Legendary jazz saxophonist Don Menza joins the new San Jose Jazz Orchestra for a performance at the 20th annual AT&T San Jose Jazz Festival on August 9, at the SJ Rep theater.

Don Menza is a powerful tenor saxophonist, composer, and educator with a distinctive sound and a history of playing in many of the great big bands, including those of Maynard Ferguson, Stan Kenton, and Buddy Rich.  Many of his compositions are now standards of modern big bands, such as "Groovin' Hard" and "Time Check," and he's widely recognized as an educator.

This is the inaugural performance of the San Jose Jazz Orchestra, building on the 25 year history of the West Valley Jazz Orchestra and West Valley College jazz ensembles.  SJJO is an ensemble of local professional musicians led by Artistic Director Gus Kambeitz, and now a program of the San Jose Jazz organization.

Tickets: Included as part of the San Jose Jazz Festival, August 7-9.  Single day tickets to any performance are $15 ($10 for Friday), two day tickets $20, all three days $30.  Available at the Jazz Festival site of San Jose Jazz  www.sanjosejazz.org .