Reader Spotlight: Jukka Haavisto

Jukka Haavisto

Meet bassist Jukka Haavisto, who hails from Finland and keeps a busy routine as a full-time bassist. Jukka is our player in the spotlight for the week of March 11, 2013.

Bio:

The bass bug bit Jukka Haavisto hard in his early year of elementary school upon hearing Geddy Lee of Rush, a local bass player Jussi Kosonen, and Jaco Pastorius. Jukka started playing bass at the age of 8 and has not put down the instrument since. As his musical tastes expanded quickly to jazz, fusion, R&B, rock and more. It became clear to him he needed to play bass.

Jukka has degrees from Conservatory and University of Applied Sciences. He now plans to work on a Masters Degree in Music Performance.

Location:

Helsinki/Finland

Day gig:

I’m full-time bass player, working as a freelancer and in several bands.

Years experience:

Over 20 years

Bands & Gigs:

The most important band – at this moment – is Bel Vel, where I’m a player and co-writer. With Bel Vel, we recorded our first album last december. The CD is coming out later this year.

I’m also part of three other bands, which will be as important as Bel Vel.

I play with many cover bands for money, and I’m looking for sessions too. I can proudly say that I’m first call bass player to many of my musician friends.

Gear:

  • Fender American Deluxe Jazz
  • 70’s Fender Fretless Jazz
  • 100 Top tube amp
  • Ampeg classic 4×10″ with some mods
  • Radial BassBone
  • T-Rex Squeezer
  • T-Rex Bassjuice
  • Aguilar Octamizer
  • Boss Chorus
  • EH Bassball

Why I play the bass:

I started with drums, but somehow I always wanted to play bass.

My bass superpower/claim to fame

I can find clues of music and play as little as needed, but I can also play a funky, jazzy groove with all those 16th notes, like Jaco. I can play my fretless bass in a way that you can’t tell it is a fretless.

My influences

Geddy Lee, Jaco Pastorius, Timo Hirvonen (Fin), James Jamerson, Ron Carter, Esperanza Spalding, Marcus Miller and many many more…

More on the web:

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Share your thoughts

  1. My debut album with Beat, Bass & Bone is out on 31th of May. You will find it in all digital shops like iTunes etc…
    Here is teaser
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgLzt_ouo3U

  2. My new site is live!