About me

A short introduction

Jaakko Luoma

bassoonist from Finland

(modern & historical bassoons)

Jaakko Luoma began playing bassoon in his hometown in Lohja at the age of 11 under the direction of Matti Tossavainen. Later he continued his studies first at the Sibelius Academy together with László Hara and Jussi Särkkä and then in the Paris Conservatory with Pascal Gallois. Intense self-study, keen interest in recorded music and several masterclasses have been invaluable elements in his growth as a musician.

Jaakko Luoma has been awarded at the Crusell competition in the composer’s hometown, Uusikaupunki, and he also received third prize in the ARD competition in Munich in 2002. He was awarded with Crusell society’s Crusell medal in 2001.

Jaakko Luoma became member of the Tapiola Sinfonietta already at the age of 20 in 1993. During the years 1996–98 he served as solo bassoonist of Orchestre de Paris. Between 2001 and 2003 he also served as solo bassoonist of Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin but decided to continue his activities in Finland. Today, he is the principal bassoonist of Tapiola Sinfonietta.

Jaakko Luoma has appeared as soloist all over Finland and in Europe. He is a regular guest in several chamber music festivals, including Kuhmo chamber music festival and CLASSIX festival in Kempten. He teaches bassoon playing at the Sibelius Academy. In addition, he is actively engaged in performing with period instruments in Ensemble Schrat, Finnish Baroque Orchestra, and in concerts of Espoo Baroque ensemble.

Jaakko Luoma’s discography includes works by Carl Maria von Weber for bassoon and orchestra with Tapiola Sinfonietta and conductor Jean-Jacques Kantorow, as well as concertos by Mozart, Hummel, Rossini and Winter with the Tapiola Sinfonietta and concertmaster Janne Nisonen.

Bio in English Suomenkielinen esittely

Photos by Antti Kangassalo:

Photo 1 Photo 2 Photo 3

Ensembles

My regular orchestras, groups and teaching activities

Recordings

My CD releases

Weber (BIS)

Weber

Bassoon Concerto, Andante e Rondo Ungarese, Symphonies 1 & 2

Jaakko Luoma, bassoon
Tapiola Sinfonietta
Jean-Jacques Kantorow, conductor

BIS-1620 SACD
Released in 2009
Listen in Spotify

Concertos (Ondine)

Mozart, Winter, Hummel, Rossini

Bassoon Concertos

Jaakko Luoma, bassoon
Tapiola Sinfonietta
Janne Nisonen, concertmaster

Ondine ODE 1324-2
Released in 2019
Listen in Spotify

Reviews

What's been written about me

American Record Guide, 11/2009:

"Jaakko Luoma is a fine bassoonist with impeccable technique and a solid tone. His performance is surely to be a point of comparison for future recordings of the work."

Fanfare, 11/2009:

"Luoma sails through both works with the greatest of ease, producing consistently lovely tones. Whatever happened to that grumpy old instrument that was so difficult to play?"

Pizzicato, 11/2009:

"Mit großem Genus hätte er ohne Zweifel auch den Darbietungen des Fagottisten Jaakko Luoma zugehört, der nicht nur eine stupende Fingerfertigkeit an den Tag legt, sondern vor allem sehr lustvoll spielt, gelegentlich den Schalk im Nacken."

Klassik Heute, 8/2009:

"Der Solofagottist Jaakko Luoma darf in dieser Hinsicht besonders glänzen."

SA-CD.net, 12/2009:

"The meat in the symphonic sandwich on this disc are the two concertante pieces for solo bassoon. Jaakko Luoma invests them with all his expressive artistry and affection, with the orchestra clearly enjoying their colourful and fresh-sounding accompaniments. Luoma's Heckel bassoon has a rich, creamy-smooth sound with smoky overtones, and his playing of even the most acrobatic roulades and huge leaps sounds effortless. I was particularly taken with the gorgeous Andante and Rondo Ungarese. Luoma's near-vocal production of the dancing theme (seductive and flirtatious) which forms the basis of variations in its first part, and the hugely comic Hungarian Dance (the bassoon's character blithely pompous), which concludes the piece linger in the memory. The F major Bassoon Concerto has more heft and classical style, and its slow movement is also a luxurious aria, in which Luoma again demonstrates his burnished legato and soulful cantabile to perfection."

MusicWeb International, 4/2010:

"The performances by Jaakko Luoma are finely honed in both works. His instrument paints a wide palette of colour, his phrasing is stylish."

YLE, Uudet levyt, Kare Eskola, 3/2019:

"Jaakko Luoma ajaa fagottia sydämellisesti ja varmoin ottein. Äänen kontrolli laajoissa hypyissä on erinomainen, ja vikkelät kuvioinnit esimerkiksi Winterin concertinon lopussa sujuvat kuin öljyttyinä. Konserttovalikoiman hitaiden osien laulullisuutta Luoma höystää pakahduttavalla ylärekisterin sentimentolla, ja pianissimot viettelevät kuin parhaiden laulajien ohenteet."

Gear

My instruments and other gear

Bassoons

Modern bassoon: W. Heckel (14000 series)
Baroque bassoon: Eichentopf bassoon by Leslie Ross
Classical bassoon: Grenser bassoon by Leslie Ross
French bassoon: Buffet Crampon (1964 & 2012 )

Electric bassoon gear

Microphones:
Nalbantov Electronics NCM 8X
PiezoBarrel Wood
Viga Music Tools IntraMic
Effect pedals:
Dunlop Cry Baby Bass Mini Wah
MXR Bass Envelope Filter
Electro-Harmonix Pitch Fork
Boss OC-3
Walrus Audio Luminary
Mad Professor Royal Blue Overdrive
Electro-Harmonix Superego Synth Engine
Electro-Harmonix Small Stone phaser
MXR Micro Chorus
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
MXR Carbon Copy Analog Delay
TC Electronic Flashback X4 delay
ZCAT Hold-Reverb
Digitech Polara reverb
KMA Machines Cirrus delay & reverb
Boss RC-1 looper
TC Electronic Ditto X4 looper

Get in touch


Email: jaakko@jaakkoluoma.fi

Phone/SMS: +358 40 501 6332