John Menegon

Born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, acoustic jazz bassist John Menegon began his career collaborating with reclusive electric guitarist Sonny Greenwich along with saxophonists Steve Grossman and Pat La Barbara. Relocating to New York City during the mid-'80s, he connected with saxophonist Pete Yellin, then serving as director of jazz studies at Long Island University in Brooklyn, who granted him a full scholarship within the jazz program. His later associations encompassed 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. He maintained a longstanding role in the Dewey Redman Quartet throughout the 1990s and, more recently, performed internationally as a member of the quintet led by David "Fathead" Newman. Close work with vocalist Teri Roiger complemented his participation in the cooperative New York Trio Project alongside drummer Jeff Siegel and guitarist Adam Rafferty. Menegon also directs his own ensemble, which features saxophonist/flutist John Gunther, guitarist Mark Dziuba, and drummers Mark McLean or Tani Tabbal. He instructs on bass and leads workshops at SUNY/New Paltz, Bard College, Williams College in Massachusetts, and Bennington College in Vermont. His compositions have supplied scores for modern dance, documentaries, and programming on the National Geographic and Nickelodeon networks.