The versatile jazz pianist Jasper van ’t Hof has cleverly found his own way in the European jazz landscape. In the sixties he got in touch with free jazz minds such as Pierre Courbois, Toto Blanke (Association P.C.) and in the seventies he formed a band (Pork Pie) with amongst others Philip Catherine and Charlie Mariano. Yet early in his musical career the musician from Enschede got the idea that, jazz wise, he needn’t restrict himself to Dutch jazz clubs. In the eighties he extensively toured in Europe and he was noticed by leading foreign jazz magazines. His group Pili Pili, influenced by African music, became well known in Germany. Also as a soloist with a unique communicative way of playing, Van ’t Hof is very active. At North Sea Jazz Van ’t Hof performs with the same Dutch quartet with whom he recorded the CD The Yellow House this spring. This quartet consists of trombone player Ilja Reijngoud, bassist Eric van der Westen and drummer Marcel Serierse.
