Jazz Pianist, Composer, arranger, band leader, professor
Jan Gunnar Hoff was recently presented in the Steinway lunch concert series. He performed a version of his new composition VAAPSTENJEANOE (Big River). Hoff has been a Steinway Artist since 2014.
Jan Gunnar Hoff ist einer der angesagtesten Jazzpianisten Norwegens und hat uns eine brandneue Komposition für die…
Publisert av Steinway & Sons Lørdag 27. juni 2020
Jan Gunnar Hoff is releasing his own “real book” with 52 jazz compositions from his production since 1993. The compositions in this book have been performed with world class artists like Mike Stern, Pat Metheny, Alex Acuña and Maria João, and are recorded in different versions on various albums. The music can be played on solo piano, in jazz settings or in ensembles of any kind. Link to purchase.
Jan Gunnar Hoff received the 2019 Cultural Prize from Nordland County. This is a prestigious prize, given to those who contribute in a special and unique way to the cultural quality and diversity of the region, in Hoff´s case both as a performer and a organizer. Link to the jury statement.
Mike Stern & Jan Gunnar Hoff Group will be touring extensively in Spring 2020. There will be several gigs and festivals in Norway but also concerts in Copenhagen and Istanbul. The line up is Mike Stern (guitar), Jan Gunnar Hoff (keys), Per Mathisen (bass) and Audun Kleive (drums). The tour kicks off at Kilden in Kristiansand April 22, 2020. Check tour dates here.
Touring October 2019. Link to Oslo-gig.
May 2019 Jan Gunnar Hoff will be performing several concerts in Istanbul. There will be collaborations with local jazz musicians and also a solo piano recital TBA. Confirmed so far:
28 May Tuesday: Önder Foçan Trio featuring Jan Gunnar Hoff @ Nardis Jazz Club, Istanbul
29 May Wednesday: Jan Gunnar Hoff “Istanbul” Trio @ Akbank, Istanbul
Jan Gunnar Hoff celebrated his 60th birthday at the Ad Lib jazz club in Bodø where he started his jazz career in 1976. Since 1978 Hoff has worked as a professional freelance musician. He has recorded 20 albums as an artist and co-leader and collaborated with great musicians like Mike Stern, Pat Metheny, Maria Joao, Alex Acuna. In 2018 Hoff has released 3 albums: Polarity, a trio recording feat Audun Kleive and Anders Jormin, Barxeta II, a project with Per Mathisen and Horacioa “El Negro” Hernandez and finally Jan Gunnar Hoff Group feat. Mike Stern. The local newspaper made an interview with Hoff at the occasion. The anniversary gig was a concert with Hoff´s trio w/Kleive and Jormin on Nov 24, 2018: https://bit.ly/2TiXhSm
The collaboration between Jan Gunnar Hoff and guitar legend Mike Stern started with Hoff´s commission Magma for the Nordland Music Festival in 2006. In 2008 their first album Magma was released, an album where Stern played an important role. Several tours later the sequel Jan Gunnar Hoff Group feat Mike Stern is recorded in Oslo, March 2018. The album has a shared song contribution with Hoff´s 5 new tunes and Stern´s 3, still appears as a “uniform” production. Link to reviews, sales and streaming
A trio album released Juni 1, 2018. Per Mathisen and Jan Gunnar Hoff meeting Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez, one of the worlds most prominent latin/jazz drummers. The result is BARXETA II (link to iTunes).
“El Negro” first gained international recognition as the drummer for the pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba and his group Proyecto. Since leaving Cuba in 1990, Hernandez has played in the U.S. with many different pop, rock, jazz and Latin jazz acts, including on many albums, some of which have received Grammy awards, including Roy Hargrove‘s Havana (1997), Carlos Santana‘s Supernatural (1999), Alejandro Sanz‘ No es lo mismo (2003) and Eddie Palmieri‘s Listen Here (2005). Hernandez owns a Grammy award for the 2001 Latin Jazz album Live at the Blue Note, with Michel Camilo (piano) and Charles Flores (bass). Since 2004 Hernandez has recorded and toured with his own band, Italuba.
Jan Gunnar Hoff launches his new jazztrio with Anders Jormin and Audun Kleive, two of Europe´s most reknown and respected jazz performers. A powerful trio setting presenting strong melodic compositions and high class interplay. Their new album Polarity (HOFF ENSEMBLE), was released April 6, 2018. Album details here!
Hoff continues his collaboration with Mike Stern in 2018 with a tour in Norway and a recording session. This will be their second recording together 10 years after Magma (2008) that received great reviews, from AAJazz and other media. Dates for Stavanger and Oslo recently announced: March 1 & March 3, 2018. Line up:
Mike Stern (guitar), Jan Gunnar Hoff (keys), Per Mathisen (bass), Audun Kleive (drums)
Jan Gunnar Hoff performs two solo concerts in September 2017 at jazz festivals in Ukraine, in Vinnitsa and Odessa. The concerts will take place in Odessa Philharmonic Hall and in the Vinnitsa festival concert space.