Agent: Mike Leahy
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“Great fun throughout … a musically defiant riposte to the virulent separatism of Donald Trump.”
— The Independent
“Sergio Mendoza is probably my favourite musician of this time. He has the cumbia and mambo in his DNA, but he has the power to make it sound like today. His Orkesta is as punk as the Sex Pistols and as violent as Perez Prado” — Camilo Lara, Mexican Institute of Sound
“Orkesta Mendoza is one of the best live bands out there. Their music delves into a myriad of directions, rhythms and moods, big band orchestrations mixed with lo fi electronica, vocals en Español together with moving instrumentals.”Vamos a Guarachar” is epic and soulful, it captures that positive spirit of the Southwest” — Joey Burns, Calexico
Sergio Mendoza is a producer, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and Latin music pioneer. The southern Arizona native’s musical career stems from humble beginnings, holds a deep connection to his roots, and has carried the energy of a collective through his musical movements.
Growing up on the international border in Ambos Nogales, Sergio was exposed to a wide range of music from a very early age. He attributes his influence to a sense of place; where he was born and raised and sounds he heard playing on the radio from Bordertown stations.
Harnessing the spirit of collaboration, Mendoza connects with musicians, globally, on projects that traverse different styles as he re-invents sub-genres of Latin music. Arranging projects like Esto Sí Es Cumbia for Los Ángeles Azules, the tribute album Un Mundo Raro: Las Canciones de José Alfredo Jiménez, and co-producing Edge of the Sun and El Mirador with Calexico, showcase this coming together of musicians from all regions to form a distinctive sound.
Sergio has successfully fashioned his own unique taste and existence into what we now experience as Orkesta Mendoza; a blend of Indie Rock and Latin music that has become a cornerstone of Tucson culture. He works hard to support Tucson in being an epicenter for new music development, bringing Latin artists like Chetes, Gabby Moreno and Camilo Lara of Mexican Institute of Sound to share the stage.
Mendoza is here tonight in between tours for both Orkesta Mendoza and Calexico. He is proud to present an evening of original music with friends and visionaries in their own right, featuring singer and percussionist Ozzy Acosta.
