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Human Vibe

Jan Gunnar Hoff | Jasper Somsen | Carsten Lindholm

Human Vibe

Price: € 19.95
Format: CD
Label: Challenge Records
UPC: 0608917361421
Catnr: CR 73614
Release date: 20 March 2026
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1 CD
€ 19.95
Preorder
 
Label
Challenge Records
UPC
0608917361421
Catalogue number
CR 73614
Release date
20 March 2026
Album
Artist(s)
Composer(s)
EN

About the album

Human Vibe is the sound of three musicians whose shared understanding runs deeper than geography. Pianist Jan Gunnar Hoff, bassist Jasper Somsen, and drummer Carsten Lindholm come from three different countries, yet their friendship and musical intuition make them feel like lifelong companions. In this trio, a glance, a breath, or a single musical gesture is enough to set the group into fluid, unified motion.

A Trio Shaped by Conversation and Connection
For their second album together, the trio reunited in the Netherlands, where long conversations over lunches and dinners flowed directly into their creative process. Out of these moments came the title Human Vibe—a phrase that perfectly captures the essence of their collaboration: three individuals, each with his own artistic pulse, meeting in a shared space where honesty, curiosity, and joy guide the music.

Their performances embody the same spirit. They speak openly with audiences, share stories, and create an environment where listeners feel personally connected to the unfolding music.

The album was recorded at Studio 2 in Hilversum, the Netherlands’ oldest radio studio and a place rich with musical history. Photographs of legendary jazz artists still hang on the walls, creating an atmosphere steeped in the past. Hoff, Somsen, and Lindholm recorded exactly the way they play live: together in a single room, in full view of one another. The result is an album that captures not only the music, but the trio’s closeness and immediacy.

Artist(s)

Jasper Somsen (double bass)

Dutch double bassist, composer and producer Jasper Somsen (1973) graduated in both Jazz and Classical double bass. He is an open minded versatile musician. Best known as a Jazz musician his field of interest and expertise also includes cross overs to classical, pop, world and film music and theater productions. Jasper has collaborated with some of the very best musicians on the international jazz scene including Peter Erskine, Enrico Pieranunzi, Joey Calderazzo, Jeff Ballard, John Beasley, Jean-Michel Pilc, Eric Marienthal, Bob Sheppard, Seamus Blake, Jorge Rossy, Kendrick Scott, Justin Faulkner, André Ceccarelli, Gary Husband, Gabriele Mirabassi and Paolo Fresu. Besides a performer and composer, Jasper Somsen is a Challenge Records artist and a renowned studio producer. Jasper performs world wide and can be...
more

Dutch double bassist, composer and producer Jasper Somsen (1973) graduated in both Jazz and Classical double bass. He is an open minded versatile musician. Best known as a Jazz musician his field of interest and expertise also includes cross overs to classical, pop, world and film music and theater productions.

Jasper has collaborated with some of the very best musicians on the international jazz scene including Peter Erskine, Enrico Pieranunzi, Joey Calderazzo, Jeff Ballard, John Beasley, Jean-Michel Pilc, Eric Marienthal, Bob Sheppard, Seamus Blake, Jorge Rossy, Kendrick Scott, Justin Faulkner, André Ceccarelli, Gary Husband, Gabriele Mirabassi and Paolo Fresu.

Besides a performer and composer, Jasper Somsen is a Challenge Records artist and a renowned studio producer. Jasper performs world wide and can be heard on more than 45 albums, video and film music scores. Outside a busy playing and studio producing schedule he is an educator at the ArtEZ University of the Arts, Arnhem (NL) and the general director of the foundation Cultural City of Wageningen, in his hometown.


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Jan Gunnar Hoff (piano)

