Jan Gunnar Hoff | |
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![]() Hoff was awarded the Buddy-prisen by the Norwegian Jazz Federation during Bodø Jazz Open 2014. | |
Background information | |
Born | (1958-10-22)22 October 1958 (age 66) Bodø,Nordland, Norway |
Genres | Jazz |
Occupation(s) | Musician, composer |
Instrument | Piano |
Website | www |
Jan Gunnar Hoff (born 22 October 1958) is a Norwegianjazz pianist, composer, arranger and professor, living in Bodø, known from cooperations with jazz musicians likePat Metheny,Mike Stern,Alex Acuña,Audun Kleive,Mathias Eick,John Surman,Karin Krog,Maria João,Marilyn Mazur,Anders Jormin,Arve Henriksen,Per Jørgensen,Tore Brunborg,Bjørn Kjellemyr,Ernst-Wiggo Sandbakk,Per Mathisen,Gary Novak,Arild Andersen,Tore Johansen,Nils Petter Molvær,Ståle Storløkken,Gary Husband a.o.[1][2][3]
Hoff was born inBodø. He is a graduate of the Teachers' College inBodø andBergen, and was further educated in the Jazz program atTrondheim Musikkonservatorium underTerje Bjørklund (1986–89), and in composition atNorges Musikkhøgskole (2001). He had his jazz debut with his own trio onAd Lib Jazzklubb (1976). Hoff's background includes classical piano, progressive rock, pop and jazz. Hoff has released 20 recordings as soloartist and co-leader and he has composed 250 works for different settings. In 2005 he received the prestigious Edvard-prize (named after Edvard Grieg) for his jazz massMeditatus and the same year he wrote the commission work for Vossajazz. In 2013 Jan Gunnar Hoff and his “Hoff Ensemble” was nominated for US Grammy Awards with their album Quiet winter night. Hoff's quartet album Fly North with Marilyn Mazur, Anders Jormin and Arve Henriksen was nominated for the Norwegian Grammy, Spellemannpris 2014. Jan Gunnar Hoff has performed in Los Angeles, New York, London, Zagreb, Milano, St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kyiv, Stockholm, Istanbul, Havana, Riga and other major cities.
In January 2014 Hoff received the highest distinction in Norwegian Jazz, the Buddy-award. In May 2014 he was credited internationally as an official Steinway Artist. Since 2016 Hoff has released a number of albums:Stories - solo piano 2L 2016,Terra Nova w/mezzo-soprano Marianne Beate Kielland, Lawo classics 2017,Polarity with Audun Kleive, Anders Jormin, Morten Lindberg, 2L April 2018,Barxeta II with Per Mathisen and Horacio Hernandez, Losen Records June 2018,Jan Gunnar Hoff Group feat. Mike Stern on Losen Records November 2018,Gladiator w/Gary Novak, Per Mathisen in 2021 and the solo albumHOME in 2022 (2L, Morten Lindberg). Hoff is working as a professor at theUniversity of Tromsø and theUniversity of Agder. He co-founded The Groove Valley JazzCamp inBeiarn Municipality, and was artistic director for TGV Jazz camp from 2005 to 2009. Hoff also initiatedBodø Jazz Open which was launched in January 2011, where he was artistic leader and festival head until 2020.
Year recorded | Title | Label | Notes |
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1993 | Syklus | Odin | w/Kjellemyr, Kleive, Riisnæs |
1995 | Moving | Curling Legs | w/Kjellemyr, Kleive, Riisnæs, Jørgensen |
1998 | Crosslands | Curling Legs | w/Kjellemyr, Kleive, Brunborg |
2003 | In Town | Curling Legs | w/Kjellemyr, Kleive, Brunborg |
2007 | Meditatus | Grappa Music | with Bodø Domkor and Jan Gunnar Hoff Group |
2008 | Magma | Grappa Music | feat. Mike Stern (US), Maria Joao (PT), Mathias Eick, Eivind Aarset a.o. |
2009 | Jungle City | Alessa | with (Alex) Acua/Hoff/Mathisen |
2011 | Equilibrium | Magma | with Ove Bjørken |
2011 | Atmospheres | Magma | with Ove Bjørken |
2011 | Acuna/Hoff/Mathisen Live in LA | Drumchannel | with Alex Acuna and Per Mathisen |
2012 | Quiet Winter Night | 2L | Arild Andersen,Mathias Eick a.o. Nominated for US Grammy |
2012 | Barxeta | Losen | with Acuña/Hoff/Mathisen |
2013 | Living | 2L | Solo piano |
2014 | Fly North | Losen | w/Marilyn Mazur, Arve Henriksen, Anders Jormin. Nominated for Spellemann (Norwegian Grammy) |
2014 | Stille Lys/Quiet Light | 2L | Solo piano |
2016 | Stories | 2L | Solo piano |
2017 | Terra Nova | Lawo Classics | duo with mezzo-soprano Marianne Beate Kielland |
2018 | Polarity | 2L | w/Anders Jormin, Audun Kleive |
2018 | Barxeta II | Losen | w/Per Mathisen, Horacio Hernandez |
2018 | Jan Gunnar Hoff Group feat Mike Stern | Losen | w/Mike Stern, Per Mathisen, Audun Kleive |
2022 | Home | 2L | Solo piano |
Awards | ||
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Preceded by | Recipient of theStubøprisen 1997 | Succeeded by |
Preceded by | Recipient of theNordlysprisen 2006 | Succeeded by |
Preceded by | Recipient of theBuddyprisen 2013 | Succeeded by |