Jasper Van'T Hof - Pili Pili (Selected Works 1984 to 2002) (2025)

NuNorthern Soul has released a retrospective focusing on Pili Pili, the pioneering electro-acoustic Afro-fusion collective founded by Dutch pianist Jasper Van’t Hof in 1984. Van’t Hof, who began his career in the European jazz scene of the late 1960s, established Pili Pili to combine his love of jazz-fusion and the music of North-West Africa. The band became renowned for its unique cross-cultural sound and dynamic, partly improvised live performances. The collective featured percussionists and vocalists from Benin and Mali (including Angelique Kidjo) and adventurous jazz soloists, blending live and programmed percussion with electronic and acoustic instrumentation. The NuNorthern Soul retrospective, titled Selected Works 1984 - 2002, focuses on the group's most productive period, showcasing six tracks that demonstrate their sound's evolution from Afro-fusion-meets-electro-rock (‘Ile’, 1984) to synth-pop-infused pieces (‘Jakko Jakko’, 1987) and ultra-deep, melodious tracks (‘Soubatcha’, 2002). The vinyl version includes extended liner notes by music historian Matt Anniss, featuring quotes and memories from Jasper Van’t Hof.

Tracklist:
1-1 Jasper Van'T Hof - Ilé [7:18]
1-2 Jasper Van'T Hof - Jakko Jakko [6:33]
1-3 Jasper Van'T Hof - Life Size [4:31]
1-4 Jasper Van'T Hof - Hippo Hips [4:22]
1-5 Jasper Van'T Hof - My Gongoma [6:28]
1-6 Jasper Van'T Hof - Soubacha [5:00]