Vince Mendoza

Vince Mendoza has been at the forefront of the jazz and contemporary music scene as a composer, arranger, conductor, and recording artist for the last 25 years. He has written scores of compositions and arrangements for big band and extended compositions for chamber and symphonic settings. His jazz composing credits include some of the best modern instrumentalists and singers in the world today. Mendoza's commissions include 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. Mendoza’s music has been featured at the Berlin Jazz Festival and he has performed frequently at the Monterey, Montreux, and North Sea Jazz Festivals.

Mendoza’s recordings include Epiphany, featuring his compositions played by the London Symphony Orchestra. El Viento: The Garcia Lorca Project and Jazzpaña further push the boundaries of jazz and flamenco music. His 2011 solo release, Nights on Earth, features his own 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 Köln, 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 also appeared on the albums of artists Björk, Gregory Porter, Chaka Khan, Al Jarreau, Robert Glasper, Bobby McFerrin, Diana Krall, Melody Gardot, Sting, and Joni Mitchell. He has received six Grammy awards and 34 nominations and was recognized as “Best Composer/Arranger” by Swing Journal's critics poll in Japan.

Mendoza is the Composer-in-Residence with the West Deutsche Rundfunk in Köln. He is also the Conductor Laureate of the Netherlands Metropole Orkest, of which he was Chief Conductor for nine seasons. In addition, he has 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.