Eric Hofbauer

Eric Hofbauer entered the world in Rochester, New York, on January 31, 1974. Operating from Boston, he works as a guitarist focused on creative improvisation and progressive jazz. His performances have taken place in acoustic solo formats, through partnerships with regional players, and across bop, modern jazz, roots Americana, and country idioms.

Hofbauer received a Bachelor of Music from Oberlin College and later earned a master’s degree from the New England Conservatory, where Paul Bley and Ran Blake served as key influences. He now holds teaching positions in jazz guitar, jazz combo, and jazz history at the University of Rhode Island, in addition to offering jazz history instruction at Emerson College.

The North By Northwest band, which he co-founded, developed into his primary ensemble, the Blueprint Project. That collaboration centers on saxophonist Jared Sims and pianist Tyson Rogers and has incorporated bassist Cecil McBee as well as drummers Matt Wilson or Han Bennink. Further associations link him to Boston jazz guitarist Garrison Fewell inside saxophonist Charlie Kohlhase’s Explorers Club, while he also belongs to the Gill Aharon Trio.

Hofbauer has appeared alongside Gunther Schuller, James Moody, Taj Mahal, and Rebecca Shrimpton. He leads the Infared Band as an additional outlet and established and directs the Creative Nation record label. His solo guitar album American Vanity presents interpretations of works by Eric Dolphy and Erik Satie together with Waylon Jennings’ “Dukes of Hazzard” theme. His wide-ranging approach connects directly to improvising figures Derek Bailey, Loren MazzaCane Connors, and Eugene Chadbourne.