Jan Gunnar Hoff was born in Bodø in 1958 and began classical piano lessons at age ten. He studied in the jazz programme at Trondheim Conservatory of Music and later was a student of composition at the Norwegian Academy of Music. Since 1979 he has been a freelance musician, performing with international musical celebrities such as Alex Acuña, Mike Stern, Pat Metheny, Maria João and Marilyn Mazur. In 2014 he received the prestigious Buddy Prize, the highest distinction in Norwegian jazz, and the same year he was appointed an official Steinway & Sons Artist. He has performed in Los Angeles, New York, London, Zagreb, Milan, Stockholm, Moscow, Havana, Lima and Istanbul and has toured in Scandinavia, Japan and Eastern Europe....
more
Jan Gunnar Hoff was born in Bodø in 1958 and began classical piano lessons at age ten. He studied in the jazz programme at Trondheim Conservatory of Music and later was a student of composition at the Norwegian Academy of Music. Since 1979 he has been a freelance musician, performing with international musical celebrities such as Alex Acuña, Mike Stern, Pat Metheny, Maria João and Marilyn Mazur. In 2014 he received the prestigious Buddy Prize, the highest distinction in Norwegian jazz, and the same year he was appointed an official Steinway & Sons Artist. He has performed in Los Angeles, New York, London, Zagreb, Milan, Stockholm, Moscow, Havana, Lima and Istanbul and has toured in Scandinavia, Japan and Eastern Europe. Hoff has released a number of critically acclaimed solo albums and has written over 250 works, among them, a commissioned work for the Vossa Jazz Festival and the choral composition Meditatus (2004), which received the Edvard Prize awarded by the Norwegian copyright organization TONO. He was arranger and artistic director for the Grammy-nominated album Quiet Winter Night (2L/Universal 2012). Among recent releases are Barxeta (Losen Records) with Acuña/Hoff/Mathisen, two solo piano albums on the 2L label, as well as Fly North (Losen), which was nominated in 2014 for Spellemannprisen, Norway’s Grammy. Jan Gunnar Hoff is professor at the Arctic University of Norway (UiT) and the University of Agder.

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Carsten Lindholm (drums)

Carsten Lindholm is a Danish drummer, composer and producer born in the small town of Kerteminde on the island Fünen. He moved to Copenhagen in 1990 and began studying at the music concervatory D.A.R.K. He later took private lessons with Jazzlegend Ed Thigpen, Aage Tanggaard at the Rhythmic Conservatory, professor at the Royal Classic Conservatory Bent Lylloff, New Orleans drummer Jeff Boudreaux and a lot of other danish fusion drummers. In 1990 he contacted drummer Peter Erskine in order to take private lessons. However, at that time it was difficult for them to match schedules, so he actually never got to study with him. But Carsten got a supportive motivating mentor and penpal instead, who he has met during concerts and studio work  in New York, Monterey and Copenhagen. In 1996...
more

Carsten Lindholm is a Danish drummer, composer and producer born in the small town of Kerteminde on the island Fünen.

He moved to Copenhagen in 1990 and began studying at the music concervatory D.A.R.K. He later took private lessons with Jazzlegend Ed Thigpen, Aage Tanggaard at the Rhythmic Conservatory, professor at the Royal Classic Conservatory Bent Lylloff, New Orleans drummer Jeff Boudreaux and a lot of other danish fusion drummers.

In 1990 he contacted drummer Peter Erskine in order to take private lessons. However, at that time it was difficult for them to match schedules, so he actually never got to study with him. But Carsten got a supportive motivating mentor and penpal instead, who he has met during concerts and studio work in New York, Monterey and Copenhagen.

In 1996 Carsten went to Vallekilde, a Danish Jazz summercamp, where he met finish drummer Jukkis Uotila, Swedish bassplayer Lars Danielsson and Norwegian trumpeter Nils Petter Molvaer – strong personalites, who became great mentors and inspired him to change his musical direction and go into Nordic Jazz music.

In 1998 he went to New York for 3 months to check out the musical level of the town and to study the South Indian rhythm-language Konnakol. Carsten also travelled to meet Jazz-vibist and founder of Steps Ahead, Mike Mainieri, who had been his hero since he first heard Steps Ahead. Mainieri had made a huge impact on Carsten with his melodic, sophisticated and dynamic expression of music. Not unexpected, he also was a great personality.

Back in Denmark Carsten started playing at different Jazz clubs, receptions and weddings in Copenhagen. Here he met a lot of great musicians like Luther Thomas and Jens Melgaard who, among other things, taught him to be enthusiastic for the music and give himself 100 % no matter on stage or in the practice-room. The sudden death of Jens Melgaard drove Carsten to write music and so he started the Tribute project.

In 2011 the “Tribute” album was released, based on a tribute to people (living or dead) who had made a deep impact on Carstens life.
The filmic music is a mixture of: Jazz, Drum`n`bass, ambient soundscapes and Indian tabla beats based on a simple Nordic melody.
His music mentors and influences for this album counts: Sting, Erik Truffaz, Nils Petter Molvaer, Jan Garbarek, Jon Hassell, Eivind Aarset, Bugge Wesseltoft, John Coltrane, Bill Laswell and Jojo Mayer.

In December 2016 Carsten released “EP Ballads” on Itunes & Amazon, which is a compilation of different recordings with his Norwegian and Danish friends, focusing on the trompet.

