Jan Gunnar Hoff

Norwegian pianoplayer and composer educated at the Jazzdepartment, Trondheim Conservatory and at NMH, composition. Hoff has played and collaborated with Alex Acuña, Mike Stern, Pat Metheny, Kenwood Dennard, Joanna McGregor, Lars Danielsson, Cæcilie Norby, Fathy Salama, Martin France, Chick Corea, Arild Andersen, Nils Petter Molvær a.o. In 1982 he was part of a national all star band performing Jan Garbareks composition for the FNJ, Norwegian Jazz Forum.

Hoff has released five CDs with his own Jan Gunnar Hoff Group that consists of leading Norwegian jazzperformers Audun Kleive (dr) and Bjørn Kjellemyr (bass). This band has toured all over Scandinavia and played major festivals in London, Molde, Bergen etc.

In 2005 Hoff received the prestigous Edvard Grieg prize as a composer for his jazz mass Meditatus. He wrote the commission work “Free flow songs” for Vossajazz in 2005. Recently he has become a professor at the University in Tromsø and at the University in Kristiansand.

His last solo CD MAGMA (2008) has an international line up with Mike Stern, Mathias Eick, Maria Joao, Eivind Aarset a.o. A new trio with Alex Acuna (dr) and Per Mathisen (bass) is a main project for 2010.

In 2008 and 2009 Hoff has performed and toured in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Croatia, Iceland, Austria, Italy, Sweden, USA, England and Norway, including major cities such as New York, London, Stockholm, Zagreb and Moscow.

Album Reviews

Fly North! by Jakob Baekgaard
Magma by John Kelman

”The thoroughly exciting Jungle City. From the higher velocity of Mathisen's title track and frenetically swinging “Jangala,” to Hoff's abstract, synth-laden ”Visions” and more upbeat, equally Zawinul-esque “Tribute,” Jungle City clearly reveals an unmistakable reference point for these two fine Norwegian players, on one of Acuña's best co-led sessions to date”-
John Kelman, AAJ nov 2009

”The new album is unforged, crystal clean Norwegian jazz. The pianist and composer Hoff becomes 50 this year. Magma is a worthy present for this day and of course for audiences that enjoy jazz”-
Czékus Mihály, Hungary 2008

”Hoff emerges as a keyboardist of considerable versatility and flair