Going North

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. In 2014, he received the Buddy-prize, the highest distinction in Norwegian jazz.

Hoff is a Steinway Artist and he has played concerts in cities such as Tokyo, New York,London, Istanbul, LA. Jan Gunnar Hoff’s compositions have been performed in his band projects with jazz greats such as Mike Stern, Pat Metheny and Maria João, and several of Hoff’s larger works have been recorded. Hoff has collaborated with Alex Acuñ a and bassist Per Mathisen in a trio since 2008 and recorded two albums and a DVD in LA with this trio. Jan Gunnar Hoff works as a professor at the Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø and at UiA in Kristiansand.

Villu Veski can only be described as a musical polymath. His versatility as a musician, composer, promoter, and lover of the arts is truly impressive. Veski finds a wide range of expression even within the narrow definition of saxophonist:one with equal range and sensitivity that transcends genres – from old swing to ethno-jazz and funky-groove – on both tenor and soprano. Veski’s bold approach has led to projects as diverse as his collaboration with accordionist Tiit Kalluste on the NordicSounds albums, in which the two explore jazz and folk through their original compositions. Villu Veski performed together with international names: Eivør Pálsdóttir (FO), Jan Gunnar Hoff (NO), Ola Onabule (UK), Bobo Stenson (SWE), Barbara Dennerlein (GER), Lee Oskar (USA). He is a member of Arctic Ensemble Yggdrasil (FO) founded by Faroese composer Kristian Blak. Villu Veski has performed in prestigious concert halls such as Tokyo Opera City, Berliner Philharmonie, London Queen Elizabeth Hall and many international festivals such as the Rochester Jazz Festival in New York, the Pori Jazz Festival in Finland, Natt Jazz in Norway, the Brussels Jazz Marathon in Belgium, World Saxophone Congress in Montreal and the British Saxophone Congress at the Royal Music College of Music in London. Collaboration with the British soul and jazz singer Ola Onabule has been taking Veski to many festivals around the world: South Bank Centre’s Choral Festival, the Lagos Jazz Series in Nigeria, the Istanbul Jazz Festival in Turkey, the International Jazz Day RO, and many others. Veski has been an artistic director of the Muhu Future Music Festival “JUU JÄÄB” since 1997. During 27 years the festival hosted some of the greatest jazz personalities, including Gilles Peterson, Bobo Stenson, Ola Onabule, Jazzie B,Robert Mitchell, Lee Oskar, Dwight Trible, etc.

Jan Gunnar Hoff and Villu Veski met a year ago in Norway. After the first concert, which took place in the Skjerstad church in Northern Norway (Nordland), the musicians admitted that their musical taste, sound culture and attitude towards music match so well that they decided to start working together. To date, the duo has performed two more concerts in Norway.

The concert at the Arvo Pärt Centre on December 7 will be the first full concert for the duo Jan Gunnar Hoff & Villu Veski’s in Estonia.