In October 2017 he released his 3rd album “Indispiration” on the German label JazzNArts Records.
The music is best described as minimalistic Nordic Jazz mixed with Indian rhythmic compostions. It features 15 of his favourite musicians from 6 different countries as: Erik Truffaz (CH) John Beasley (US), Reggie Washington (US/BE) and Pete Judge/Jim Barr (UK).
The compositions are influenced by Esbjorn Svennson, Brad Mehldau, Steps Ahead, Jan Garbarek, Manu Katche, Bugge Wesseltoft, Trilok Gurtu, Arve Henriksen, Erik Truffaz a.o.
With the album “Indispiration” Carsten Lindholm wants to set focus on the importance of inner peace, which he finds is needed more than ever in the world today – as well as the importance of a cultural open mind between countries.

In 2017 Carsten also started the project Carsten Lindholm Trio that currently consists of Pianist Jan Gunnar Hoff (NO), Bass player Reggie Washington (US/BE) and Carsten Lindholm himself on drums.
Members of the band varies according to where the focus is, but in common is a collection of dedicated, dynamic, professional musicians, with a strong expression – and a mutual interest in jazz music. This carried by especially inspirers as Esbjorn Svensson, Brad Mehldau, Jan Garbarek, Lars Danielsson, Wolfgang Haffner and Erik Truffaz.
The trio is known for their unique ability to fuse Nordic Jazz with Indian rhythmics, based on Carsten Lindholms study of Konnakol. All played with a soulful bass, dynamic drums, a heartfelt strong expressive piano – and of course, with focus on the audience.


less

Composer(s)

Vince Mendoza

Vince Mendoza has been at the forefront of the Jazz and contemporary music scene as a composer, conductor and recording artist for the last 20 years. He has written scores of compositions and arrangements for big band, extended compositions for chamber and symphonic settings while his jazz composing credits read like a “who's who” of the best modern instrumentalists and singers in the world today. Mendoza is the Music Director and Chief conductor of the Netherlands Metropole Orchestra, the only full time symphonic Jazz orchestra in the world. He is frequently seen working with the Metropole Orchestra at concerts, festivals and recordings with the likes of Elvis Costello, Herbie Hancock, The Brecker Brothers, Vicente Amigo, Joe Lovano and Ivan...
more
Vince Mendoza has been at the forefront of the Jazz and contemporary music scene as a composer, conductor and recording artist for the last 20 years. He has written scores of compositions and arrangements for big band, extended compositions for chamber and symphonic settings while his jazz composing credits read like a “who's who” of the best modern instrumentalists and singers in the world today. Mendoza is the Music Director and Chief conductor of the Netherlands Metropole Orchestra, the only full time symphonic Jazz orchestra in the world. He is frequently seen working with the Metropole Orchestra at concerts, festivals and recordings with the likes of Elvis Costello, Herbie Hancock, The Brecker Brothers, Vicente Amigo, Joe Lovano and Ivan Lins and with repertoire of composers as diverse as Bernstein, Stravinsky, Ellington, Josef Zawinul and Ennio Morricone. In addition, he appears frequently as a guest conductor with orchestras throughout Europe, the U.S., Japan, Scandinavia, and the U.K. He conducted the premiere of Mark Anthony Turnage’s “A Man Descending” with the Scottsh Chamber Orchestra. Mendoza’s performance of the music of Brazilian guitarist Guinga with the Los Angeles Philharmonic was part of a U.S. national broadcast. His early solo albums on Blue Note Records, 'Start Here' and 'Instructions Inside', were critical triumphs that featured such artists as John Scofield, Joe Lovano, Ralph Towner, Bob Mintzer, Randy Brecker, Peter Erskine and others. 'Start Here' was voted one of Jazziz Magazine's 'Top Picks' and Mendoza was recognized as 'Best Composer/Arranger' by Swing Journal's critics poll in Japan. His 6th solo CD, "Epiphany" features his compositions played by the London Symphony Orchestra. Mendoza's arranging has appeared on many critically acclaimed projects that include dozens of albums with song writing legends such as Björk, Chaka Khan, Al Jarreau, Bobby McFerrin and Joni Mitchell. He has 4 Grammy awards and 16 nominations. He was the orchestral voice behind the score to Lars van Trier's "Dancer in the Dark" featuring Björk, as well as the orchestrations on her CD titled "Vespertine", and the orchestral CDs of Joni Mitchell, “Both Sides Now” and “Travelogue”. Mendoza has also written commissioned compositions and arrangements for the Turtle Island String Quartet, the Debussy Trio, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, the Metropole Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic, West Deutsche Rundfunk and the BBC. His music was featured at the Berlin Jazz Festival . He has performed major works at the Montreux and North Sea Jazz Festivals. His new CD of chamber music Blauklang (ACT 9465-2) will be released by ACT music in fall 2008. Blauklang is the final part of an ACT trilogy in collaboration with Vince Mendoza and the WDR that began in 1992 with the Grammy-nominated Jazzpaña (ACT’s very first production, ACT 9212-2) and continued with Sketches (ACT 9215-2).
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Jasper Somsen (double bass)

