The Night Beat — Vince Mendoza

Join Doug Crane on Wednesday, November 17, at 8 pm as he notes the 60th birthday of composer, arranger, and conductor Vince Mendoza.

Born in Norwalk, CT in 1961, his first musical studies were on piano and guitar. He began playing trumpet in high school due to his interest in jazz and soul music. He received an undergraduate degree in music composition from The Ohio State University and a master’s degree in music composition from the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music where, at present, he is an Adjunct Professor of Composition in the Jazz Studies program.

While I (Doug) was a fan of his work on drummer Peter Erskine’s recordings on Denon Records and Vince’s own Blue Note recordings, all from the late 1980s, his “JAZZPAÑA” project from 1992 with Arif Mardin, Michael Brecker, Al DiMeola, and others was a revelation in how it successfully fused Flamenco and big band jazz.  Almost thirty years later it sounds as fresh as ever.

Rather than attempt to summarize more of Vince’s career in music, it’s probably better (and less time-consuming!) to let his website biography do it for us…

Vince Mendoza has been at the forefront of the Jazz and contemporary music scene as a composer, conductor, and recording artist for the last 25 years. According to All About Jazz Mendoza “daringly expands the vernacular by including elements of abstract impressionism, romanticism, and a highly unorthodox palette to position him as the clear and natural successor to the late Gil Evans.” He has written scores of compositions and arrangements for big bands, extended compositions for chamber and symphonic settings while his jazz composing credits read like a “who’s who” of the best modern instrumentalists and singers in the world today. Mendoza was recognized as ‘Best Composer/Arranger’ by Swing Journal’s critics poll in Japan. His CD “Epiphany” features his compositions played by the London Symphony Orchestra.  “El Viento” and “JAZZPAÑA” further push the boundaries of Jazz and Flamenco Music. His 2011 solo release “Nights on Earth” features Mendoza compositions arranged for small and large ensembles, with guest appearances by Luciana Souza, Malian vocalist Tom Diakite, and musicians from Spain, Africa, and Brazil. Mendoza’s Grammy-nominated big band release “Homecoming” celebrates his compositions for the WDR big band in Koln, Germany. His Trumpet Concertino, “New York Stories”, and his “Concerto for Orchestra” commissioned by the Czech National Symphony weave his individual approach to Jazz rhythms and instrumental colors through a grand symphonic tapestry.

Mendoza’s arranging has appeared on many critically acclaimed projects that include dozens of albums with songwriting legends and vocalists such as Björk, Gregory Porter, Chaka Khan, Al Jarreau, Robert Glasper, Bobby McFerrin, Diana Krall, Melody Gardot, Sting, and Joni Mitchell. He has 6 Grammy awards and 34 nominations.

Mendoza is the composer in residence with the West Deutsche Rundfunk in Koln. He is also the Conductor Laureate of the Netherlands Metropole Orkest, of which he was Chief Conductor for 9 seasons. In addition, he appeared as a guest conductor with the Los Angeles and New York Philharmonic, as well as other orchestras throughout Europe, the U.S., Japan, Scandinavia, and the U.K.

Mendoza has also written commissioned compositions and arrangements for the Turtle Island String Quartet, Brooklyn Rider, the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, the Metropole Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic, The Hollywood Bowl, West Deutsche Rundfunk, The Czech National Symphony, and the BBC. His music was featured at the Berlin Jazz Festival. He has frequently performed at the Monterey, Montreux, and North Sea Jazz Festivals.

Further information and discography available online at www.vincemendoza.net

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