Jean-Jacques Rojer is a guitarist and composer from the Caribbean island of Curaçao. Rojer’s album Soko (Sunnyside records) was recorded and released in New York and features Grammy-winner Jeff’ Tain” Watts on drums, Grammy-winners John Benitez on bass, Pernell Saturnino on Percussion and the virtuosic Warren Wolf on vibraphones. The album was initiated and produced by Grammy-winning producer Brain Bacchus.
Rojer grew up in an artistic family on the island of Curaçao and was exposed very early on to Caribbean, classical and jazz music. His father, Professor Robert Rojer, an acclaimed pianist and composer, is a direct descendant of Jacobo Palm. The Palm family has been on the forefront of the Curaçaoan music scene since the 19th century. Rojer released the album “Jean-Jacques Rojer plays Jacobo Palm ” in 2017 honouring this heritage.
Upon finishing his electrical engineering studies, Rojer went on to follow his passion. He got accepted at the Royal Conservatory in the Hague, The Netherlands, from where he graduated cum laude in 2003.
Rojer has performed with Paquito D'Rivera in Carnegie Hall. He has also had the honour to work in New York with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.
Besides the aforementioned, Rojer has also worked and made guest appearances with Ilan Chester, Andy Narell, Phillip Harper, Michael Kanan, Randal Corsen, Izaline Calister, Marjorie Barnes, Nederlands Blazers Ensemble, Metropool Orchestra, Fra Fra sound and many others.
He currently resides in Amsterdam with his wife Kelly, his son Samuel and dog Mac