John Menegon

Acoustic jazz bassist John Menegon was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. In his early professional life he worked with the reclusive electric guitarist Sonny Greenwich, as well as saxophonists Steve Grossman and Pat La Barbara. Moving to New York City in the mid-'80s, he met saxophonist Pete Yellin, the director of jazz studies at Long Island University in Brooklyn, who offered Menegon a full scholarship to study in the jazz department. Subsequent collaborators included Kenny Barron, Bruce Barth, Paul Bley, Anthony Braxton, Nick Brignola, Kenny Burrell, Jay Clayton, Jimmy Cobb, Jack DeJohnette, Al Foster, Slide Hampton, Sheila Jordan, Lee Konitz, J.R. Monterose, John Betsch, Pat McKearn, and Adam Nussbaum. Most prominently, Menegon was a longtime member of the Dewey Redman Quartet in the 1990s, and in contemporary times, with the quintet of David "Fathead" Newman, touring and performing worldwide. He has worked closely with vocalist Teri Roiger, is involved with the cooperative New York Trio Project featuring drummer Jeff Siegel and guitarist Adam Rafferty, and leads his own group with saxophonist/flutist John Gunther, guitarist Mark Dziuba, and either Mark McLean or Tani Tabbal on drums. Menegon also teaches bass and conducts workshops at SUNY/New Paltz, Bard College, Williams College in Massachusetts, and Bennington College in Vermont. As a composer, his work has been scored for modern dance, documentaries, and programs on the National Geographic and Nickelodeon television networks. ~ Michael G. Nastos, Rovi