Jazz Pianist, Composer, arranger, band leader, professor
Hoff released his new Stille Lys (QUIET LIGHT) book in December 2021, with piano arrangements of popular tunes and Christmas melodies. The book is available here. The project is based on Hoff´s album Stille Lys, recorded by Morten Lindberg in 2014, and released on his label 2L. Hoff´s Quiet light-concerts are popular and the last one took place at Stormen konserthus, Bodø, Desember 5, 2021 (photo: Anna Rostrup).
Jan Gunnar Hoff received the annual cultural award from Bodø kommune (Bodø municipality) for 2021. Link to presentation (Norwegian).
Jan Gunnar Hoff´s composition VAAPSTENJEANOE (Big River) was performed in October at Smeltedigelen in Mo i Rana. Helgeland sinfonietta (chamber orchestra) and solists Hoff, Arve Henriksen, Mats Eilertsen.
In October 2019, Per Mathisen and Jan Gunnar Hoff did a tour with US-drummer Gary Novak and also recorded an album with the music. Due to corona Mathisen and Hoff were not able to visit the studio in Verdal, Norway for 1 year and the project was delayed. So, in springtime 2021 the project was continued and mixed by sending files and mixes between Tony & Kriss in Lydhagen studios and Hoff, Mathisen. Mastering afterwards by Morten Lund. The result is now out on several platforms including Spotify (link).
Due to covid-related issues, Mike Stern is replaced by Norwegian trumpeter Arve Henriksen for the upcoming tour with Jan Gunnar Hoff Group in southern Norway. The program will consist of music from Hoff´s albums Fly North, Polarity, Moving and also excerpts from the 2018 album with Stern and a brand new recording with Mathisen, Hoff & Gary Novak.
As part of his project “20 Norwegian piano Miniatures”, the leading Norwegian classical pianist Håvard Gimse has recorded Jan Gunnar Hoff´s piano piece “La ville” on a new album and also published a score of all 20 compositions. Link to Norsk Musikkforlag.
This year Jan Gunnar Hoff has not been able to perform his annual Christmas concept STILLE LYS (QUIET LIGHT) as normal. Instead Hoff has performed a virtual concert from Stormen concert hall, Bodø, organized by NNL, a group of Northern trainees. The concert will run on Vimeo from December 18, 2020.
The Swedish trombonist and bandleader Nils Landgren will perform with Jan Gunnar Hoff trio (Hoff, Kleive, Jormin) at Bodø Jazz Open, Februar 4, 2021. Read more here.
Jan Gunnar Hoff performed 2 solo concerts at the Oslo Opera (Den norske opera og ballett) on November 1, 2020. Following the Opera-concerts, Jazz in Norway made an interview with Hoff as their weekly jazz profile.
Jan Gunnar Hoff is in the making of his STILLE LYS (QUIET LIGHT) – score collection, fully available in 2021. In the meantime 5 scores has been released from www.notebutikken.no: Mit hjerte alltid vanker, Nordnorsk Julesalme, Kanskje, Barndomsminner fra Nordland, Hjem te jul. Link to the supplier.
July 2020 the Australian folk/jazz/world-music group Elysian Fields realeased their album FIKA with music composed by Scandinavian composers. The opening track on FIKA is Hoff´s composition LIVING. Elysian Fields also recorded a version/excerpt of Hoff´s award winning jazz mass MEDITATUS.
The 2020 “Jan Gunnar Hoff Group feat Mike Stern”- tour is now postponed to next year (2021). Several dates are confirmed, listed below. There is also a tour period in September 2021 with the band, dates TBA later.
National Jazz Scene, Oslo, May 1, 2021
Amager Bio, Copenhagen May 4, 2021
Stavanger Maijazz May 5, 2021
Bodø Jazz Open May 6, 2021
Hamar Anjazz May 7, 2021
CAZ jazz festival, Zorlu PSM, Istanbul on May 8, 2021