Jasper van't Hof

by Greg PratoOver the years, jazz pianist Jasper van't Hof has issued solo recordings in addition to working with ensembles. Born on June 30, 1947, in Enschede, Netherlands, van't Hof was born into a musically minded family, as his father was a professional trumpet player and his mother a classical singer, leading to the youngster taking piano lessons from the age of five. By his teenage years, van't Hof knew that he wanted to pursue a career in music, playing in jazz bands in school, and by the age of 19 was playing at jazz festivals with such jazz notables as Pierre Courbois and Toto Blanke (it was while with Blanke that van't Hof co-founded a group called Association P.C.). During the '70s, van't Hof founded another outfit, Pork Pie, teaming up with Philip Catherine (guitar), Charlie Mariano (saxophone), Aldo Romano (drums), and J.F. Jennie Clarke (bass). Other bands that van't Hof contributed to soon followed, including Eyeball (which included sax player Bob Malach), Netherlands Quartet, and Pili Pili. Some solo titles that van't Hof has issued throughout the years include Solo Piano, Face to Face, and Un Incontro Illusorio, among others.