Eric Hofbauer

ERIC HOFBAUER "is one of the most genuinely original guitarists of his generation," declares All About Jazz Italia's Mario Calvitti,"capable of renewing the language of jazz guitar with a fresh and iconoclastic approach, but without disrespect to tradition. This distinguishes him from the vast majority of his colleagues, and makes him and his work, worthy of careful consideration.” Hofbauer has been integral to Boston’s jazz scene for over 25 years, as a musician, bandleader, organizer and educator. Recognized in the 2024 and 2022 DownBeat Critics’ Poll for Rising Star–Guitar, he is widely known for his solo guitar work, featured in a collection of solo guitar recordings (American Vanity, American Fear, American Grace and Ghost Frets), and as the leader of the Eric Hofbauer Quintet (EHQ). The EHQ’s series of “Prehistoric Jazz” recordings, featuring Hofbauer’s arrangements of Stravinsky, Messiaen, Ellington, and Ives, received critical acclaim from leading Fresh Air, Downbeat, and The Wire. His Five Agents project; a series of "concept suites" (climate action, humanism) using language (ex. Greta Thunberg speeches, James Baldwin speeches, poems of Ralph Waldo Emerson) as structural and rhythmic inspiration, have been performing in multi-media events that include dancers and video. Hofbauer has performed and recorded alongside such notable collaborators as Han Bennink, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Tony Malaby, John Tchicai, Garrison Fewell, Cecil McBee, George Garzone, and Matt Wilson.