Don Menza / Joe Magnarelli /Markus Schieferdecker / Bernd Reiter – Live at Le Pirate

This live recording of saxophone legend Don Menza in a trio just with bass and drums - without a harmony instrument like piano or guitar - is an absolute rarity and the last recording of this "jazz master". It is characterized by enthusiasm, great joy in playing, and absolute authenticity!

Menza was born in Buffalo in 1936 and began playing the saxophone at the age of 13. As a member of the "7th Army Band," he first came to Germany in 1956 along with Leo Wright, Lex Humphries, Cedar Walton, and Eddie Harris. Back in New York, he played with the Maynard Ferguson Orchestra (1960-1962) and Stan Kenton's band until Max Greger brought him to Munich for his big band. He subsequently lived in Germany from 1964 to 1968 and has lived in Los Angeles since 1968. He played with the Buddy Rich Big Band and in the bands of Elvin Jones (1969), Louie Bellson, and Henry Mancini. He also recorded with musicians such as Keely Smith, Cold Blood, Natalie Cole, Pat Boonen, Leonard Cohen, and many more.

He remained closely connected to Europe and Germany, returning at least once a year for an extensive tour, most recently in May/June 2022. One of Don Menza's greatest idols is Sonny Rollins, an absolute genius of modern jazz, they are also friends since the 1950s. Rollins is known for his recordings in trio format with bass and drums, such as "A Night at the Village Vanguard," and Menza therefore wanted to realize a live production in precisely this format with Bernd Reiter and Markus Schieferdecker. As part of the tour, two concerts were recorded at the legendary jazz club "Le Pirate" in Rosenheim, with New York trumpet star Joe Magnarelli as a "special guest" - "Jazz at its Best"!

Don Menza – tenor sax

Markus Schieferdecker – bass

Bernd Reiter - drums

& as a guest

Joe Magnarelli - trumpet