Freddie Mendoza

Biography reproduced from www.losjazzvatos.com.

Freddie Mendoza, a native of San Antonio, Texas, has been recognized by many as Austin’s top call trombonist, and has been a fixture in the local Austin music scene since 1987. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Master’s Degree in Music Composition from Southwest Texas State University. Freddie has toured at home and abroad, playing music ranging from the big band style of the 1940’s to hot Latin jazz, appearing several times in the prestigious North Sea Jazz Festival, as well as the Montreaux Jazz Festival.

Freddie has performed with many of the most recognized musicians in jazz. This impressive list includes such legends as Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis, Marcus Printup, Marvin Stamm, Clark Terry, Al Grey, Frank Foster, Bill Watrous, Rob McConnell, Bob Mintzer and Harry Connick, Jr. Freddie is consistently recognized by the Clarksville/West-End Artist’s/Critics Poll as “Best Trombone Player in Austin” and “Best Arranger in Austin.” His performance, composition, and arranging skills have been featured in a long list of recordings. In addition to his large body of musical arrangements, used by dozens of local artists, his film credits include compositions for Hope’s Happy Birthday and JetBlast.

Freddie performed on the soundtrack for The Alamo, and he made a cameo appearance as an actor in the motion picture The Newton Boys. As a producer, he was responsible for many timeless albums, including projects such as Tracy Lamar Hancock’s latest release “Appasionata,” and the self-titled project for Ernie Durawa’s “Los Jazz Vatos.” He has also amassed an impressive list of credits as a recording and mixing engineer, such as Ignite Inc.’s “Songs for the New World.”

From an early age, Freddie achieved tremendous heights in the field of education. His skills as an educator have led to his most recent appointment as Director of Jazz Studies at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos. Additionally, he is currently Director of the Austin All-City Jazz Band. In the past, Freddie has won many other prestigious positions in the field of music education, including a job as assistant director of the Walt Disney World All-American College Marching Band, a job awarded to him at the age of 20. He has served as director and clinician for high school and region bands, and as adjudicator for competitions around the state of Texas. Freddie was recently selected as clinician for Getzen Custom Series Trombones.

Freddie’s publishing credits include the “Masters of the Trombone” series solo transcription books, and countless arrangements for musical groups of all sizes and styles. Freddie can be seen playing in a host of local bands in and around the state of Texas, including The Lucky Strikes, The Jazz Pharaohs, El Tumbao, and Los Jazz Vatos.