Luca Aquino was born on June 1st, 1974 (Gemini) in Benevento, an ancient town in Southern Italy. He took up trumpet at the age of 20, enchanted by the wide and warm sound of Miles Davis. Two years later, he left trumpet to start alto saxophone.
Just six months later, this time charmed by Chet Baker's sound (his second true love) and this way trumpet came back into his life for the second time. However, it again lasted only two years, as he decided to focus on his university studies getting a degree in Business.
At that time though, he realized to fully dedicate himself to music. In fact, he returned to trumpet and has played it ever since. Luca is fully self-tought. Other than his CD collection to listen to, he never had any teacher, apart from Paolo Fresu during his workshops in Benevento and Nuoro.
Luca's sound comes from rock music, he loves melodies and hates models and trivial virtuosities. In music and life, sound and silence are equally important for him. Electronic sounds never dominate his music and his approach to the genre is measured. Luca's timbre is unique, he always plays on Van Laar instruments, as they let him fully express himself in his music.
Luca’s first album as a soloist Sopra le nuvole produced by Universal Music came out in 2008. In the same year, he received the Massimo Urbani International Award for soloists. In 2009 he recorded Lunaria and received the Top Jazz Award for the best Italian Jazz musician.
Then came Amam, produced and published by Enrico Blumer, recorded in Skopie's ancient Turkish bath after a car journey of more than 1500 km undertaken by Luca with his trustful manager. In 2010 and in 2011 he recorded Icaro solo and Chiaro, with his Norwegian trio, produced by Paolo Fresu's Tùk Music.
The last release is The Skopje Connection meets Ernst Reijseger. Produced by Enrico Blumer and published by the Norwegian label Losen Records.
During the same period he took part in more than fifty recordings, ranging from jazz to hip hop, grunge to singer/songwriter music, metal to pop, recorded soundtracks. He also was the creator and director of music festivals, performed in many concerts, in many places.
Above all, Luca loves to play free, without impositions and constraints.
Enrico Blumer
