Jan Gunnar Hoff & Villu Veski – the story behind SAGA

Norwegian jazz pianist Jan Gunnar Hoff and Estonian saxophone player Villu Veski first met in 2023, performing together at a Norwegian/Estonian wedding in Skjerstad church, in Northern Norway. This special rendezvous has resulted in several concerts with Hoff and Veski in Norway and Estonia. In May 2025 they recorded music for a duo-album in the beautiful Arvo Pärt centre, Laulasmaa. The title track Saga opens the album in a crystal clear and naked way. The next tune, Hoff´s Living, in many ways represents the core of this musical collaboration, also since it was one of the first tunes the duo performed together. Ukuaru valss by Arvo Pärt has been recorded in many versions, this time as a lyrical, downtempo piece. Hoff´s Innocence shows more of the duo´s jazz-influences, while Adventure is a spontaneous piano improvisation. Veski´s Arrival and Hoff´s Fly North are earlier band compositions, arranged for duo, whereas Kudomaine viis and Barndomsminne fra Nordland are national anthems from Estonia and Northern Norway, interpreted within the album context. Villu Veski´s tune Pathway/Kealakekua ends this musical SAGA much as it began, a meditative journey that hopefully can bring the listener a little peace and reflection in today´s unrestful world.