Presented By
Summer in the City

Emilio Jose Mendez

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Event Dates
Dorchester Heights
South Boston
Boston
MA
02127
United States

Puerto Rican pianist and performer Emilio Mendez is a versatile composer, arranger, and solo artist of Latin music. His beginnings in music stemmed from a childhood curiosity. Neither his parents nor relatives are professional musicians, though there is an occasional amateur in the family, but during the Christmas of 2005, when Mendez was nine, his parents Hector Mendez and Emilia Ramirez gave him his first piano. In 2006, he enrolled in the Escuela de Bellas Artes de Carolina (a fine arts school) so he could start his musical journey. (The piano department was full, so he had to wait a year to take classes.) During his years of study, practice, and diligence at this school, Mendez participated in the Carolina International Jazz Festival (2011–2013), and in salsa and tropical music festivals, among other events. 

His plans for university included studying jazz composition at the Berklee College of Music. He received a scholarship to attend Berklee's five-week summer program in 2013 and another one for full-time attendance, beginning in 2014. 

Mendez has worked as a pianist for William Cepeda, Roberto Roena y Su Apollo Sound, Fania Records (Fania All-Stars), Plenealo, Los Realengos Salseros, José Jomar y Su Orquesta KY4, Los Violines de Marquito, José Febres, Camila Fernández, Emilio Esteban, and many others. He has also worked as arranger and copyist for some of these artists. Mendez was able to share the stage with great musicians and pianists such as Michel Camilo, Danilo Pérez, Papo Lucca, Luis Marin, Luis Perico Ortiz, Arturo Sandoval, Pedrito Martinez, Ariacne Trujillo, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Ismael Rivera, Luisito Carrión, Andy Montañez, Paoli Mejias, Alejandro Sanz, Humberto Ramírez, and many others in different international jazz festivals.