Vince Mendoza
American musician From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
American musician From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vince Mendoza (born November 17, 1961)[1] is an American composer, music arranger and conductor. He debuted as a solo artist in 1989, and is known for his work conducting the Metropole Orkest and WDR Big Band Köln, as well as arranging music for musicians such as John Scofield, Joni Mitchell, Michael Brecker and Björk. Over the course of his career, he has won seven Grammy Awards and one Latin Grammy Award and has been nominated for a total of 38 between the two awards.
Vince Mendoza | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Born | November 17, 1961 Norwalk, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, symphonic music, world music |
| Occupation(s) | Composer, arranger, conductor |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Labels | Blue Note, ACT, Transparent, Geffen, BMG – Modern Recordings |
| Website | www |
Mendoza was born in Norwalk, Connecticut in 1961,[2][3] He began studying music on the piano and classical guitar at an early age, before changing his focus to playing the trumpet and composing in high school, due to his love of jazz and soul music.[2][1] Mendoza wrote music for his high school jazz ensemble, later continuing studies in music composition at Ohio State University.[2] Mendoza moved to Los Angeles in 1983, where he completed a master's degree in composition at USC Thornton School of Music.[2][4]
In Los Angeles, Mendoza began to make connections in the music industry, arranging music for television and recordings, and for artists such as Peter Erskine, Charlie Haden and Rickie Lee Jones.[1] He was signed to Blue Note Records, with whom he released Start Here (1990) and Instructions Inside (1991).[5] In 1992 he released Jazzpaña with American producer Arif Mardin in 1991, garnering his first Grammy Nomination for the song "Buleria".[6][7] In 1994, Mendoza released a big band album called Sketches, collaborating with the WDR Big Band.[5] In 1995,[8] Mendoza began his work with the Dutch Metropole Orkest and was appointed the principal guest conductor in 1998.[2] In 1999, Mendoza composed the music and conducted the London Symphony Orchestra to on his album Epiphany.[3]
His compositions can be heard on recordings by Gary Burton, Pat Metheny, Sean Jones, Michael Brecker, John Abercrombie and Charlie Haden. Mendoza provided arrangements for Björk's Vespertine (2001) and for her score to Lars von Trier's Dancer in the Dark (2000). His arrangements are also heard on recordings by Gregory Porter, Chaka Khan, Elvis Costello, Robbie Williams, Robert Glasper, Bobby McFerrin, Sting, as well as Herbie Hancock and Al Jarreau. He has worked as an arranger, conductor, and/or producer on six Grammy Award-winning albums: Travelogue and Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell;[9] Some Skunk Funk by Randy Brecker and Michael Brecker;[10] Brown Street by Joe Zawinul;[11] 54 by the Metropole Orkest and John Scofield;[12] and his own collaborative album with the Metropole Orkest, El Viento: The Garcia Lorca Project.[13] From 2005 to 2013 he was chief conductor of the Dutch Metropole Orkest.[14] He has also served as the guest conductor for the Los Angeles Philharmonic,[15] the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra,[16] and the New York Philharmonic, among others.[17]
In 2021, Mendoza released an album entitled Freedom Over Everything in collaboration with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. The album's title track featured guest vocals from Black Thought of The Roots. Another track from that album, "To The Edge of Longing", featured soprano Julia Bullock[12] and garnered Mendoza the Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals.[7] Mendoza works as an adjunct professor of jazz composition at USC Thornton School of Music.[18] He is also the composer-in-residence with the WDR Big Band.[17]
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| US Jazz [19] | ||
| Vince Mendoza | — | |
| Start Here |
|
— |
| Instructions Inside |
|
— |
| Jazzpaña (as The Mendoza/Mardin Project) |
— | |
| Sketches |
|
— |
| Caribbean Night (with WDR Big Band Köln) |
|
— |
| Epiphany (with the London Symphony Orchestra) |
|
— |
| Blauklang |
|
— |
| El Viento: The Garcia Lorca Project (with the Metropole Orkest) |
|
— |
| Fast City: A Tribute to Joe Zawinul (with the Metropole Orkest) |
|
— |
| The Phoenix (with Danish Radio Big Band) |
|
— |
| Nights on Earth |
|
35 |
| Homecoming (with WDR Big Band) |
|
— |
| Freedom Over Everything (with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra)[21] |
|
— |
| Olympians (with the Metropole Orkest)[22] |
|
— |
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Freedom Over Everything" (with Black Thought)[21] |
2021 | Freedom Over Everything |
| "Esperanto" (with the Metropole Orkest, featuring Dianne Reeves)[22] |
2023 | Olympians |
With the Metropole Orkest
With WDR Big Band Cologne
With Björk
With Peter Erskine
With Joni Mitchell
With others
| Year | Nominated Work | Category | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | "Both Sides, Now" (2000 re-recording) (Joni Mitchell) |
Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals | Won | [7] |
| 2004 | "Woodstock" (Joni Mitchell) |
Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals | Won | |
| 2007 | Some Skunk Funk (Randy Brecker and Michael Brecker) |
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album | Won | |
| 2008 | "In a Silent Way" (Joe Zawinul) |
Best Instrumental Arrangement | Won | |
| 2011 | "Carlos" (John Scofield and the Metropole Orkest) |
Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella | Won | |
| 2022 | "To The Edge of Longing" (Edit Version) (Vince Mendoza with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, featuring Julia Bullock) |
Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals | Won | |
| 2023 | "Songbird" (Orchestral Version) (Christine McVie) |
Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals | Won |
| Year | Nominated Work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Regência: Vince Mendoza (with Ivan Lins and the Metropole Orchestra) |
Best MPB Album | Won |
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