Dutch double bassist, composer and producer Jasper Somsen (1973) graduated in both Jazz and Classical double bass. He is an open minded versatile musician. Best known as a Jazz musician his field of interest and expertise also includes cross overs to classical, pop, world and film music and theater productions. Jasper has collaborated with some of the very best musicians on the international jazz scene including Peter Erskine, Enrico Pieranunzi, Joey Calderazzo, Jeff Ballard, John Beasley, Jean-Michel Pilc, Eric Marienthal, Bob Sheppard, Seamus Blake, Jorge Rossy, Kendrick Scott, Justin Faulkner, André Ceccarelli, Gary Husband, Gabriele Mirabassi and Paolo Fresu. Besides a performer and composer, Jasper Somsen is a Challenge Records artist and a renowned studio producer. Jasper performs world wide and can be...
more

Dutch double bassist, composer and producer Jasper Somsen (1973) graduated in both Jazz and Classical double bass. He is an open minded versatile musician. Best known as a Jazz musician his field of interest and expertise also includes cross overs to classical, pop, world and film music and theater productions.

Jasper has collaborated with some of the very best musicians on the international jazz scene including Peter Erskine, Enrico Pieranunzi, Joey Calderazzo, Jeff Ballard, John Beasley, Jean-Michel Pilc, Eric Marienthal, Bob Sheppard, Seamus Blake, Jorge Rossy, Kendrick Scott, Justin Faulkner, André Ceccarelli, Gary Husband, Gabriele Mirabassi and Paolo Fresu.

Besides a performer and composer, Jasper Somsen is a Challenge Records artist and a renowned studio producer. Jasper performs world wide and can be heard on more than 45 albums, video and film music scores. Outside a busy playing and studio producing schedule he is an educator at the ArtEZ University of the Arts, Arnhem (NL) and the general director of the foundation Cultural City of Wageningen, in his hometown.


less

Jan Gunnar Hoff (piano)

Jan Gunnar Hoff was born in Bodø in 1958 and began classical piano lessons at age ten. He studied in the jazz programme at Trondheim Conservatory of Music and later was a student of composition at the Norwegian Academy of Music. Since 1979 he has been a freelance musician, performing with international musical celebrities such as Alex Acuña, Mike Stern, Pat Metheny, Maria João and Marilyn Mazur. In 2014 he received the prestigious Buddy Prize, the highest distinction in Norwegian jazz, and the same year he was appointed an official Steinway & Sons Artist. He has performed in Los Angeles, New York, London, Zagreb, Milan, Stockholm, Moscow, Havana, Lima and Istanbul and has toured in Scandinavia, Japan and Eastern Europe....
more
Jan Gunnar Hoff was born in Bodø in 1958 and began classical piano lessons at age ten. He studied in the jazz programme at Trondheim Conservatory of Music and later was a student of composition at the Norwegian Academy of Music. Since 1979 he has been a freelance musician, performing with international musical celebrities such as Alex Acuña, Mike Stern, Pat Metheny, Maria João and Marilyn Mazur. In 2014 he received the prestigious Buddy Prize, the highest distinction in Norwegian jazz, and the same year he was appointed an official Steinway & Sons Artist. He has performed in Los Angeles, New York, London, Zagreb, Milan, Stockholm, Moscow, Havana, Lima and Istanbul and has toured in Scandinavia, Japan and Eastern Europe. Hoff has released a number of critically acclaimed solo albums and has written over 250 works, among them, a commissioned work for the Vossa Jazz Festival and the choral composition Meditatus (2004), which received the Edvard Prize awarded by the Norwegian copyright organization TONO. He was arranger and artistic director for the Grammy-nominated album Quiet Winter Night (2L/Universal 2012). Among recent releases are Barxeta (Losen Records) with Acuña/Hoff/Mathisen, two solo piano albums on the 2L label, as well as Fly North (Losen), which was nominated in 2014 for Spellemannprisen, Norway’s Grammy. Jan Gunnar Hoff is professor at the Arctic University of Norway (UiT) and the University of Agder.

less

Carsten Lindholm (drums)

Carsten Lindholm is a Danish drummer, composer and producer born in the small town of Kerteminde on the island Fünen. He moved to Copenhagen in 1990 and began studying at the music concervatory D.A.R.K. He later took private lessons with Jazzlegend Ed Thigpen, Aage Tanggaard at the Rhythmic Conservatory, professor at the Royal Classic Conservatory Bent Lylloff, New Orleans drummer Jeff Boudreaux and a lot of other danish fusion drummers. In 1990 he contacted drummer Peter Erskine in order to take private lessons. However, at that time it was difficult for them to match schedules, so he actually never got to study with him. But Carsten got a supportive motivating mentor and penpal instead, who he has met during concerts and studio work  in New York, Monterey and Copenhagen. In 1996...
more

Carsten Lindholm is a Danish drummer, composer and producer born in the small town of Kerteminde on the island Fünen.

