by Scott YanowA versatile arranger and composer, Vince Mendoza's music falls between post bop and crossover, often being both creative jazz and music with pop sensibilities. Mendoza began playing piano and guitar when he was six and grew up around music. He played trumpet in high school and studied composition at Ohio State University in addition to learning drums and bass. His knowledge of many instruments came in handy when Mendoza moved to Los Angeles and began working in the studios, writing for television and movies. After meeting Peter Erskine, Mendoza met many top jazz musicians who he has worked with including John Scofield, Joe Lovano, Bob Mintzer and Marc Johnson. Vince Mendoza is an expert at blending together acoustic and electric instruments and he has recorded as a leader for World Pacific, Manhattan and Act. Epiphany, his debut for the Zebra label, followed in 1999.