With more than a decade of performing experience since moving to New York City, Dan Loomis has emerged as a daring leader, a sought-after sideman, and a composer whose view of the world – and willingness to explore his own inner questioning – has led to the creation of innovative and moving works.
Loomis has appeared on nearly a dozen recordings with the Dan Loomis Quartet and with bands he co- leads, including the collectives The Wee Trio and SPOKE. The latter two bands have released critically acclaimed albums in recent years, including SPOKE’s (R)anthems in 2014, and The Wee Trio’s Wee 3 in 2017.
In addition to his work on the bass, he’s no less skilled with a pen, having written several commissioned pieces, including a jazz oratorio based on the Book of Job and another based on the final days of Jesus, both commissioned by St. Peter’s Church in New York. He recently formed an ensemble called REVOLUTIONS that uses its music to explore the Haitian and Bolivarian uprisings, and to comment on the world’s continuing need for a revolution of spirit and action.
Loomis is also an in-demand sideman. He’s a regular member of Vadim Neselovskyi’s trio, which has played across Europe and at the Blue Note and Village Vanguard in NYC. A small sample of the no- table names with whom Loomis has performed includes TS Monk, Gary Burton, Wycliffe Gordon, Ernesto Cervini, Joel Frahm, Laurence Hobgood, and The Respect Sextet. He’s played in all of New York’s major clubs and at Jazz at Lincoln Center, in addition to appearing on stages across Europe, Canada, Australia, China and throughout the United States.
Last but not least, Loomis is a popular teacher and clinician, having spent more than a decade working with students across the United States, Canada and Australia.
Honors & Awards
UK Vibe, Best Albums of 2020, “Job’s Trials: A Jazz Song Cycle”, 2020
Juno Award (‘Canadian Grammy’), Best Group Album, Turboprop, “Abundance”, 2019
DOWNBEAT, Best albums of the Year, THE WEE TRIO, “Wee+3”, 2017