:05) 4. Paddelin' Maddeline
( 7:39) 5. These Are Things I Love
(16:29) 6. Steppin'

July 1980 I was in Buffalo, N.Y. visiting family and playing a few gigs when I got a call from Sam Noto who was living in Toronto, Canada. He asked if I was interested in doing a gig at Bourbon St. (180 Queen St.) the jazz club in Toronto. I was very much into it. Sam explained it would be a pianoless quartet no problem. In the summer of 1963 we had a pianoless quintet at a club in Buffalo (Big Mothers).

It was 4 months of musical expansion and experimentation for all of us I joined Sam in Toronto and we had a short rehearsal. What you hear on this CD is a result of what I feel was a very special week. There is not much that can be said about Sam that hasn’t already been said. His time with Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, Count Basie, Louie Bellson and numerous small group recordings are all well-documented and worth hearing. As for the rhythm section, Dave Young and Terry Clarke are both what a jazz rhythm section should be but too often is not. They represent the best of jazz players. I was and still am proud to be part of this jazz happening. These are truly the things I love. By Don Menza (February 2023)

Personnel: Sam Noto (trumpet & flugelhorn), Don Menza (tenor sax), Dave Young (bass), Terry Clarke (drums).

Steppin'

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The Don Menza Quartet - Mostly Mancini - With a Jazz Touch

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:43
Size: 178,9 MB
Art: Front

(10:14)  1. Mr. Lucky
(12:37)  2. Dreamsville
(10:42)  3. Days of Wine and Roses
(11:57)  4. Cream Puff
( 9:24)  5. Loss of Love
( 7:41)  6. Brazilienza
(10:00)  7. My Huckleberry Friend
( 5:04)  8. I Like the Look

Don Menza is a powerful tenor saxophonist who, although able to effectively imitate most of the top stylists (from Coleman Hawkins to John Coltrane), 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. 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). ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/artist/don-menza-mn0000184137/biography

Mostly Mancini - With a Jazz Touch

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The Don Menza Sextet - Horn of Plenty

Styles: Saxophone Jazz 
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 79:49
Size: 184,0 MB
Art: Front

(7:48)  1. Tonawanda Fats
(6:21)  2. In a Sentimental Mood
(7:33)  3. Intrigue
(7:38)  4. As Is
(7:38)  5. Something Old, Something Blue
(6:38)  6. Take the "A" Train
(6:22)  7. Cinderella's Waltz
(6:03)  8. I Should Care
(5:44)  9. Blues for Bird (Burnin')
(8:40) 10. The Very Thought of You
(9:21) 11. Sambandrea Swing

Tenorman Don Menza's regular sextet of the late 1970s (which also includes trumpeter Chuck Findley, trombonist Bill Reichenbach, pianist Frank Strazzeri, bassist Frank De La Rosa and drummer John Dentz) is heard in fine form on two Ellington/Strayhorn standards and originals by Menza, pianist Frank Strazzeri and Marc Levin. Menza's ability to write catchy, fresh-sounding boppish lines and his fiery solos are two strong reasons to search for this little-known but superior LP. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/horn-of-plenty-mw0000199338

"I’ve never figured out why Don Menza is never mentioned in the Top Ten list of tenor sax players. He’s got an incredibly meaty tone, had a few great runs with Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Rich, Elvin Fones and Louis Bellson, and has had a respectable solo career. It could be the curse of being associated with Los Angeles, but he’s never disappointed in concert. This album from 1979 shows a couple things 1) at one time, LA had a thriving jazz scene, as Menza brings together Chuck Findley/tp, Bill Reichenback/tb, Frank Strazzeri/p, Frank De La Rosa/b and John Dentz for a hard hitting collection of standards, originals and variations on jazz pieces. Menza himself sounds voracious as he roars on “In A Sentimental Mood” and the whole team sizzles on the clever groove changes on “Tonawanda Fats.” Strazzeri shows his writing and composing skills on “As Is” while Findley’s brass glows on the bonus tracks “The Very Thought Of You” and “Sambandrea Swing.”The disc includes 5 bonus tracks that were the casualty of the vinyl age, but fill up the space without missing a beat.  The music is all inspiring, muscular and macho, just what is all missing in most of today’s limp wrist deliveries." ~ George W. Harris (October 3, 2016) https://www.freshsoundrecords.com/don-menza-albums/6466-horn-of-plenty-5-bonus-tracks.html

Personnel: Don Menza (ts), Chuck Findley (tp), Bill Reichenbach (tb), Frank Strazzeri (p, Fender Rhodes), Frank De La Rosa (b), John Dentz (d)

Horn of Plenty

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Don Menza & Pete Magadini - Live At Claudio's

Size: 130,8 MB
Time: 56:27
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1995
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. Confirmation (8:43)
02. Rose Tattoo (7:55)
03. I Mean You (7:35)
04. These Foolish Things (8:40)
05. Pete's Blues (7:45)
06. On A Misty Night (9:13)
07. 2080 Blues (6:33)

The fiery tenor saxophonist Don Menza has had too few opportunities to record as a leader through the years. This rare quartet date with pianist Wray Downes, bassist Dave Young, and drummer Pete Magadini ranks with Menza's best. He takes hard-driving solos on four jazz standards (including "Confirmation" and Thelonious Monk's "I Mean You"), a couple of blues by drummer Magadini, and his own "Rose Tattoo." This live session finds Menza in top form, showing both humor and versatility in his swinging solos. Recommended. ~by Scott Yanow

Live At Claudio's

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