Music / jazz

Freedom over everything


Reviews (2)


DownBeat

2021 July

By

By

John McDonough

2021 July

"Vince Mendoza, who once aspired to film composition, intends Freedom Over Everything to express the discord of the Trump years through a kind of Third Stream lens. To this end, he composed a "Concerto For Orchestra" in five movements describing a narrative arc. I knew none of this in my initial listening. It sounds like a well-crafted film score ... Imagine my surprise when I read the notations and learn the narrative I should have imagined. I have completely misinterpreted his intended story arc. Have I failed as a listener? No. This music is rooted in his reality, not mine. That will take time. Meanwhile, enjoy".


Fono Forum

2021 September

By

By

Thomas Schulz (f. 1960)

2021 September

"Vince Mendoza ist nicht nur in der Welt Jazz aktiv, sondern auch als "klassischer" Komponist, der gern verschiedene Stile zusammenbringt. Zum Beispiel in seinem "Concerto for orchestra", einem Stück mit Botschaft, die sich im Rap "Freedom over everything" manifestiert. Gegen die Message ist nichts einzuwenden, ebenso wenig wie gegen den Dialog von Jazz- und Orchestermusikern. Doch gelingt es Mendoza nicht immer, die Länge auch mit Substanz zu füllen".