obias Hoffmann was born in Göppingen (Germany) in 1988 and discovered his passion for music and the saxophone during his high school years. From 2008 until 2010 he studied at the University for Music, Drama and Media in Hanover and from 2010 at the Prins Claus Conservatorium Groningen (Netherlands), where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in June 2013. After that he started his studies in Jazz Composition and Arrangement at the Musik und Kunst Universität Wien (Austria), where he graduated with distinction in 2018. At the same time he studied Jazz Saxophone at the Musik und Kunst Universität Wien (Austria) and graduated with a Master of Arts (MA) with distinction in 2015.
Besides working on his own projects, Tobias Hoffmann is a sought-after sideman, composer and arranger for a wide variety of lineups and styles. Concert tours have taken him to several European countries. He has played with musicians such as Bob Mintzer, Joe Gallardo, Alexander von Schlippenbach, Paul Kuhn, John Clayton, and Benny Golson.
In 2019, he released the album “Retrospective” with his Tobias Hoffmann Nonet. In 2022 the album “Conspiracy” with his Tobias Hoffmann Jazz Orchestra followed. Both productions were received very positively by the national and international press.
Between 2005, when he started performing, and 2016, he won a few national and international awards while playing in different formations. Among those were a second prize at the “Jugend Jazzt” competition 2007 of the federal state of Baden-Württemberg, a first award (cum laude) at the competition of the International European Music Festival 2011 in Neerpelt (Belgium) and a first award at the “Euroregio Big Band Contest 2013“ in Enschede (Netherlands).
Since 2016 some of his compositions have been awarded prizes at various competitions worldwide. Among them are awards by the “American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers“ in Los Angeles (USA) or the “Downbeat Magazine“ (USA).
His “Tobias Hoffmann Nonet” was awarded the first prize in the “Band” category at the international online competition “Made in New York Jazz Competition 2019” by a top-class jury including Lenny White, Randy Brecker, and Mike Stern.
In the summer of 2021, Tobias Hoffmann was a guest of the NDR Big Band in Hamburg (Germany) as part of the “Podium for Arrangers” and was invited to rehearse and record his compositions there.
In December 2021, he was one of five composers from all over Europe to be invited by the renowned “Subway Jazz Orchestra” in Cologne (Germany) as part of the project “European Composers – Sound Of A Generation” to write a composition and to rehearse and perform it with the band.
In January 2022, he was a guest of the Slovenian Radio Big Band “Big Band RTV” and could rehearse and record his compositions there.
Since 2022 he has regularly worked with the “Big Band Radio Romania” in Bucharest (Romania) and the “Bulgarian National Radio Big Band” in Sofia (Bulgaria).
Awards as a composer
• May 2024: 3rd prize in the category “Jazz” of the International Songwriting Competition 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee (USA)
• May 2024: One of his compositions was awarded as “Best Composition” in the category “Graduate College” at the “47th Downbeat Student Music Awards” (USA)
• October 2023: 1st prize in the “Helsinki International Big Band Composing Contest 2023“ in Helsinki (Finland)
• May 2023: One of his compositions won an award as an “Outstanding Original Composition” in the category “Graduate College” at the “46th Downbeat Student Music Awards”
• March 2023: Two of his compositions were awarded a prize at the “2nd Ise-Shima International Popular Music Composition Competition“ in Japan
• November 2022: 3rd prize at the “II. Composition Contest of the Big Band de Canaries” in Teneriffa (Spain)
• September 2022: 1st prize in the category B “Original Composition for Jazz Orchestra” at the 17th “Scrivere in Jazz” competition organized by the “Orchestra Jazz della Sardegna” (Italy)
• August 2022: Two of his compositions received a special prize each at the “1st Ise-Shima International Popular Music Competition“ in Japan
• May 2022: Award for one of his compositions as an “Outstanding Original Composition” in the category “Graduate College” at the “45th Downbeat Student Music Awards” (USA)
• October 2021: 3rd prize at the “Bill Conti Big Band Arranging & Composition Competition” of the “American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers” in Los Angeles (USA)
• October 2021: 2nd prize at the “5th Karel Krautgartner’s Composition Contest for the Best Composition for Jazz Orchestra” in Prague (Czech Republic)
• May 2019: 2nd prize at the “8th Esko Linnavalli Sävellyskilpailu 2019“ in Helsinki (Finland)
• November 2017: 3rd prize at the “JazzComp 2017” in Graz (Austria)
• December 2016: 2nd prize at the 3rd International Jazz Composition Contest during the
“11th Silesian Jazz Festival“ in Katowice (Poland)
Out Now
Listen Now Watch Now Visit Artist's WebsitePersonnel
Woodwinds
Florian Trübsbach (Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Flute & Clarinet)
Patrick Dunst (Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Flute & Clarinet)
Robert Unterköfler (Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Flute & Clarinet)
Martin Harms (Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Flute & Clarinet)
Jonas Brinckmann (Baritone Saxophone & Bass Clarinet)
Trumpets & Flugelhorns
Maximilian Seibert
Sebastian Burneci
Florian Menzel
Gerhard Ornig
Jakob Helling
Trombones
Simon Harrer (Trombone)
Robert Bachner (Trombone & Valve Trombone)
Daniel Holzleitner (Trombone)
Johannes Oppel (Bass Trombone & Tuba)
Rhythm Section
Vilkka Wahl (Guitar)
Viola Hammer (Piano & Synthesizer)
Ivar Roban Krizic (Double Bass)
Reinhold Schmölzer (Drums & Electronics)
Conductor
Tobias Hoffmann
Track Listing
- 1. Innuendo 09:38
- 2. Summer Solstice 08:09
- 3. No Way Back 10:10
- 4. Sanctuary 07:42
- 5. Convictions 09:30
- 6. Bipolarity 11:39
- 7. The Lake 08:48
- 8. Perseverance 12:19