The Latest Release: Olympians
OLYMPIANS, Vince Mendoza- Metropole Orkest powerhouse collaboration highlights 9 original compositions written by Mendoza over his 27 year association with the orchestra. It features an extra special guest appearance by Dianne Reeves, singing Mendoza’s buoyant and Brazilian-tinged song Esperanto with Lyrics by Kurt Elling, as well as House of Reflections, with lyrics by legendary British singer/songwriter Norma Winstone beautifully interpreted by Cecile Mclorin-Salvant. Tenor Saxophonist Chris Potter is featured on a turbo charged version of Barcelona. The recording also features a blistering solo by saxophonist David Binney and extra grooving moments from Weather Report alumnus Alex Acuña on percussion.
The premiere of Mendoza’s Bright Lights and Jubiliations was recorded live in Amsterdam in 2021, the first appearance by Mendoza in Amsterdam since the 2019 pandemic.
Album Releases:
Single Releases:
Videos:
Photos:
Foto Credits: Pamela Fong
Additional Info
8 Time Grammy award winning composer-arranger Vince Mendoza has been at the forefront of the jazz and contemporary music scene as a composer, conductor and recording artist for the last 30 years. He has written scores of compositions and arrangements for big band, 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’s arranging has appeared on many critically acclaimed projects that include dozens of albums with song writing legends and vocalists such as Björk, Gregory Porter, Chaka Khan, Elvis Costello, Alejandro Sanz, Al Jarreau, Diana Krall, Melody Gardot, Sting and Joni Mitchell. He has 8 Grammy awards and 38 nominations.
Mendoza’s 2021 recording “Freedom Over Everything” (BMG Modern Recordings) features Master Emcee Black Thought and soprano Julia Bullock while weaving his individual approach to jazz rhythms and instrumental colors through a grand symphonic tapestry. His new recording “Olympians” offers fresh, masterful readings of his compositions for the Metropole Orkest, featuring the orchestra with Dianne Reeves and Cécile McLorin Salvant.
Mendoza is the composer in residence with the West Deutsche Rundfunk in Koln and 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 Berlin Philharmonic, Metropole Orkest, Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles Philharmonic and the BBC. He has performed at the Monterey, Montreux, Berlin and North Sea Jazz Festivals.