Jean Alfaro
Real name Jean Max Levesque
Pseudonyms
-
• Alfaro
Occupation
-
• cellist
• pianist
• composer
• conductor
Instrument
-
• cello
• piano
Country of birth France
TodoTango: Link
Jean Alfaro, born Jean Levesque, was a French tango pianist, arranger, and composer. Originally trained as a classical cellist, he became one of the most refined and influential figures in the French tango scene of the late 1920s and 1930s.
Early Life and Classical Training
Jean Alfaro was originally known by his real name, Jean Levesque. He received a solid classical musical education, eventually becoming a cellist in the Concerts Pasdeloup, a prominent Parisian symphonic orchestra founded in 1861 by Jules Pasdeloup to bring classical music to working-class audiences.
Shift to Tango
According to a French review from the 1930s:
“Eight years ago, Alfaro—now rightly considered a remarkable tango pianist—was neither a tanguista, nor a pianist, nor even Alfaro. He was simply Jean Levesque, a cellist at the Concerts Pasdeloup.”
His transition to tango began by chance. While working in a Montmartre restaurant, he discovered the genre by listening to performances from two notable figures:
Cosenza, an Argentine pianist
Delfino (1895–1967), a tango composer who often played his own works at the restaurant
Their performances sparked Alfaro’s interest in tango and reminded him of his early piano studies. Motivated by this exposure, he returned to the piano and dedicated himself to mastering tango performance and arrangement.
Arranger and Performer
Shortly afterward, Alfaro performed at the Bal Tabarin, where he crafted “magnificent arrangements” for the venue’s revue shows. One critic remarked:
“It would be desirable for all our music halls to benefit from such musicality.”
His arrangements combined classical refinement with tango's rhythmic and melodic characteristics, earning him wide recognition.
Founding of the Brodman-Alfaro Orchestra
In June 1928, Jean Alfaro co-founded the Orchestre Brodman-Alfaro with Brodman, marking a key moment in the professionalization of French tango. Their collaboration was highly praised by the press:
“Here is a fortunate association. Two temperaments, two minds, striving for the same goal, with the same aspirations, complementing each other wonderfully. Brodman and Alfaro have formed an orchestra which is not only the best among the French, but could be compared favorably to any Argentine ensemble.”
Legacy
Jean Alfaro exemplified the fusion of classical musicianship with tango aesthetics. His journey from classical cello to tango piano—driven by artistic curiosity—allowed him to become one of the most distinguished figures in the French tango scene of his time.
See Also
References
"Brodman-Alfaro," Milonga Ophelia, January 24, 2018. Source
Orchestras
No known group memberships.
Recordings
No recordings found.
Opus
| Title | Genre | Alt. title | Comp. Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amor falso | Tango | ||
| Demain | Tango | ||
| Marionnette | Tango | ||
| Papusita | Tango |