Don Menza Quartet @ Charlie O’s 08.28.10
By George W. Harris

A typical night at Charlie O’s shows all that’s right with the LA jazz scene, along with the frustrations as well. Tenor saxist Don Menza headlined the evening’s show, supported by fellow locals John Heard/b, Theo Saunders/p and Roy McCurdy/dr. Each an all-star in their own right, they provided ready-witted rhythms for Menza’s big fatty and high cholesterol sound of a tenor on tunes like the bluesy “Solid” or the gliding “Love Is A Many Splendored Thing.” Heard’s intricate duet with Menza on the bopping “Jam For Your Bread” displayed the venerable bass players chops, while the whole team gelled like a Pony Express wagon on “Trieste.” Menza closed the set with a charming duet with Saunders, making “Embraceable You” a delicate sonata. All that’s right with this evening was the level of talent delivered by these mighty men of faith; the frustration laid in the fact that they don’t have their names on Hollywood Blvd.