EDDIE MENDENHALL
JAZZ BAND DIRECTOR | EMENDENHALL@YORK.ORG
Eddie Mendenhall began studying piano at the age of four and by the time he was eight he was good enough to play works from Schumann and Beethoven. He became hooked on jazz at the age of 13 when he attended the Monterey Jazz Festival. While still in high school, Eddie earned a spot in the Monterey Jazz Festival High School All Star Band in 1989 and 1990 under direction of Bill Berry where he had the opportunity to accompany Dizzy Gillespie at the festival. Soon after, Eddie earned scholarships to the Berklee College of Music in Boston and went on to graduate with a Bachelors degree in Jazz Composition. For the next 7 years the Tokyo jazz scene kept Eddie busy along with several trips back to the states. He rapidly became one of the busiest pianists in Tokyo. Performances ranged from jazz clubs, major hotels, touring around Japan and embassy parties. Through this extensive time spent as a soloist, he developed his own style with influence from Art Tatum, Teddy Wilson, Hank Jones, Hampton Hawes, and Bill Evans. Eddie's compositions are featured on his first debut album, Cosine Meets Tangent which remained on the jazz charts for 12 weeks. He has performed and recorded with Ray Brown’s Great Big Band and is featured on the 2010 release of Ray’s album, Kayak. Eddie has performed with the likes of “Senator" Eugene Wright, Ray Drummond, Othello Molineaux, Pete Christlieb, the Manhattan Jazz Quintet, Ali Jackson Jr., Tommy Campbell, Peter Erskine, Enrique Iglesias, Akira Tana, and John Shifflett. Eddie is active in jazz education working with the Monterey Jazz Festival, the California Jazz Conservatory, San Jose Jazz Summer Camp, Living Jazz (Jazz Camp West), and the Stanford Jazz Workshop.
York School
9501 York Road
Monterey, CA 93940
Phone: 831-372-7338
Monterey, CA 93940
Phone: 831-372-7338
We inspire and prepare a diverse community of creative, independent thinkers.
Since 1959, York School has created an exceptional college-prep experience for our youth: inspiring them to develop intellectual curiosity; challenging them to create and try new things; and preparing them to be passionate contributors in college and in life.
Since 1959, York School has created an exceptional college-prep experience for our youth: inspiring them to develop intellectual curiosity; challenging them to create and try new things; and preparing them to be passionate contributors in college and in life.
York School is committed to equal opportunity in educational programs, employment and campus life. The School does not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, marital status, national origin, parental status, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status in any access to and treatment in School programs and activities.