Mendoza was born in Connecticut and studied guitar as a child, influenced by classical music, soul and jazz. He then took up the trumpet which he continued to play throughout his time at The Ohio State University, where he played in the Jazz Ensemble and the Concert Band. Vince also led his own big band at Ohio State called the Vince Mendoza Big Band where he honed his composing skills. He graduated in music composition from Ohio State University with a B.M. degree in 1983. He then did graduate studies in composition at the University of Southern California. He was signed to Blue Note Records, with whom he released "Start Here" and "Instructions Inside". His compositions have been covered by Gary Burton, Pat Metheny, Michael Brecker and Charlie Haden and Mendoza has frequently provided arrangements for their work, as well as for Randy Brecker, Peter Erskine, and others.
Mendoza's interest extends to various musical styles and he has produced and arranged for singers as diverse as Robbie Williams, Bjork, Elvis Costello, and two Grammy Award winning albums, Travelogue and Both Sides Now with Joni Mitchell.
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