The CD “Stille stille vinternatt” (“Quiet winter night” ) was released on Universal Music Norway November 16, 2013. Morten Lindberg and 2L has released Blueray and vinyl versions for the international market. Read the first review of “Quiet winter night” here. Order CD at Platekompaniet.

This project is a musical journey based on the compositions by Geir Bøhren and Bent Åserud, from NRK TV-series ”Blåfjell” and ”Månetoppen”. Brand new arrangements by Hoff and contributions from a.o. Mathias Eick, Helene Bøksle, Unni Wilhelmsen and Arild Andersen, make this an exciting new album. All recordings made in Sofienberg church by Morten Lindberg.

Roger Ludvigsen (guitar) and Jan Gunnar Hoff (keys) come together with Russian artists Inna Zhelannaya (vocal) and Georgy Strelkov (bass) in this new project entitled “NORTH EAST/NORTH WEST”.

Brand new compositions by Hoff and Ludvigsen mixes influences from sami, jazz, etno and more. Percussionist Aleksander Kostopoulus (Agjadas, Moddi) completes the band with a stunningly fresh approach to jazz and etno.

Smeltedigelen Musikkfestival has initiated the project. In addition to the opening concert at this year’s festival on October 24, the band will also do concerts in Tromsø and Kautokeino and a tour in Russia 2013.

The project is financed with funds from the Norwegian Barentsekretariatet. Barents Secretariat is working to develop the Russian-Norwegian cooperation in the north through the promotion of cross-border cooperation projects between Norwegians and Russians.

Hoff´s new composition ”Living” has been successfully performed at Bodø Jazz Open in January 2012 and at Maijazz in Stavanger in May. ”Living” features Hoff´s new bandsetting with Marilyn Mazur, Anders Jormin and Arve Henriksen. The composition is a 9- part piece with several melodic themes, yet with great room for the band´s improvisational skills.

In April 2012 Hoff did a solo piano tour in Kirgisistan and Kazakhstan. He visited Bishkek International Jazz Festival, Almaty International Jazz Festival and the Shabyt Universitety of Astana, where he also did a masterclass for the jazz department.

The concert in Astana was made in cooperation with the Norwegian Embassy.