On January 18, 2026, Ralph Towner died aged 85. He was musician (guitar, piano, synthesizer, percussion, trumpet, and French horn), composer, arranger and bandleader. He was member of the bands Paul Winter Consort, Atmosphere, but was best known as founding member of Oregon. Towner has performed and recorded with Azimuth, Bill Bruford, Salvatore Bonafede, Horace Arnold, Jerry Granelli, Vince Mendoza, Maria Pia De Vito, Gary Burton, Larry Coryell, Pino Daniele, Cyrus Faryar, Robben Ford, David Friesen, Jan Garbarek, Charlie Haden, Egberto Gismonti, Gerri Granger, Trilok Gurtu, Tim Hardin, Keith Jarrett, Maria Joao, Joseph LoDuca, Andy Middleton, Duke Pearson, Terry Plumeri, Michael Portal, Kenny Wheeler and Weather Report. As leader he released 27 albums.
Tag Archives: Vince Mendoza
Randy Brecker And Michael Brecker: Some Skunk Funk
In November 2005, “Telarc” label released “Some Skunk Funk”, album by Randy Brecker and Michael Brecker. It was recorded in November, 2003, at the “Forum” in Leverkusen, Germany and was produced by Joachim Becker and Lucas Schmid. In 2006, “Some Skunk Funk” won “Grammy Award” for “Best Jazz Instrumental Solo” (Michael Brecker) and “Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album”.
Personnel:
- Randy Brecker – trumpet
- Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone
- Harold Rosenstein – alto saxophone
- Heiner Wiberny – alto saxophone
- Olivier Peters – tenor saxophone
- Rolf Römer – tenor saxophone
- Jens Neufang – baritone saxophone
- Rob Bruynen – trumpet
- Andy Haderer – trumpet
- Rick Kiefer – trumpet
- John Marshall – trumpet
- Klaus Osterloh – trumpet
- David Horler – trombone
- Bernt Laukamp – trombone
- Ludwig Nuss – trombone
- Mattis Cederberg – bass trombone
- Jim Beard – piano, synthesizer
- Koji Paul Shigihara – guitar
- Will Lee – bass guitar
- Peter Erskine – drums
- Marcio Doctor – percussion
- WDR Big Band
- Vince Mendoza – conductor, arranger
- Peter Brandt – engineer
- Klaus Genuit – mixing
- Knut Schötteldreier – design
- Ines Kaiser – photography
Track listing:
All tracks are written by Randy Brecker except where noted.
- Some Skunk Funk
- Sponge
- Shanghigh
- Wayne Out
- And Then She Wept
- Strap Hangin’ – Michael Brecker
- Let It Go
- Freefall
- Levitate
- Song for Barry – Michael Brecker
Michael Brecker: Don’t Try This At Home
On September 5, 1988, “Impulse!” label released “Don’t Try This at Home”, the second Michael Brecker studio album. It was recorded in 1988, at “The Power Station” in New York City, and was produced by Don Grolnick. In 1989, the album won a “Grammy Award” for “Best Improvised Jazz Solo”.
Personnel:
- Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone, EWI
- Don Grolnick – acoustic piano
- Herbie Hancock – acoustic piano
- Joey Calderazzo – acoustic piano
- Judd Miller – synthesizer programming
- Jim Beard – synthesizers, acoustic piano
- Mike Stern – guitars
- Charlie Haden – acoustic bass
- Jeff Andrews – fretless electric bass, electric bass
- Jack DeJohnette – drums
- Adam Nussbaum – drums
- Peter Erskine – drums
- Mark O’Connor – violin
- James Farber – recording, mixing
- Gary Solomon – engineer assistant
- Karen Robben – engineer assistant
- Greg Calbi – mastering
- Kathleen Covert – art direction. design
- Mark Seliger – photography
- George Varga – liner notes
- Tom Gill – piano technician
- Ricky Schultz – executive producer
- Jerry Wortman – production assistant
- Karen Kramer – production coordinator
Track listing:
- Itsbynne Reel – Michael Brecker, Don Grolnick
- Chime This – Don Grolnick
- Scriabin – Vince Mendoza
- Suspone – Mike Stern
- Don’t Try This at Home – Michael Brecker, Don Grolnick
- Everything Happens When You’re Gone – Michael Brecker
- Talking to Myself – Don Grolnick
- The Gentleman & Hizcaine – Jim Beard
Diana Krall: Wallflower
On February 3, 2015, “Verve” label released “Wallflower”, the twelfth Diana Krall album. It was recorded 2013 – 2014, at “Verve Studio” in Santa Monica, “Capitol Studios” and “The Village Studios” in Hollywood, “MSR Studios” in New York City, “Soundtrade Studios” in Sweden, “The Orange Lounge” in Toronto, “Creekside Studio” in Vancouver BC, “Studio Ferber” in Paris, “Air Studios” in London, and was produced by David Foster.
Personnel:
- Diana Krall – vocals, piano
- Michael Buble – vocals
- Brian Adams – vocals
- Ramon Stagnaro – acoustic guitar
- Michael Thompson – acoustic guitar
- David Foster – piano, keyboards, arranger
- William Ross – arranger
- Chris Walden – arranger
- Vince Mendoza – arranger
- Stephen Stills – electric guitar, backing vocals
- Graham Nash, Timothy B. Schmit – backing vocals
- Nathan East – bass
- Christian McBride, E-Bow – bass
- Dennis Crouch – bass
- Michael Thompson – electric guitar
- Blake Mills – guitar
- Dean Parks – guitar
- Jim Keltner – drums
- Karriem Riggins – drums
- Karriem Riggins – drums
- Jochem van der Saag – synth, programming, sound designer, mixing, co-producer
- Gavin Greenaway – orchestra conductor
- Everton Nelson – orchestra leader
- Anders Pantzer, Roy Hendrickson, Spencer Sunshine – recording
- Chris Potter, Guillaume Dujardin, Jochem van der Saag, Jorge Vivo – engineer
- Paul Forgues, Daniel Fyfe, Chris Owens, Steve Genewick – engineer assistant
- Jorge Vivo, Nuno Fernandes, Steve Price, Hank Linderman – recording
- Paul Blakemore – mastering
- Coco Shinomiya – design
- Fotheringham – illustration
- Andreas Carlsson – co-producer
Track listing:
- California Dreamin’ – John Philips, Michelle Philips
- Desperado – Don Henley, Glenn Frey
- Superstar – Bonnie Bramlett, Leon Russell
- Alone Again (Naturally) – Gilbert O’Sullivan
- Wallflower – Bob Dylan
- If I Take You Home Tonight – Paul McCartney
- I Can’t Tell You Why – Timothy B. Schmit, Don Henley, Glenn Frey
- Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word – Elton John, Bernard Taupin
- Operator (That’s Not the Way It Feels) – Jim Croce
- I’m Not in Love – Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart
- Feels Like Home – Randy Newman
- Don’t Dream It’s Over – Neil Finn
Gary Burton: Reunion
On January 23, 1990, “GRP” label released “Reunion”, the 41st Gary Burton album. It was recorded May 6 – 10, 1989, at “Studio A – Power Station” in New York City, and was produced by Gary Burton.
Personnel:
- Gary Burton– vibraphone, marimba
- Pat Metheny– guitar
- Mitchel Forman– piano, keyboards
- Will Lee– bass guitar
- Peter Erskine– drums, percussion
- Rob Eaton – recording, mixing
- Dan Gellert – engineer assistant
- Dave Grusin, Larry Rosen– executive producers
Track listing:
- Autumn – Polo Orti
- Reunion – Mitchel Forman
- Origin – Mitchel Forman
- Will You Say You Will – Vince Mendoza
- House on the Hill – Pat Metheny
- Panama – Paul Meyers
- Chairs and Children – Vince Mendoza
- Wasn’t Always Easy – Pat Metheny
- The Chief – Pat Metheny
- Tiempos Felice – Polo Orti
- Quick and Running – Polo Orti
Joni Mitchell: Travelogue
On November 19, 2002, “Nonesuch” label released “Travelogue”, the 18th Joni Mitchell studio album. It was recorded in 2002, and was produced by Joni Mitchell and Larry Klein. The album features orchestral recordings of songs from throughout her career. The composer of the orchestral arrangements Vince Mendoza, won a 2004 “Grammy Award” for “Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist” for the arrangement of the track “Woodstock”.
Personnel:
- Joni Mitchell – vocals
- Herbie Hancock– piano
- Billy Preston– Hammond B3 organ
- Larry Klein– bass, musical direction
- Chuck Berghofer– double bass
- Brian Blade– drums
- Paulinho da Costa– percussion
- Wayne Shorter– soprano saxophone
- Plas Johnson– tenor saxophone
- Kenny Wheeler– flugelhorn
- Gavyn Wright– orchestra leader
- Vince Mendoza– conductor, arrangement
Track listing:
All tracks by Joni Mitchell, except where noted.
- Otis and Marlena
- Amelia
- You Dream Flat Tires
- Love
- Woodstock
- Slouching Toward Bethlehem – based on a poem by B. Yeats
- Judgement of the Moon and Stars (Ludwig’s Tune)
- The Sire of Sorrow (Job’s Sad Song)
- For the Roses
- Trouble Child
- God Must Be a Boogie Man
- Be Cool
- Just Like This Train
- Sex Kills
- Refuge of the Roads
- Hejira
- Chinese Café / Unchained Melody – Alex North, Hy Zaret
- Cherokee Louise
- The Dawntreader
- The Last Time I Saw Richard
- Borderline
- The Circle Game
Gregory Porter: Nat King Cole & Me
On October 27, 2017, “Blue Note” label released “Nat King Cole & Me”, the fifth Gregory Porter studio album. It was recorded in 2017, at “Air Studios” in London, “Capitol Studios” in Los Angeles and “Esplande Studios” in New Orleans.
Personnel:
- Gregory Porter– vocals
- Terence Blanchard – trumpet
- Christian Sands– piano
- Reuben Rogers – bass
- Ulysses Owens – drums
- Vince Mendoza– arrangements
Track listing:
- Mona Lisa – Jay Livingston, Ray Evans
- Smile – Charles Chaplin, Geoffrey Parsons, John Turner
- Nature Boy – Eden Ahbez
- L-O-V-E – Bert Kaempfert, Milt Gabler
- Quizas, Quizas, Quizas – Farres Osvaldo
- Miss Otis Regrets – Cole Porter
- Pick Yourself Up – Dorothy Fields, Jerome Kern
- When Love Was King – Gregory Porter
- The Lonely One – Lenny Hambro, Roberta Helelr
- Ballenna – Bob Russell, Carl Sigman
- I Wonder Who My Daddy Is – Gladys Shelley
- The Christmas Song – Mel Tormé, Robert Wells
Björk: Vespertine
On August 27, 2001, “One Little Indian Records” label released “Vespertine”, the fourth Björk solo studio album. It was recorded 2000-2001 in San Pedro de Alcántara, Spain; Reykjavík, Iceland; New York City, and was produced by Björk, Thomas Knak, Martin Gretschmann and Marius de Vries.
Personnel:
- Björk– arranger, programming, beat programming, basslines, strings arrangements, choir arrangements, harp arrangements, music box arrangements, vocal editing, sounds recording, field recording
- Vince Mendoza– string arrangements, choir arrangements, orchestration
- Zeena Parkins– harp, harp arrangements
- Caryl Thomas – harp
- Jack Perron – adaptation to music box
- Guy Sigsworth– programming, beat programming, celeste, celeste arrangements, clavichord, clavichord arrangements, choir arrangements
- Jake Davies – programming, Pro Tools, engineer
- Matthew Herbert– programming
- Valgeir Sigurðsson– programming, beat programming, Pro Tools, engineer
- Martin Gretschmann aka Console– programming
- Thomas Knak– programming
- Matmos– programming, beat programming
- Damian Taylor – programming, beat programming, Pro Tools
- Marius de Vries– programming, beat programming
- Patrick Gowers – vocal and organ arrangements
- Paul’s Cathedral Choir, conducted by John Scott
- Leigh Jamieson – Pro Tools
- Jan “Stan” Kybert – Pro Tools
- Mark “Spike” Stent– mixing
- M/M Paris– art direction, design, drawing
- Inez van Lamsweerde, Vinoodh Matadin – photography
Track listing:
- Hidden Place – Björk
- Cocoon – Björk, Thomas Knak
- It’s Not Up To You – Björk
- Undo – Björk
- Pagan Poetry – Björk
- Frosti – Björk
- Aurora – Björk
- An Echo, a Stain – Björk, Guy Sigsworth
- Sun In My Mouth – Björk, E.E. Cummings, Guy Sigsworth
- Heirloom – Björk, Martin Gretschmann
- Harm of Will – Björk, Guy Sigsworth
- Unison – Björk
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