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Steve Turre

One of the world's preeminent jazz innovators, trombonist and seashellist Steve Turre, has consistently won both the Readers' and Critics' polls in JazzTimes, Downbeat, and Jazziz for Best Trombone and for Best Miscellaneous Instrumentalist (shells). Turre was born to Mexican-American parents and grew up in the San Francisco Bay area where he absorbed daily doses of mariachi, blues and jazz. While attending Sacramento State University, he joined the Escovedo Brothers salsa band, which began his career-long involvement with that genre.

In 1972 Steve Turre's career picked up momentum when Ray Charles hired him to go on tour. A year later Turre's mentor Woody Shaw brought him into Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. After his tenure with Blakey, Turre went on to work with a diverse list of musicians from the jazz, Latin, and pop worlds, including Dizzy Gillespie, McCoy Tyner, J.J. Johnson, Herbie Hancock, Lester Bowie, Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Van Morrison, Pharoah Sanders, Horace Silver, Max Roach, and Rahsaan Roland Kirk. The latter introduced hum to the seashell as an instrument. Soon after that, while touring in Mexico City with Woody Shaw, Turre's relatives informed him that his ancestors similarly played the shells. Since then, Turre has incorporated seashells into his diverse musical style.

In addition to performing as a member of the Saturday Night Live Band since 1984, Turre leads several different ensembles. Sanctified Shells utilizes the seashell in a larger context, transforming his horn section into a "shell choir". Turre's Spring 1999 Verve release, Lotus Flower, showcases his Sextet With Strings. The recording explores many great standards and original compositions arranged by Turre for a unique instrumentation of trombone and shells, violin, cello, piano, bass and drums. Turre's quartet and quintet provide a setting based in tradition and stretching the limits conceptually and stylistically. In the Summer of 2000, Telarc released In The Spur of the Moment. This recording features Steve with three different quartets, each with a different and distinct master pianist: Ray Charles, Chucho Valdes, and Stephen Scott.

Turre's self-titled Verve release pioneers a unique artistic vision, drawing upon jazz, Afro-Cuban, and Brazilian sources. This innovative recording also features Cassandra Wilson, Randy Brecker, Graciela, Mongo Santamaria and J.J. Johnson. Previously Turre recorded Right There and Rhythm Within, featuring Herbie Hancock, Jon Faddis, Pharoah Sanders, and Sanctified Shells, on Verve's subsidiary label, Antilles.

Steve Turre continually evolves as a musician and arranger. He has a strong command of all musical genres and when it comes to his distinct brand of jazz, he always keeps one foot in the past and one in the future.

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Album Review

Samuel Blaser: Routes

Read "Routes" reviewed by Chris May


The Jamaican trombonist Don Drummond (1934-1969), the inspiration for Routes, was in certain respects a mid-twentieth Jamaican parallel of the New Orleans cornetist Buddy Bolden (1877-1931). Bolden pioneered jazz in the US, Drummond in Jamaica. Both achieved mythic proportions during their lifetimes and both their legends endure. Both, tragically, spent their final years in what were then called insane asylums. One difference between the two musicians is that, while no recording of Bolden has survived, if indeed ...

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Album Review

Steve Turre: Generations

Read "Generations" reviewed by Dave Linn


Generations is a wonderful exploration of the bop and post-bop era. Steve Turre both looks back to his roots while encouraging the next generation of musicians to find their voice. It's a position he's eminently qualified for, considering the artists he has played with and his tenure as a long-time jazz educator. Trombone players have a unique place in the sound created in a small jazz band. Their parts helped blend and define any given melody. On this ...

Album Review

Elio Villafranca: Cinque

Read "Cinque" reviewed by Maurizio Zerbo


Questo doppio CD è dedicato alla memoria di Joseph Cinque, che nel 1839 capeggiò la rivolta degli schiavi africani imbarcati sulla nave Amistad con destinazione Cuba e le sue piantagioni di zucchero. È un progetto ambizioso sulla diaspora africana in cui la narrazione vocale delle vicende storiche ben si combina ad un sontuoso apparato musicale, articolato in una suite di cinque movimenti. A fare da trait d'union, l'ancestrale retroterra ritmico della regione congolese, su cui vengono di volta in volta ...

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New York @ Night

Steve Turre at SMOKE

Read "Steve Turre at SMOKE" reviewed by Peter Jurew


Steve Turre SMOKE New York, NY September 11, 2016 It's not an exaggeration to state up front that New York, jazz capital of the world, contains a virtually limitless variety of jazz music joys available to anyone on any given night, which can make choosing which gig to see, and where, no simple matter. For a few reasons, the third and final night of Steve Turre and an all-star ensemble at SMOKE ...

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Album Review

Steve Turre: Colors for the Masters

Read "Colors for the Masters" reviewed by C. Andrew Hovan


When it comes to the contemporary trombone artists, there are two schools of exploration. Steve Turre is an advocate of the more melodic school of which elder champions include Curtis Fuller and J.J. Johnson. The more ebullient and bop-inflected side of things has its greatest proponent in Conrad Herwig. No one method should be considered the right path or wrong path to wander down, however Turre is quite outspoken when it comes to opinions on his contemporaries. He is also ...

Album Review

Steve Turre: Spiritman

Read "Spiritman" reviewed by Luca Muchetti


Torna Steve Turre, il “suonatore di conchiglie," o -se preferite -il sideman di giganti come Ray Charles e Carlos Santana. Spiritman rappresenta un vero e proprio back to the roots, verso quella essenzialità swing che il trombonista sembrava aver messo da parte da tempo in favore di percorsi più concettuali e, in parte, segnati anche dall'utilizzo a effetto delle conchiglie come strumento musicale. Spiritman è un robusto album di jazz, ricchissimo di andamenti swing, che il musicista ...

