Biography Jan Gunnar Hoff
Biography Jan Gunnar Hoff 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 Jon Christensen and other jazz artists at local clubs. Hoff has worked as a professional musician since 1979 and as early as 1982 he toured with Arild Andersen 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, Audun Kleive, Bjørn Kjellemyr, Mathias Eick, Tore Brunborg, 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.
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