Vince Mendoza - Nights on Earth (HORIZONTAL 2011)

On this eagerly-awaited follow-up to Epiphany (which he recorded in 1997 with the London Symphony Orchestra), Mendoza recruited an all-star cast of longtime collaborators like guitarists John Abercrombie, John Scofield and Nguyen Le, drummer Peter Erskine, percussionist Luis Conte, organist Larry Goldings, steel drummer Andy Narell, pianists Kenny Werner and Alan Pasqua, saxophonists Bob Mintzer and Joe Lovano. He is also joined by such new friends as Brazilian vocalist Luciana Souza, Malian kora player and singer Tom Diakite, Argentinian bandoneon master Hector del Curto, Algerian drummer Karim Ziad, French saxophonist Stéphane Guillaume and young American jazz stars in bassist Christian McBride, drummer Greg Hutchinson and trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, a winner of recent awards from the Jazz Journalists Association and DownBeat. Along with members of the Metropole Orkest, the Dutch ensemble that Mendoza has presided over as chief conductor for the past six years, they bring to life these evocative pieces that flow directly from the composer's heart to his pen. "Mendoza has delivered a lovely CD, one that's exotic in the best, most worldly sense."- Jazztimes "...the whole world in one CD."- El Pais "Vince Mendoza waves his wand over exquisitely unadorned darkling moods of shadow and repose."- Downbeat "Nights on Earth is another watershed, representing Mendoza's current position along an evolving path, where profound compositional depth and simple beauty find a rare meeting point."- All about Jazz "Mendoza has created his own night-time musical world."- Allmusic


Nights on Earth reviews to date:

Mendoza has delivered a lovely CD, one that’s exotic in the best, most worldly sense.
– Jazztimes

The whole world in one CD
– El Pais

Vince Mendoza waves his wand over exquisitely unadorned dark- ling moods of shadow and repose.
– Downbeat

Nights on Earth is another watershed, representing Mendoza's current position along an evolving path, where profound compositional depth and simple beauty find a rare meeting point.
– All about Jazz

Mendoza has created his own night-time musical world.
– Allmusic

Nights on Earth shows an artist at a peak of his craft and with a vision to match.
– Internationsl Review of Music

There are actually a multitude of traditions present ...this is, you're reminded, who he is – part jazz guy, part concert master, part pop-music savant, part world-music impresario, and completely intriguing.
– Somethingelse!

... display(s) his wondrous gift as a cinematic jazz composer and orchestrator of colour and nuance. -
– MOJO

... one of the great composer-arrangers in contemporary Jazz.
– Echoes

Simply gorgeous..
– Audiophile Audition

A musical journey from the heart of one of the most prolific composers of our time, Nights On Earth shines as bright as any star in the night sky.
– @Critical Jazz

 A must for all who like good music.- JPC music player

amazon.com

Interview with Vince Mendoza @ huffingtonpost.com