José Islen Aguirre Ocampo is a Colombian salsa producer, songwriter, trumpeter, and musical director. Born on August 16, 1970, in Caldas, Colombia, he became a key figure in Colombia's tropical music landscape. He is highly recognized for his leadership of the legendary salsa orchestra Grupo Niche, where he studied under founder Jairo Varela and eventually took over as musical director. For his contributions to music, Aguirre has received an honorary doctorate (Honoris Causa).
In 2012, Aguirre served as a guest trumpeter for producer Sergio George's Salsa Giants concert at the Curaçao North Sea Jazz Festival. This performance placed him on stage alongside major figures in the genre, including Marc Anthony, Oscar d'León, Cheo Feliciano, Andy Montañez, and José Alberto "El Canario".
As a solo artist and orchestrator, Aguirre works across salsa, latin jazz, bolero, and big band styles. His solo catalog includes the albums 'Homenaje A Un Grande' (2014), 'Lo Que Trajo el Barco' (2014) and its 2015 instrumental version, and 'Gente Con Alma' (2021). Between 2021 and 2025, he released several singles, including 'Quién Dijo' (2021), 'Sentimiento Escarlata' (2021), 'Los Hombres Sí Pueden Llorar' (2022), and 'JACARANDOSA' (2025).
