Mendoza's arranging has appeared on many critically acclaimed projects that include dozens of albums with song writing legends and vocalists such as Björk, Gregory Porter, Chaka Khan, Elvis Costello, Burt Bacharach, Alejandro Sanz, Al Jarreau, Diana Krall, Melody Gardot, Sting, Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell. He has 8 Grammy awards and 38 nominations. His arrangements can also be heard in the Oscar Winning score to “Sinners”

Mendoza’s new recording “Olympians” with the Netherlands Metropole Orkest, offers fresh, masterful readings of his compositions, featuring the orchestra with Dianne Reeves, Cécile McLorin Salvant and Saxophonist Chris Potter. His 2021 recording “Freedom Over Everything” features Master Emcee Black Thought and soprano Julia Bullock while weaving his individual approach to jazz rhythms and instrumental colors through a grand symphonic tapestry. His “Epiphany” with the London Symphony Orchestra continues to be the standard for the cross-fertilization of jazz and symphonic styles.

Mendoza is the composer in residence with the West Deutsche Rundfunk in Köln, Germany and the Conductor Laureate of the Metropole Orkest, of which he was Chief Conductor for 9 seasons. He is the artist in residence at the Academy of Music and Drama in Gothenberg, Sweden, and professor of jazz composition at the USC Thornton School of Music in Los Angeles. In addition, he appeared as a guest conductor with the Los Angeles and New York Philharmonic, as well as other orchestras throughout Europe, the U.S., Japan, Scandinavia, and the U.K.

Mendoza has also written commissioned compositions and arrangements for Joshua Bell and the Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields, Berlin Philharmonic, Metropole Orkest, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Turtle Island String Quartet, Brooklyn Rider, the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, and the BBC. He has performed at the Monterey, Montreux, Berlin and North Sea Jazz Festivals.