Luques Curtis (b. 1983) is an internationally respected bassist, composer, and educator whose work spans the full spectrum of modern jazz and Afro-Caribbean traditions. A native of Hartford, Connecticut, Curtis began his musical training on piano and percussion before formally transitioning to the bass. He received foundational instruction at the Greater Hartford Academy of Performing Arts, the Artist Collective under Jackie McLean, and Guakia, studying with Dave Santoro, Volcan Orham, Nat Reeves, and Paul Brown. He also undertook specialized studies in Afro-Caribbean performance practice with Andy Gonzalez and Joe Santiago.
Curtis was awarded a full scholarship to the Berklee College of Music, where he studied with John Lockwood and Ron Mahdi. While in Boston, he performed with prominent artists including Gary Burton, Ralph Peterson, Donald Harrison, Christian Scott, and Francisco Mela, establishing himself early in his career as a versatile and sought-after bassist.
Currently based in the New York metropolitan area, Curtis maintains an active international performance schedule. His collaborations include extensive work with Eddie Palmieri, Stefon Harris, Ralph Peterson, Christian Scott, Sean Jones, Orrin Evans, Christian Sands, and many others. He is the recipient of the 2016 DownBeat Critics Poll Rising Star Bassist distinction as well as the Ralph Bunche Fellowship, which supported the completion of his M.A. at the Mason Gross School of the Arts.
Together with his brother Zaccai Curtis, he co-leads the Curtis Brothers, an ensemble that has released five critically regarded recordings, most recently Algorithm. In 2025, Curtis earned the Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Recording for Cubop Lives. His discography also includes contributions to Brian Lynch’s Grammy-winning Simpatico; the Grammy-nominated Madera Latino and Christian Scott’s Rewind That; and his production of Andy Gonzalez’s Grammy-nominated Entre Colegas.
Curtis has recorded on notable projects by Eddie Palmieri (Sabiduría, Mi Luz Mayor), Gary Burton (Next Generations), Dave Valentin (Come Fly With Me), Sean Jones (ImProVise, Roots, Kaleidoscope, The Search Within), and Orrin Evans (Faith in Action). With participation in over 100 commercial recordings, he is widely recognized as one of the leading bassists of his generation and a significant contributor to contemporary jazz and Latin jazz performance practice.