Jan Gunnar Hoff

Jan Gunnar Hoff has been active as a professional jazz pianist and keyboardist since 1979. As an artist and co-leader, he has released 23 albums including 4 solo piano recordings on the US Grammy- winning label 2L. Hoff established his own band, Jan Gunnar Hoff Group feat Audun Kleive, Bjørn Kjellemyr, Per Jørgensen and Knut Riisnæs (later Tore Brunborg) in 1993, and in 2014 he received the Buddy Award, Norwegian jazz's highest award. Hoff is a Steinway Artist and he has played concerts in major cities such as Tokyo, New York, London, Istanbul, LA. In 2005 Jan Gunnar Hoff received the Edvard (Grieg) Prize as a composer for his jazz mass Meditatus, a popular choral work. Jan Gunnar Hoff's compositions have been performed in his band projects with jazz greats such as Mike Stern, Pat Metheny, Maria João, Marilyn Mazur, Arve Henriksen, Anders Jormin and several of Hoff ́s larger works have been recorded. Hoff has collaborated with Alex Acuña and bassist Per Mathisen in a trio since 2008 and recorded two albums and a DVD in LA with this trio. In 2022 Acuña included the Hoff- composition "In Town" as an opening tune for his own album "Gifts", recorded in legendary Capitol studios, LA. Hoff´s latest album releases are "Gladiator" (Losen 2022) with Per Mathisen and Gary Novak, and his solo piano album "Home" (2L). Jan Gunnar Hoff works as a professor at the Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø and at UiA in Kristiansand.

Awards

Buddy award 2013. The highest distinction in Norwegian jazz

The Edvard Grieg Prize 2005 as a composer

US Grammy nomination for "Quiet winter night" (best surround sound 2013) as arranger and musical leader

Tags

Jan Gunnar Hoff piano

Album Review

Magma by John Kelman
Fly North! by Jakob Baekgaard

Downbeat: "Hoffs album, with Stern´s formidable help, organically crosses over eras and transatlantic aesthetics, bridging a division in fusion".

Allaboutjazz Jan 2014: ”Together these four master musicians travel deep into a land of
beauty. Fly North is an enchanting musical journey in first class all the way through”

John Kelman, Allaboutjazz March 2013 (Barxeta feat. Alex Acuna):
“Hoff's Belarus blends a simple, haunting melody with an ascending and descending
three-chord pattern before opening up into a pedal tone, driven frenetically by Acuña
and Mathisen without losing its delicacy, leading to a piano solo redolent of keyboardist
Lyle Mays' best work with Pat Metheny”

Downbeat: "Hoffs album, with Stern´s formidable help, organically crosses over eras and transatlantic aesthetics, bridging a division in fusion".

Allaboutjazz Jan 2014: ”Together these four master musicians travel deep into a land of
beauty. Fly North is an enchanting musical journey in first class all the way through”

AUDIO (Germany): ” The Norwegian jazzpianist succeds with Living in making a
gentle, almost seductive debut. Varied melodics and magical depths, soundwise this is
an absolute reference production”

Mono and Stereo, Slovenia: ”For me Jan Gunnar Hoff creates a certain emotional bond
between a listener and performer, transcends the labelling of pop, jazz, classical and
simply work on evoking of feelings while cutting straight through any perceptions…”

Progressive Rock Central.com 2012 (Barxeta feat. Alex Acuna):
“First class fusion with a blend of passionate, high energy and gracefully elegant music
performed by three world class musicians…Jan Gunnar Hoff combines the melodic
sensibility and dexterity of Lyle Mays with the edginess of Chick Corea”

Allaboutjazz February 2010 (MAGMA feat. Mike Stern):
“Throughout, Hoff's writing and playing possesses an almost pop-like clarity and
concision, but with a far richer vernacular”.

Allaboutjazz November 2009: “The thoroughly exciting Jungle City. From the higher velocity
of Mathisen's title track and frenetically swinging “Jangala,” to Hoff's abstract, synthladen
”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”

Richard Palmer, Jazz Journal November 1998: “Hoff emerges as a keyboardist of
considerable versatility and flair. Clearly a player and musical mind to watch. An intriguing
and often rewarding album that is well worth checking out “

Boris Rabinowitch, Politiken (Copenhagen) 1993 Syklus: “An excellent album”

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