Jasper van ’t Hof & Peter Materna

Born in Enschede, Netherlands, in 1947, Jasper van ’t Hof can rightly be described as a veteran of European jazz. With his bands Association P. C. and Pork Pie, he is considered a key pioneer of fusion jazz and jazz rock. His band „Pili Pili,“ which combined European fusion jazz with African music and featured musicians such as Trilok Gurtu, Manu Dibango,and Kenny Wheeler, achieved sensational success—and Angelique Kidjo laid the foundation for her global career here. In addition to his band work, van ’t Hof has shaped a whole series of duo projects with saxophonists like Christof Lauer,Bob Malach, and Charlie Mariano, as well as the groundbreaking album „Mama Rose“ with Archie Shepp. His new duo album with saxophonist Peter Materna will be released in late 2025, and one of their very first live performances will be heard at TAK.

As a saxophonist, Peter Materna is a sound explorer deeply rooted in jazz, yet his music also blends in classical harmonies and experimentation, with melodic and emotional depth defining his improvisations. Alongside the Peter Materna Quartet,he has performed with Marc Copland, Olivia Trummer, Florian Weber, Yayo Morales, and the Beethoven Orchestra Bonn.Since 2010, he has directed the Jazzfest Bonn, which has evolved into a fixed star of the international jazz scene.

The combination of the extroverted pianist van ’t Hof and the lyrical saxophonist creates an electrifying tension between impulsive and delicate elements. Compositions by the two musicians alternate with personal interpretations of jazz standards.