Vibraphonist, producer, composer, and educator Victor Mendoza of Mexican origin is considered by international critics as one of the finest artists in the Latin Jazz and Contemporary Jazz.
His recordings have been praised by international critics and because of this, the prestigious magazine Latin Beat named him among the most outstanding artists and composers in the genre of Latin jazz. Black Bean Blues was named one of the best recordings of the year by Modern Drummer Magazine, and Jazziz Magazine mentioned Mendoza as “the leader of the vibraphone in this genre, and one of its most imaginative composers.”
As a soloist, Mendoza’s performances include appearances with the World Festival Orchestra, under the direction of Paquito de Rivera, Symphony Orchestra of the City of Granada, Spain, the prestigious Jazz Knights Big Band of West Point and the world-class Escuela Superior de Musica Reina Sofia Orchestra, in Madrid. Recent concerts include performances in Saudi Arabia, Lithuania, Japan, Korea, and a Taiwan sold-out concert at the National Concert Hall and the International Jazz Festival in Taichung.
Mendoza served as a faculty member at the Berklee College of Music in Boston in addition to servings Program Director of the Graduate Program in Contemporary Performance at the Valencia, Spain campus. He frequently conducts masterclasses for Yamaha and Vic Firth at major institutions around the world including the Superior Conservatory du Paris, Royal College in London, Royal Northern College of Music, and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, as well as national Universities in Taiwan, Korea, Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia. His clinics include lectures and performances at the International Association of Jazz Educators, and the Percussive Arts Society International Conference.
His art of combining contemporary jazz with the rhythms of the Latin America and Spain creates a great diversity of musical expression, which has enriched in a very special way his wide and brilliant execution of this genre.