JOHN MENEGON (Bassist, Composer, Arranger)
“New York bassist John Menegon is in the line of George Mraz and Michael Moore; a harmonically sophisticated bassist with technical facility who swings hard when it’s called for.” Kirk Silsbee, Downbeat!
Menegon is a jazz bassist, but is also a guitarist, arranger, and composer. He began his career as a musician in Montreal before moving to New York City, where he spent ten years as bassist for two legendary tenor saxophonists, Dewey Redman and David “Fathead” Newman. This experience provided a solid foundation for Menegon to continue his explorations as a bandleader, composer and arranger, and he has been composing and arranging music throughout his career. Menegon has released five CDs as a bandleader and currently plays with jazz legend Joe Lovano as well as leading his own band SOUND EMBRACE featuring Jean-Michel Pilc, Chet Doxas and Jim Doxas.
John Menegon started his career playing bass in Montreal. After having worked for several years on the Canadian jazz scene with the great guitarists Sonny Greenwich, Mike Gauthier & Nelson Simons, and saxophonists Steve Grossman & Pat LaBarbara, he went on to hone his skills in NYC in the mid-80s. Since moving to New York to study Jazz at Long Island University on a full scholarship, John has performed/recorded with Dewey Redman, David “Fathead” Newman, Matt Wilson, Frank Kimbrough, John Hicks, John Abercrombie, Steve Slagle, Yoron Israel, Jack DeJohnette, Kenny Burrell, Joel Frahm, Pat Metheny, Kenny Barron, Paul Bley, Anthony Braxton's Tri-Centric Orchestra, Nick Brignola, Jimmy Cobb, Al Foster, Slide Hampton, Sheila Jordan, Lee Konitz, Joe Lovano, and many others. In addition to touring, recording, and composing, he has created and taught Jazz Workshops on the music of Jaco Pastorius, Miles Davis, and Charles Mingus at Williams College (Williamstown, MA). He has also taught master classes at Jazz Festivals around the world, including the Panama Jazz Festival, Bolzano (Italy) and San Miguel de Allende (Mexico).
Menegon was the Bassist for jazz legends Dewey Redman and also David “Fathead” Newman for ten years (1998 ‘til 2009). He recorded five CDs with Newman on High Note Records, and was the bassist for the film on Dewey Redman’s Guggenheim Grant Project.
Releases as a leader include:
John's latest recording "Blew By Blues" with his group "Quartet East" was released on Dot Time records in 2017 and features John on bass, Joel Frahm on tenor/sop sax, Frank Kimbrough on piano, and Steve Williams on drums, with special guest vocalists Teri Roiger, Judi Silvano, Sarah James and Maryanne de Prophetis.
His 2014 release "I Remember You" (Inner Circle Music) includes dedications to some of the musicians who have influenced him musically and creatively over the years. The CD features Menegon on bass and compositions, Tineke Postma on alto/soprano sax, Frank Kimbrough on piano and Matt Wilson on drums. This release received a four-star review in Downbeat (April 2014).
“Soul Advice” (Maki Records, 2006) John Menegon (bass), John Gunther (sax & bass clarinet), Mark Dziuba (guitar) Tani Tabbal (drums).
“Search Light” (Maki Records, 2004) John Menegon (bass), Dewey Redman (sax), John Gunther (sax), Mark Dziuba (guitar) Mark McLean (drums), Tani Tabbal (drums and percussion), Teri Roiger (voice).
“New Moon” (Maki Records) John Menegon (bass), Harvey Sorgen & Bob Meyer (drums), Jonathan Lorentz (sax), Teri Roiger (voice/spoken word), Michael Bocian (guitar).
“Misterioso” (John Menegon/Teri Roiger, King Records in Japan and Maki Records in the US, 1998) Teri Roiger (voice), Kenny Burrell (guitar), John Menegon (bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums)