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 several albums with Joey Burns and John Convertino of 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. Mendoza is here and proud to present an evening of original music with friends and visionaries in their own right, featuring singer and percussionist Ozy Acosta along with Tucson’s very own Salvador Duran.
El Twanguero: While described by the press as a “fire breathing guitar hero” or nicknamed “Spain’s King of Twang” by Guitar Player, 2013 Latin Grammy winner Diego García goes for a more poetic phrasing to define himself: a 3-in-1 guitarist deeply in love with his instruments – which he secretly calls “his ladies”. Renowned for his fingerpicking technique, incredible versatility and distinctive ‘twang’ sound, his music is an unusual fusion of classical Spanish guitar, Latin rhythms, country, rockabilly, jazz…and even surf music. Since the age of 6, when he first started playing chords, he has always found anchorage and inspiration in the surrounding world, finding beauty & joy in the “Here and Now” and transcribing it into music. His style and sounds keep surprising and delighting listeners with every new album. Anyone acquainted with Twanguero’s work knows how much of a gift his music is, for both the ears and the soul. To the ones not initiated yet, we can only invite them to experience his twang and try to describe it with their own emotions and words. Diego has played and recorded with great artists such as Andrés Calamaro, Mercedes Sosa, Juan Perro, Diego El Cigala, Fito Paez, Bunbury, Wycleaf Jean, Juanes, Jaime Urrutia, Ely Guerra, Raphael, Camilo Sesto, Ana Torroja, José María Cano, Yerbabuena, and Adriana Varela, among others. He has also participated in original soundtracks recordings for TV, Radio & Cinema both in his native Spain and in the Americas. He recently formed a world music collective, Los Silverbacks, along with Argentinian and Congolese artists. Based out of LA, Garcia is currently working on new music for both his Twanguero project and the new band.