He moved to Copenhagen in 1990 and began studying at the music concervatory D.A.R.K. He later took private lessons with Jazzlegend Ed Thigpen, Aage Tanggaard at the Rhythmic Conservatory, professor at the Royal Classic Conservatory Bent Lylloff, New Orleans drummer Jeff Boudreaux and a lot of other danish fusion drummers.

In 1990 he contacted drummer Peter Erskine in order to take private lessons. However, at that time it was difficult for them to match schedules, so he actually never got to study with him. But Carsten got a supportive motivating mentor and penpal instead, who he has met during concerts and studio work in New York, Monterey and Copenhagen.

In 1996 Carsten went to Vallekilde, a Danish Jazz summercamp, where he met finish drummer Jukkis Uotila, Swedish bassplayer Lars Danielsson and Norwegian trumpeter Nils Petter Molvaer – strong personalites, who became great mentors and inspired him to change his musical direction and go into Nordic Jazz music.

In 1998 he went to New York for 3 months to check out the musical level of the town and to study the South Indian rhythm-language Konnakol. Carsten also travelled to meet Jazz-vibist and founder of Steps Ahead, Mike Mainieri, who had been his hero since he first heard Steps Ahead. Mainieri had made a huge impact on Carsten with his melodic, sophisticated and dynamic expression of music. Not unexpected, he also was a great personality.

Back in Denmark Carsten started playing at different Jazz clubs, receptions and weddings in Copenhagen. Here he met a lot of great musicians like Luther Thomas and Jens Melgaard who, among other things, taught him to be enthusiastic for the music and give himself 100 % no matter on stage or in the practice-room. The sudden death of Jens Melgaard drove Carsten to write music and so he started the Tribute project.

In 2011 the “Tribute” album was released, based on a tribute to people (living or dead) who had made a deep impact on Carstens life.
The filmic music is a mixture of: Jazz, Drum`n`bass, ambient soundscapes and Indian tabla beats based on a simple Nordic melody.
His music mentors and influences for this album counts: Sting, Erik Truffaz, Nils Petter Molvaer, Jan Garbarek, Jon Hassell, Eivind Aarset, Bugge Wesseltoft, John Coltrane, Bill Laswell and Jojo Mayer.

In December 2016 Carsten released “EP Ballads” on Itunes & Amazon, which is a compilation of different recordings with his Norwegian and Danish friends, focusing on the trompet.

In October 2017 he released his 3rd album “Indispiration” on the German label JazzNArts Records.
The music is best described as minimalistic Nordic Jazz mixed with Indian rhythmic compostions. It features 15 of his favourite musicians from 6 different countries as: Erik Truffaz (CH) John Beasley (US), Reggie Washington (US/BE) and Pete Judge/Jim Barr (UK).
The compositions are influenced by Esbjorn Svennson, Brad Mehldau, Steps Ahead, Jan Garbarek, Manu Katche, Bugge Wesseltoft, Trilok Gurtu, Arve Henriksen, Erik Truffaz a.o.
With the album “Indispiration” Carsten Lindholm wants to set focus on the importance of inner peace, which he finds is needed more than ever in the world today – as well as the importance of a cultural open mind between countries.

In 2017 Carsten also started the project Carsten Lindholm Trio that currently consists of Pianist Jan Gunnar Hoff (NO), Bass player Reggie Washington (US/BE) and Carsten Lindholm himself on drums.
Members of the band varies according to where the focus is, but in common is a collection of dedicated, dynamic, professional musicians, with a strong expression – and a mutual interest in jazz music. This carried by especially inspirers as Esbjorn Svensson, Brad Mehldau, Jan Garbarek, Lars Danielsson, Wolfgang Haffner and Erik Truffaz.
The trio is known for their unique ability to fuse Nordic Jazz with Indian rhythmics, based on Carsten Lindholms study of Konnakol. All played with a soulful bass, dynamic drums, a heartfelt strong expressive piano – and of course, with focus on the audience.


less

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