As one of today's outstanding Latin jazz artists, Victor Mendoza's career
includes performances with his own group and as guest soloist around the
world. He has been featured on radio and television broadcasts, including
two PBS specials, "Victor Mendoza in Concert" and "All American Jazz," and
"Kaleidoskope" aired by the BBC. Other performances include an appearance
as soloist with the Carlos Chávez Symphony Orchestra in Mexico City as
part of the Festival Internacional de Percusiones, and at the Queen
Elizabeth Hall in London as part of the Rhythm Sticks ‘98 Festival. In
1996, Latin Beat named Mendoza one of the “Outstanding Latin Jazz
Artists.”
Victor
Mendoza ventured to the United States from his native Mexico at the age of
twelve. He earned his bachelors degree in music education from Northern
Arizona University and attended Boston's Berklee College of Music. Since
1983, he has been a faculty member at Berklee, where he helped create the
highly-regarded Latin jazz curriculum. As Associate Professor, his popular
Latin jazz ensembles and private vibraphone instruction have earned him an
international reputation as a jazz educator.
Mendoza's
first recording, "Victor Mendoza," rose to the Top 10 on the National
Public Radio Jazz Charts. "If Only You Knew" (Bellaphon) includes
appearances by Paquito D'Rivera, Danilo Pérez, and Claudio Roditi, artists
with whom he has also appeared in concert. “This is Why” (RAM Records)
received international critical acclaim and features Jim Odgren, Alain
Mallet, Oscar Stagnaro, and Horacio “El Negro” Hernández. His latest CD,
“Black Bean Blues,” takes vibraphone performance to new heights while
maintaining traditional Latin roots.
Mendoza
is frequently invited to conduct master classes at major music schools and
universities around the world, including such prestigious institutions as
the Royal Northern College of Music and the Guildhauld Arts and Music
Academy in England, and the Scottish Royal Academy in Glasgow.
