Jazz Pianist, Composer, arranger, band leader, professor
“Three musicians from different parts of the world, each with his own artistic vibration, finding a shared space where differences spark understanding rather than distance. This human element also defines their performances, where they share personal stories and invite audiences into their world—turning listeners into participants in the trio’s own Human Vibe.”
– Guy van Hulst (NL)
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, Northern Norway. This special rendezvous has resulted in several concerts with Hoff and Veski in Norway and Estonia. Based on their different musical background, but still many similar influences in jazz and music in general, Hoff and Veski create improvisations and interpretations with a unique duo signature. In May 2025 they decided to record 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 track, Hoff´s Living, has become a signature tune for the duo, and it was one of the first songs they 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 band compositions arranged for duo, whereas Kudomaine viis and Barndomsminne fra Nordland are regarded by many as unofficial national anthems from their respective regions. 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.
The concert “50 years in music” at Stormen (The Storm) Concert hall in Bodø, Northern Norway, became a huge success for Jan Gunnar Hoff and his all star line up. 800 audiences witnessed a varied program with examples from Hoff´s career. Solos from international star jazz improvisers like Mathias Eick, Tore Johansen and Tore Brunborg, with a stellar jazz/fusion – band consisting of Gulli Briem & Roger Johansen (drums), Per Mathisen (bass), Børge Petersen-Øverleir (guitar) and Jan Gunnar Hoff (keys). Vocalists: MAUD, England Brooks, Soetkin Baptist. Great reviews from Avisa Nordland, Tor Hammerø and Musikknyheter.no
Jan Gunnar Hoff Group feat MARIUS NESET performed at the National Jazzscene in Oslo on November 15, 2025. Line up: Marius Neset, Jan Gunnar Hoff, Gary Husband, Per Mathisen. Photos: Francesco Saggio.
Jan Gunnar Hoff Group will perform a gig in Oslo with Marius Neset, at Nasjonal Jazzscene, November 15 – 2025. Line up: Marius Neset – saxsophones, Jan Gunnar Hoff – keyboards, Per Mathisen – bass, Gary Husband – drums. Link to venue.
Jan Gunnar Hoff´s project “Vaapstenjeanoe – Big River” went down on August 6-7, 2025 with a big concert performance at Stormen concert hall in Bodø and the following recording session for Grammy-winning producer Morten Lindberg and his label 2L. Among the performers were Arve Henriksen, Mats Eilertsen, Finn Sletten and Helgeland Sinfonietta conducted by Nicholas Carthy.
Jan Gunnar Hoff was interviewed recently about the newly released album “Voyage” by NRK, the national Norwegian broadcasting. Participants in the talks were also Gary Husband and the head of Losen records, Odd Gjelsnes.
https://radio.nrk.no/serie/jazzklubben/sesong/202506/MKMU06002225
Together with Estonian saxophone player Villy Veski, Jan Gunnar Hoff has recorded a new duo album in the spectacular Arvo Pärt Centre in Estonia. The centre is located in the coastal village of Laulasmaa in Lääne-Harju Parish, Estonia, about 35 kilometres (22 mi) to the west from Tallinn. It was established in 2010 by the Pärt family.
Hoff and Veski have recorded original works by both composers. Their album is still in process and will be released late 2025 or in 2026.
The new Jan Gunnar Hoff Group-album with his all star European line up: Nguyen Le, Gary Husband and Per Mathisen, was released May 2, 2025 on Losen Records (Odd Gjelsnes). Cover photo by Kjersti Holst. 
Jan Gunnar Hoff´s tune “Autumn Breeze”, performed on the album “Northwest” by the ensemble “Hoff Somsen Lindholm” has passed 1 mill streams on Apple Music. Hoff´s composition has made it into Apple Music Jazz playlists, which contributes to the streaming success.
Jan Gunnar Hoff´s new work “Heartlands” was premiered December 20, 2024, in the Bodø Cathedral, with an audience of 600 attending. The local reviews were effusive (Rune Slyngstad, Avisa Nordland):
“Powerful, sacred, melancholic and meaningful. The work Heartlands is gold”. Local review (Norwegian):
The theme for this new composition is nature, climate, environment and not least: ourselves in this perspective. Why are we up here in the north, what does nature mean to us, what can’t we do without? The issue has been brought up to date in recent years with large projects that threaten to turn our mountains and nature into industrial areas, i.e. wind power and wind turbines. The untouched nature becomes the subject of speculation and major interventions, something we have to react to. This scenario is the background for the title “Heartlands”, which means: “an area that a nation cannot lose without losing itself”. Subtitles:
1. Dawn
2. Heartlands
3. Earth alert
4. The words
5. Freedom
6. Heartlands II
Line up: Bodø cathedral choir, Karoline Åseng (vocal soloist), Børge Petersen-Øverleir (guitar), Rune Arnesen (drums/perc), JGH (keys, piano, church organ), Gjermund Silset (bass).
