Don Menza - Lesson on Tone - Cannonball Saxophones
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- čas přidán 20. 07. 2024
- Don Menza talks about technique vs. tone, and the importance of watching, listening and imitating sound; discusses embouchure, subtone, reeds, & mouthpieces; demonstrates the differences in tone of some of the great jazz masters: John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Coleman Hawkins, Stan Getz, Sonny Stitt, Michael Brecker, Ben Webster, and Gene Ammons.
Saxophone: Cannonball Vintage Series Brute with Lady Godiva Engraving and Fat Neck
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Who else comes back to watch this video from time to time? He's taught me to listen to the sound/tone I'm making as I play as well as the notes and intonation.
I only come here because of his dead son nick menza
This should prove it once and for all. It's the player. People obsess over which horn, piece, neck and reed to sound like whomever. Don knows how to PLAY all those different types of sounds on one horn, mouthpiece and reed. Think about that - how can he do that? A six and a link don't make you Dexter Gordon. This is inspiring playing from Don!
well when my saxophone got cut in half it didnt play so idk about that i blame the saxophone
One expensive horn
Man, that blew me away. Best Stan Getz I've heard, and the Coleman Hawkins was awesome....you can here where Rollin's got his sound in there. Good stuff to go practice now, thanks!
Isn't it great to hear an old guy who really knows his subject, no theory just factual demonstration of how he can alter the sound through a range of famous tones. A masterclass.
I'm a "seasoned" saxophone player and this video by Don Menza is TRUTH. Joe Allard and a few other notable immortals told me these things long ago, and it's a beautiful thing to hear them here - equally beautiful is hearing the demonstration of saxophone principles done so well. I've had to bear witness to charlitans thinking they know something, but you Mr. Menza have the decency, courage, experience and character to lay it down here. Thank-you.
Good point about Stan Getz playing "sub tone all over the horn". Interesting video, good talk. Thanks Don.
This is one of my all-time favorite clips on CZcams. Would love to see some more lessons featuring Don. Thanks!
Mr. Menza - Condolences for the loss of your son, Nick (1964-2016). :(
I had the pleasure of doing a concert with the great Don Menza when I played with the Maynard Ferguson Orchestra in 1979. It is great to hear the master give this clinic in tone...very inspiring for all of us!!
Wow at 7:30 he sounds exactly like Coleman Hawkins
Man, Don Menza is a cool cat. Glasses and everything.
This is the best sax video out there. The sounds blew me away. OMG
it weren’t for a late night jazz radio show broadcast from Rochester New York in 1970,
my musical life would be very different. Harry Abraham was a DJ who changed my musical world. I would catch his late night radio show on the AM dial when I would drive home to Paoli Indiana from playing gigs in Ky.
The music kept me awake in the wee morning hours. I was turned on to some of the greatest jazz in the world. I corresponded with Harry a few times and he recommended some great Jazz to listen. The very first record he turned me onto was Don Mensa’s First Flight.
Don, what a monster.. I just love the fact that you are able to get so much beauty out of your horn. Maybe it's because you put that much beauty into it. You duplicate the styles of the "masters" so well. It's a joy to hear you play!
In information and presentation, I could listen to Don Menza discuss saxophone all day. (Check out his tenor solo on "Channel One Suite" in 1968 with the Buddy Rich big band.)
wow. This video is amazing, cannot believe it isn't up top with the most viewed saxophone videos. As a new player, this is invaluable information, and amazing demonstration.
I like the way Don tells the truth about playing technic and beautiful tone
This is a wonderful video from a man who truly understands the relationship of a man and his horn - both inside and out. Thank you very - inspiring!!!
I find M. Menza very authentic and very knowledgeable .Thanks for sharing .
What a treat to be able to get advise from one of the great masters of improvised music!
I heard you in LA a couple of years ago. Thank you for the CDs. I absolutely love your tone and the ideas you blow through your horn.
this a great video, priceless information in fact. Please keep this on youtube always!
It's amazing how Don can imitate so many different saxophonists while using the same set up! Great lesson, thanx!
amen don menza! words of wisdom!! thank you....
Fabulous demonstration! Bravo!
Marvellous - could listen to you play and play and play... Thanks so much
This cat is an awesome musician and song writer! In 1983 I was blessed to play a gig while in college with Him, Bobby Shew, and Rich Matteson. Our director graduated from North Texas State. So cool!!
Great. Playing what the music calls for...Awesome Don
Don Menza's so hip he got his own emoticon 😎
PaddieFunk Very articulate!!!!
Words of wisdom from a great player, and very nicely explained to. Thanks
the true words of wisdom - I second every word here, props Mr.Menza!
Adding this guy to my listening list!
What an amazing fellow, very nice demo. Thank you.
What a great lesson, the Hawkins style at the end was really something else. I love that older subtone- full tone based sound, so sweet and rich. Too bad he couldn't go into Webster's sound, that would have been great to hear.
Thank you Don !
He's a true artist.
You're right, he sure did.. I listened again all the way through and my God he captured that FAT sound of Gene's Listening to him play is such a pleasure.
Helps show how much is really down to the player in reality :D
He's right about everything he's saying. But the fact that he can just mention someone he's heard play, then go and replicate that player's style AND sound so accurately, puts him on another level. To do from Coltrane and Stan Getz to Gene Ammons, then Ben Webster, and nail it each time....
He's a magician! Turns his horn into any player he wants to -- talented guy! Good advice, too. Thanks, Don. :)
I remember you from Munich,you were playing w Ernst Knauf b and Joe Haider p, Rolf Drum on Drums. around 1960, Schwabing
I like to see this video again and again Don is a Cool Cat
One of the masters...
that is a good point about tecnique
Good job!
damn. i need that sax now!! looks nice
There speaks a man of true wisdom, a static jaw line in the real world just doesn't work ..... it should change for the circumstances ...... thats how it works in the real world !
Menza is a master
I do belive he is like 73 now, i go to LA to visit him every now and then
The man was an absolute genius; musicians commented that he was a "monster" with total control of the horn. I will never forget catching in Buffalo at the Dellwood, Menza, best of the best along with Coltrane
Was?
Agree sir☺
cool!!!
fantastix
Never saw Menza with Buddy's band, but thought he was great on the Mercy, Mercy album (Channel One, Acid Truth). Then saw him in Houston with Supersax. He was the other alto (Med Flory being lead). The whole band was great,but Menza's solos (unlike the first three albums, they had sax solos in the live performance I attended) on the Bird repertoire were indescribable. I was about 10 feet away from the front of the stage and I have never heard anything so intense and soaring.
I really dig that split tone he did on the high Bb while playing like Hawk... Anyone know how he did that?
Son you got it...
No surprise. Don loves Sonny as we all do.
Does anybody have issues with reeds? Obviously sound is affected by the reed and I find that in a box of 5 reeds I might get 1 or 2 sweet reeds, any suggestions? Thanks
Well, they don't get too much more knowledgeable than
Don Menza. I was fortunate to see/hear him with Buddy Rich's band in '68 or 69 I think. A giant of the the instrument and a jazz master.
I have a cannonball alto saxophone black and gold
Now listen to this guy!
What every setup you played on the that pink panther video I thought was the sound for you
Don Menza - what was the lay on the Great Neck NY Tonalin you used to play?
Interesting.
You're my little son's hero!
What Coleman Hawkins song is he playing?
He did mention Gene
You should up your volume controls for this video and rerecord it using better microphones to truly capture his sound
Does anyone knows which mouthpiece is he using here ?
I'm diggin that Brute Fatneck.
What model is that?
anyone know what mouthpiece that is?
Good presentation. I'm picking up what you are putting down. However, I wish you would explain a little more about HOW you were doing it. Especially the "sub tone" stuff. What are you doing with your tongue and your breath to do it?
+RussellRoesner You can get sub tone if you play very close to the tip of the reed(preferably with a relaxed lower lip slightly out). Dont try it strait away on the lowest note=) Get there gradually(one note at a time chromatically). There are no secrets in the tongue and air. You will just find it yourself while trying. Good luck
+RussellRoesner Tevis Laukat's new lesson on subtone will be perfect for you! czcams.com/video/clMrleyHIIg/video.html
love that sax Cannonball; )
love that sax Cannonball; )
love that sax Cannonball; )
is that a link?
how did you get that tone quality, how long did it take??
Don for president! Of Italy at least....
There is probably a piano around when he is playing so you should have him teach you a few chords so the two of you can play music together. Or even saxophone, that would take more time but would certainly be a lot of fun. Let me know how it goes.
Wow, he is a master of imitating other players.
Indeed!
he is my gpa when i visit him all he does is play sax then we play withh his trains :)
Wow. That's the guy who was playing Pink Panther, right?
This is my grandpa, no joke i am a 12 yr old and so that would mean Nick menza is my pops.
Play some poison was the cure and capitive hounor! jk awesome swing, great jazz like this cat
The father of Nick menza :)
I'll tell you one master player that can't be duplicated so easily who's sound is VERY original and hard to match.... Joe Henderson. he played on a Selmer soloist D mouthpiece with only a soft strength Lavoz reed.
The Hawk flew once more.
What reed are you playing?
+James Kuczma Try a fibracell or a vandoren java green box for a jazzy effect. But id say, the mouthpiece changes all the sound.
Yea for president of Italy and Bolivia..
i want me a little plastic embrochure!!!!
Don Menza is a "MONSTER" musician.. Don, you didn't mention Gene Ammons.. I know there a many "great" Tenor players, I just loved his big fat sound. I worked with you at Caesars in Vegas when you were in the house band. I remember how brilliantly you played and obviously you are still burning and helping others to do the same.
No, that was Plas Johnson with Henry Mancini.
@teejay5962 yeah dude I know how to do the texas wobble. But that definitely isn't it. I'm talkin' about the split tone, like the growly, almost gargly sound he gets. He only does it for a split second at a time
I am trying to watch this at the dead of night turning volume up and down up and down up and down,,jesus,,!!lnd/dncjnc2nc
plus your mic is under your arm..,, guess I will have to watch it in the daytime when my kids not in bed... :(
@anwachukwu LOL!!!!!
Wow... just wow...
btw thats exactly how Coleman Hawkins plays haha
"White Sonny Rollins" - That's a good one.
i thought he was going to play cannonball
google search Comfort Zone Chops Lip Saver and Artificial Embouchure Universal ... well there you go, a plastic embouchure.
Is he blind or does he just like to wear sunglasses inside?
he just likes sunglasses
I'm here from Megadeth