The fiery tenor saxophonist
Don Menza
has had too few opportunities to record as a leader through the years. This rare quartet date with pianist
Wray Downes
, bassist
Dave Young
, and drummer
Pete Magadini
ranks with
Menza
's best. He takes hard-driving solos on four
jazz
standards
(including
"Confirmation"
and
Thelonious Monk
's
"I Mean You"
), a couple of
blues
by drummer
Magadini
, and his own
"Rose Tattoo."
This live session finds
in top form, showing both humor and versatility in his swinging solos. Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow