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” whle 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.
Fresh Sound Records