Don Menza

Biography

Don Menza, born April 22, 1936, in Buffalo, New York, began playing tenor saxophone at age 13 or 15 after being inspired by Gene Ammons' recording of 'Body and Soul.' Largely self-taught with minimal formal study from teacher John Sedola, he served in the U.S. Army during the 1950s with the 7th Army Band in Stuttgart, Germany, alongside musicians like Don Ellis and Eddie Harris, gaining valuable experience in playing and composing. After leaving the Army around 1958-1959, he briefly quit music for a normal job before rejoining the scene, working with Maynard Ferguson's Orchestra from 1960-1962 as a soloist and arranger, followed by a short stint with Stan Kenton.

Menza led his own quintet in Buffalo for a year, then lived in Germany from 1964-1968, honing skills on multiple saxophones and flutes in studios. Returning to the U.S., he joined Buddy Rich's Big Band in 1968, delivering his iconic circular breathing solo on 'Channel One Suite' recorded live at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, a staple in jazz education. In the 1970s, he became a long-time member of The Tonight Show Band with Johnny Carson, and later worked with Elvin Jones and Louie Bellson while settling in California as a jazz educator and session musician. His powerful, distinctive tenor style blends hard bop and big band influences.

Menza's compositions like 'Groovin' Hard' and 'Time Check'—favorites of Buddy Rich and Doc Severinsen's NBC Orchestra—have become standards in jazz programs worldwide. He recorded numerous albums as a leader on labels like Saba, Verve, and Musicmasters, and as a sideman. In 2005, he was inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy in American jazz.

Fun Facts

• Menza was largely self-taught, starting saxophone at 15 after hearing Gene Ammons, with no musical family background.
• He served in the U.S. Army's 7th Army Band in Stuttgart with future jazz stars like Don Ellis, Cedar Walton, and Eddie Harris.
• His 'Channel One Suite' solo with Buddy Rich uses circular breathing and is a classic teaching tool for musicians.
• Menza briefly quit music twice—once post-Army (1958-1959) for a day job, and again after Stan Kenton—to pursue a 'normal life'.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• John Sedola - Saxophone teacher [Early 1950s]

Key Collaborators

• Maynard Ferguson - Soloist and arranger in orchestra (Maynard Ferguson's Orchestra recordings) [1960-1962]
• Stan Kenton - Band member (Stan Kenton orchestra) [1962 (6 weeks)]
• Buddy Rich - Jazz tenor chair in big band; composed charts ('Channel One Suite', 'Time Check', 'Groovin' Hard')
• Elvin Jones - Collaborator
• Louie Bellson - Collaborator [Later career]
• Doc Severinsen - Compositions performed by NBC Orchestra ('Groovin' Hard', 'Time Check') [1970s (Tonight Show Band)]

Artists Influenced

• Jazz students and educators - Through iconic 'Channel One Suite' solo and compositions like 'Groovin' Hard' and 'Time Check' used in college programs (Jazz studies repertoire worldwide) [1968-present]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia