Argentinean bandoneon player and composer “J.P.” Jofre has been repeatedly highlighted by the New York Times and praised as one of today’s leading artists by Great Performers at Lincoln Center. His music has been recorded by 16 Grammy Winner Paquito D’ Rivera and choreographed/performed by ballet star Herman Cornejo (Principal Dancer of the American Ballet Theatre). A recipient of the National Prize of the Arts grant in Argentina, Mr. Jofre has taken his form of contemporary tango to some of the most important venues in Asia, Europe, America and the Caribbean as soloist and composer. He has collaborated with many famous musicians in a wide range of musical styles, including Paquito D’Rivera, Kathryn Stott, Gloria Estefan, Symphony Silicon Valley, Santa Rosa Symphony Orchestra, Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Argentina, Sacramento Philharmonic, Philippe Quint, Fernando Otero, Westchester Jazz Orchestra, Dallas Symphony, Napa Symphony, Michael Guttman and Fred Sturm among others. Mr. Jofre has received commissions and been part of many prestigious festivals including the Celebrity Series of Boston, Umbria Jazz Festival, Great Performers at Lincoln Center, Seattle Town Hall’s Global Rhythms, Borislav Strulev’s Belgorod Music Festival, Sudtirol Jazz Festival, American Virtuosi, Nina Beilina and Bachanalia Taiwan. For the world premiere of his Bandoneon Concerto, the Mercury News wrote: “…he is an electrifying composer-bandoneon player.” In 2012, Jofre was invited by the Free University of Bolzano and SudTirol Festival (Italy) to perform for the homage to Argentinean Nobel Peace Prize winner, Adolfo Perez Esquivel. He proudly uses the New AA by Bandonion Fabrik Klingenthal
J.P. Jofre began playing percussion and guitar at the age of 14 and later attended the the Escuela de Musica de la Universidad Nacional de San Juan, Argentina, where he studied, drums, guitar, piano, voice and composition, before deciding to dedicate himself to the bandoneón. In 2003, Jofre gave his debut performance as arranger and solo bandoneónista at the First International Festival of Chamber Music. For this event, Jofre arranged pieces for 12 Cellos and Bandoneon. In 2004 Jofre took privates classes with Martin Ferres and one year later auditioned for Daniel Binelli, one of the world’s most sought after bandoneonists and composers. With Binnelli’s recommendation, Jofre studied under Julio Pane, world-renowned educator and former bandoneónista for the legendary “Astor Piazzolla Sextet” through the financial endorsement of the Juan Victoria Auditorium and Autotransportes San Juan Mar del Plata. At the 2005 Clasura Concert of the Master Class given by Ingrid Zur and George Heyer (Germany) in San Juan, Jofre performed solo works of Bach and Piazzolla. That same year, he performed alongside Latin America’s most important musical figures Jairo, Horacio Ferrer, and Garello at the presentation ceremony for the book Adventures and Triumphs of Argentines in Paris at the Hall Café Tortoni in Buenos Aires. After winning the National Prize of the Arts Grant, Jofre traveled to Florence, Italy, performing as a soloist and arranger. In 2006, he toured Spain with the Mendocino Tango Sextet, giving both solo and group performances at the International Tango Festival of Granada and the International Tango Festival of Alméria. At the inauguration ceremony for the Granada School for the Bandoneón, Jofre performed with bandoneon master Rodolfo Montironi.In 2008 Jofre appeared on NBC’s Rosie O’Donnell Live, performing alongside the Lombard Twins and violinist Nick Danieson. He is the founder of the JP Jofre Hard Tango Chamber Band, one of New York City’s hottest in-demand ensembles, it focuses on his own works, as well as authentic interpretations of legendary composers such as Astor Piazzolla.Recently, the band has welcomed four outstanding performers to its ranks. Violinist Eric Silberger, prizewinner at the Tchaikovsky Competition, cellist Amy Kang, Double Bassist Ron Wasserman, principal bass of the New York City Ballet Orchestra, and Argentinian pianist Pablo Cafici with guests Christopher Johnson (double bass) and Siyi Fang (piano)