Vince Mendoza Review of "Highway 154" @ iTunes By: Robert Silverstein he field of guitar based instrumental fusion albums is getting pretty interesting a third into 2003 and high on the list of outstanding new artists is California-based Vince Mendoza, who released his debut CD Highway 154. Performing all the guitars, synths and keyboards- Mendoza is ably assisted by Frank Reina(drums) and Brad Cummings (bass). It,s amazing how expressive an electric guitar can sound in Mendoza's hands and his compositional edge puts the album over the top. Masterful at combining the right guitar tone and melodic approach, Mendoza doesn't bowl you over, instead he adroitly lures you in with a sound that's somewhere between Jan Hammer's made for TV soundtrack sound and a full-bodied guitar tone somewhere between Jan Akkerman and Steve Morse. Excellent stuff. © Robert Silverstein / 20th Century Guitar Magazine Highway 154 Strangely Romantic Freak Dream Everything Bizarre EXP