Valencia, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain
Vibraphonist, producer, composer, and educator Victor Mendoza, of Mexican origin, is considered one of the top artists of international recognition in contemporary Latin jazz and the world of percussion.
His career as a performer includes presentations with his own group and with artists such as Paquito D' Rivera, Danilo Perez, George Garzone, Claudio Roditi, Slide Hampton, Abe Laboriel Sr., Antonio Sanchez, Eguie Castrillo, Giovanni Hidalgo, Horacio El Negro Hernandez, Mark Levine, Lee Konitz, Jorge Pardo, and Perico Sambeat amongst others.
Guest solo appearances include the World Festival Orchestra under the direction of Paquito D’Rivera, the Milan Svoboda Orchestra in Prague, Sinfónica Carlos Chávez in Mexico City, the prestigious Jazz Knights Big Band of West Point, the Orchestra of the City of Granada, the Primitiva Symphonic Wind Ensemble of Lliria, Spain, Orquesta Sinfónica de FCP in Argentina, and a feature performance with the National Dance Company of Spain.
Past recordings have received critical acclaim, and because of this, Latin Beat Magazine named Mendoza amongst the most prominent artists in contemporary Latin jazz, and in addition, Modern Drummer Magazine and Jazziz Magazine named Mendoza "the leader of the vibraphone in this genre, and one of its most imaginative composers.” The Smithsonian Institute in Washington included Mendoza’s Black Bean Blues production in the exhibition Latin Jazz: The Perfect Combination, alongside works by artists like Tito Puente and Tito Rodriguez.
As an exclusive artist for Vic Firth, Yamaha, and Zildjian, Mendoza maintains an active schedule leading master classes at universities and conservatories around the world. Clinics and lectures include the International Association of Jazz Educators, Percussive Arts Society International Conference, and institutions such as the Paris Superior Conservatory, the Royal Northern College of Music in the UK, Escuela de Música Reina Sofía in Madrid, and the Rimon School of Music in Israel. Mendoza served as a full-time Professor at Berklee College of Music in Boston, eventually transferring to Valencia, Spain to establish the college’s Graduate Program in Contemporary Performance and to serve as Program Director.
Victor Mendoza is a Yamaha, Vic Firth, Zildjian Performance Artist
“With his superior technique and imagination, Victor Mendoza is not settling for continuing the vibraphone tradition in Latin jazz. He’s pushing it into the future.” Fernando González Jazz With an Accent.com and JAZZIZ
" . . . genial, intelligent Latin jazz played with wit and finesse." - Fred Bouchard, Jazz Times Magazine
"Mendoza makes Latin jazz sizzle! He's explosive and lyrical...his many moods make him a force to be reckoned with on today's music scene. Indeed, Mendoza is one of today's brightest composers." -Ron Della Chieza, WGBH " Music America," Boston
“Authentically refreshing, funky, spirited, energetic, laid back ¡Y SABROSO!...with fabulous sidemen that measure up to his music. Victor Mendoza has got it all. Definitely, the vibes player to watch!” -Alfredo Cruz, KLON-FM, Los Angeles
“Variously introspective, pretty and out-and-out rhythmically hot, [Victor] takes the instrument beyond Cal Tjader, Tito Puente, to the times of Mendoza.” -Bob Young, Jazziz Magazine
Friday, January 6, 2023
5:00 PM – 5:50 PM US EST