Jan Gunnar Hoff Group - Voyage (2025)

Voyage' is the debut album by super group led by pianist Jan Gunnar, a quartet with guitarist Nguyen Le, bassist Per Mathisen, and drummer Gary Husband. The album crosses many different landscapes and is both electric and acoustic, with elements from jazz and jazz-rock, classical, prog rock, world music and folklore.

The quartet first came together in the summer of 2023 when they performed at festivals across Europe. In 2024 they performed at the Bodo Jazz Open Festival in Oslo, following which they were invited to go into the studio to record for Losen Records. The idea was to record new compositions from all the band members and create a common musical foundation that could function as a whole.

Jan Hoff contributed half of the twelve songs and with Ngyen Le's (an ACT recording artist and one of Europe's most distinctive and exciting guitarists) artistic signature and Vietnamese background, helped shape much of the music.

Gary Husband is an international name both as a drummer and pianist with Billy Cobham and John McLaughlin among others, and session credits with artists such as Level 42, AlJarreau, Gary Moore, and many others. Bassist Per Mathisen has collaborated with Hoff since 2008, which has resulted in projects with world-renowned drummers such as Gary Novak, Horacio El Negro Hernandez and not least Alex Acuna. Mathisen is one of Europe's best and most versatile bassists.

"It has been great pleasure to work together with such eminent artists as Nguyên Lê, Gary Husband and Per Mathisen, in making this album. We first met as a group, performing at European festivals and venues in 2023. After a few concerts in Norway, January 2024, Odd Gjelsnes invited us to do a recording in Oslo for his label. The idea was to present compositions from all of the band members, aiming to create a musical common ground that could work as a whole. About the music:

In the opening tune, «Living», Nguyên Lê´s sound and artistic signature add a beautiful flavor to the theme. His Vietnamese influence and trademark is present from the very start of this album, which continues with Nguyên ´s composition “Threads of Red Silk”. «Spirit Be» is an intriguing Gary Husband – tune with several original solutions that open up for soloists. My compositions “Voyage I & II” are both based on the same musical idea, first played rubato with guitar and piano, then tutti with a distinct rhythmical progress. “Transatlantic” was created from a synthesizer pattern and developed further with several themes and solo parts. A kind of hectic travel, with lots of action in there.

“The Fjords” is my hommage to our volunarable nature and environments in Norway. Pristine nature is constantly under pressure, and it is vital to preserve our untouched areas, for future generations.

«Stone or Gold» is another characteristic Nguyên – tune, with its folkloric and life-affirming atmosphere. My long time co-partner in music, Per Mathisen, brings to the table his fearless arrangement of Samuel Barber’s classic «Adagio for strings». A powerful bass intro leads into a high speed energy solo section. This is a Barber version you won´t miss!

«Distant waters» takes it all down deep again with a guitar and piano duo, where we improvise over a given idea. Gary Husband´s second song contribution, «Ancestors», has recurring themes that gradually build up a truly epic piece of music. On this track Gary plays both drums and keyboards.

Nguyên ´s beautiful ballad «Seerene» ends our musical voyage, with a core of beauty, sincerity and hope, things that the world definitely needs today!" (Jan Gunnar Hoff)

Jan Gunnar Hoff, grand piano, keyboards
Nguyên Lê, guitar, synth programming (tracks 2, 8, 12)
Per Mathisen, electric and acoustic bass
Gary Husband, drums, keyboards (track 11)

TRACKLIST

1. Jan Gunnar Hoff Group;Nguyên Lê;Gary Husband;Per Mathisen - Living
2. Jan Gunnar Hoff Group;Nguyên Lê;Gary Husband;Per Mathisen - Threads of Red Silk
3. Jan Gunnar Hoff Group;Nguyên Lê;Gary Husband;Per Mathisen - Spirit Be
4. Jan Gunnar Hoff Group;Nguyên Lê;Gary Husband;Per Mathisen - Voyage I
5. Jan Gunnar Hoff Group;Nguyên Lê;Gary Husband;Per Mathisen - Voyage II
6. Jan Gunnar Hoff Group;Nguyên Lê;Gary Husband;Per Mathisen - Transatlantic
7. Jan Gunnar Hoff Group;Nguyên Lê;Gary Husband;Per Mathisen - The Fjords
8. Jan Gunnar Hoff Group;Nguyên Lê;Gary Husband;Per Mathisen - Stone or Gold
9. Jan Gunnar Hoff Group;Nguyên Lê;Gary Husband;Per Mathisen - Adagio for Strings
10. Jan Gunnar Hoff Group;Nguyên Lê;Gary Husband;Per Mathisen - Distant Waters
11. Jan Gunnar Hoff Group;Nguyên Lê;Gary Husband;Per Mathisen - Ancestors
12. Jan Gunnar Hoff Group;Nguyên Lê;Gary Husband;Per Mathisen - Seerene