Biography

Norwegian pianoplayer and composer (born 1958) educated at the Jazzdepartment, Trondheim Conservatory 1986-89 and at NMH Oslo, composition 2001-2002.

Hoff´s background includes classical piano, progressive rock and jazz. His career as a jazz musician started in 1976 with piano trio and continued as a backing musician for drummer and other jazz artists at local clubs. Hoff has worked as a professional musician since 1979 and as early as 1982 he toured with and Nils Petter Molvær in Northern Norway. In 1987 he participated in an all star Norwegian combo presenting Jan Garbarek's anniversary composition for the Federation of Norwegian Jazz musicians, FNJ.

Hoff has played and collaborated with Alex Acuña, Mike Stern, Pat Metheny, Maria Joao, Kenwood Dennard, , Bjørn Kjellemyr, Mathias Eick, , Lars Danielsson, Cæcilie Norby, Fathy Salama, Martin France, Chick Corea a.o.

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 and the piece “MAGMA” for legendary US guitarist Mike Stern in 2006.

Hoff´s last solo CD MAGMA (2008) has an international line up with Mike Stern, Mathias Eick, Maria Joao, Eivind Aarset a.o. 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.

A new trio with Alex Acuna (dr) and Per Mathisen (bass) is Hoff´s main project for 2010: www.myspace.com/acunahoffmathisen

Hoff is working part time as a professor at the University of Tromsø and at UIA in Kristiansand, teaching improvisation, jazz piano and ensemble.

Recordings as an artist: "Syklus" - Odin records 1993 "Moving” - 1995 "Crosslands" - Curling 1998 "In town" - Curling 2003 “Meditatus” - Grappa 2007, w/Bodø Cathedral Choir “Magma” - Grappa 2008, feat Mike Stern) “Jungle City” - Alessa Records 2009, w/Alex Acuna

Press quotes: John Kelman, Allaboutjazz nov 2009: “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”

Richard Palmer, Jazz Journal nov 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 “

Jazz Stage, Sweden 1998: “Hoff has with his CD CROSSLANDS established himself as one of the important artists within Nordic jazz. He shows his own distinct language in both his pianoplaying and in his fine compositions”

Jazz Special, Denmark 1995: “The CD MOVING with Norwegian keyboardist Jan Gunnar Hoff has more substance. The CD and Hoff´s music is simply on top” 

Jazznytt, Norway 1995 “With this CD (Moving) Jan Gunnar Hoff definitely takes a step into the Premiere League of jazz. He is about to establish himself as one of the most important musicians on the Norwegian Jazz Scene in the late Nineties”

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

http://www.myspace.com/jangunnarhoff http://www.jangunnarhoff.no http://www.myspace.com/acunahoffmathisen