Once upon a time, the LA jazz scene was jumping. In the 70s and 80s, you had a plethora of clubs that had musicians from the studios jamming until sunset; Donte’s, The Lighthouse, Alphonses, Concerts by the Sea, Pasquale’s and Carmelo’s. You had local bands like Supersax and the Akyoshi-Tabackin Big Band, as well as alumni from the big band era. All of these cozy places had a $5-10 cover charge, a 2 drink minimum, a half price for college students, and it supplied me with the best education of jazz a guy could ask for. They’ve all closed down, and the world is worse off as a result.
Fresh Sound Records came across this pair of concerts by saxist Don Menza, who played a muscular set of saxes for Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, Elvin Jones and Louis Bellson. He’s still around and sticks to the tenor these days, but here he focuses on the alto and baritone. Along with other vets of big bands like Sal Nestico/ts, Sam Noto/tp-fh, Frank Strazzeri/p, Andy Simpkins/b and Shelly Manne/dr (Don’t forget Shelly’s Manne Hole as a great jazz dive!) Mena delivers a pair of hard blowing and energetic sets.
Menza’s baritone bookends the sets with a torrid “The Third Eye” and hard bopping 20 minute stretch out on “Tenor Madness.” Everyone gets a chance to blow on the latter, while Nistico roars like a hungry lion here and on “Opas #1.” On alto, Menza floats like a nimbus cloud on “Winter of My Discontent” while his biceps flex the bop chops on “Quasimodo” along with Noto’s hip horn and Strazzeri’s nimble finger work. Noto glows warm embers on flugelhorn on “Opals #2,” while the front line gallops like its’ Saturday at the Santa Anita Race track on pieces like “Steppin’” and “Hip Pocket.” The music throughout is exciting, confident, swinging and boiling over with energy. Every solo has a story to tell, and none of the artists sound like they are reciting lessons from Manhattan School of Music; they are playing from the college of experience, and it is palpable.
Unlike most artists that have albums reissued by Fresh Sound Records, Menza is still alive and well, and you can still catch him blowing hot smoke in an LA club at least once a month or two. Don’t let him pass you by.
Fresh Sound Records