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Album Review

Steve Turre: Spiritman

Read "Spiritman" reviewed by C. Andrew Hovan


There seems to be two schools among the current generation of jazz trombonists. On the one hand you have those who favor the lush and melodic voices of Frank Rosolino, Lawrence Brown, Carl Fontana, and those of a similar ilk. By contrast are the bop inflected approaches of J.J. Johnson and Curtis Fuller. Turre has gone on record that he doesn't much care for those in his peer group that eschew tone for speed and dexterity. As for Turre himself, ...

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Performance / Tour

World-renowned Smoke Presents Leading Pianists Vijay Iyer And Eric Reed, Album Release Concert By Trombonist Steve Turre, And More During The Month Of June

World-renowned Smoke Presents Leading Pianists Vijay Iyer And Eric Reed, Album Release Concert By Trombonist Steve Turre, And More During The Month Of June

Source: AMT Public Relations

Entering its second quarter century as committed as ever to pure jazz (All About Jazz),” SMOKE Jazz Club continues its 25th anniversary season with another month of today’s leading artists in jazz. June begins with a fan favorite and longtime friend of the club’s: trumpeter Nicholas Payton (May 29-June 2). Returning to SMOKE is MacArthur Genius Vijay Iyer leading his Trio for five nights (June 5-9). Master trombonist Steve Turre celebrates the SMOKE Sessions release of his exciting new album, ...

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Recording

Elio Villafranca's "Cinque" Features Wynton Marsalis, Lewis Nash, Vincent Herring, Steve Turre, Greg Tardy & Freddie Hendrix

Elio Villafranca's   "Cinque"  Features Wynton Marsalis, Lewis Nash, Vincent Herring, Steve Turre, Greg Tardy & Freddie Hendrix

Source: Scott Thompson Public Relations

Cinque is a five movement suite inspired by the story of Joseph Cinque, who in 1839 led a successful revolt aboard the slave ship La Amistad, days after being sold and transported to a sugar plantation in Cuba. Elio Villafranca's most ambitious project today, showcases the cultural diversity of the five Caribbean islands of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Haiti, The Dominican Republic, and Jamaica; while simultaneously highlighting the Congolese musical heritage woven into the fabric of each of these diverse nations, ...

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Festival

Steve Turre To Be Artist-in-Residence At Marshall University's 48th Winter Jazz Festival!

Steve Turre To Be Artist-in-Residence At Marshall University's 48th Winter Jazz Festival!

Source: Nu Jazz Publicity

Marshall University’s Jazz Studies Program, one of the premier Jazz education centers in the U.S. announced that legendary 29-time Downbeat Critic’s & Reader’s Poll award winner, Steve Turre will be the “Artist in Residence” at the 48th Winter Jazz Festival. The festival will take place February 16th-18th, 2017 on the Marshall University Campus in Huntington, WV. The 48th Winter Jazz Festival is one of two yearly jazz events and will feature performances from tri-state area middle school and high school ...

Performance / Tour

Cafe Stritch Presents: "A Rahsaan Roland Kirk Tribute Week”

Cafe Stritch Presents: "A Rahsaan Roland Kirk Tribute Week”

Source: NL Cutean

San Jose, CA: Cafe Stritch, formerly Eulipia Restaurant in San Jose, continues its heritage of presenting first-rate jazz by presenting a five-day tribute to the great Rahsaan Roland Kirk. In addition to three nights of performances by trombonist Steve Turre, the week’s activities include a number of diverse activities revolving around Rahsaan’s life and work. Betty Neals will be performing her legendary “Theme for the Eulipions" poem with Steve Turre's group. Kirk’s “Theme for the Eulipions" gave Eulipia its name ...

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Interview

Trombonist Steve Turre Regales With Tales of Shells and Bones

Trombonist Steve Turre Regales With Tales of Shells and Bones

Source: All About Jazz @ Spinner

To look at the résumé of Steve Turre is to see a list of jazz's leading figures of the past 40 years. The trombonist got his start with Rahsaan Roland Kirk in 1970. From there, he quickly moved on to a flurry of people (including Van Morrison) before landing a Ray Charles world tour in 1972. He then went on to Art Blakey, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, Woody Shaw, Chico Hamilton, Cedar Walton, Elvin Jones and, eventually, the 'Saturday Night ...

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Contest

Enter the HighNote "Steve Turre - Delicious and Delightful" Giveaway

Enter the HighNote "Steve Turre - Delicious and Delightful" Giveaway

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz members are invited to enter the HighNote “Steve Turre—Delicious and Delightful“ giveaway contest starting today. We'll select FIVE winners at the conclusion of the contest on October 28th.Click here to enter the contest (Following Steve Turre at AAJ automatically enters you in the contest.) Good luck! Your Friends at HighNote About Steve Turre and Delicious and Delightful Few can match Steve Turre's skill as a trombonist. His technical mastery, which has seen him win five Down Beat ...

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Recording

Steve Turre - Delicious and Delightful (2010)

Steve Turre - Delicious and Delightful (2010)

Source: Something Else!

By Mark Saleski Odd instruments in jazz: pedal steel guitar, theremin, the Samchillian (You'll have to trust me on this one. Its “formal" name is the “Samchillian Tip Tip Tip Cheeepeee." Don't believe me? Look it up), the harmonica, the human voice (if you're Shooby Taylor or Mike Patton), the saw blade. Some of these instruments are not “odd" so much as they are rare. If you look at the total number of jazz recordings out there, the percentage of ...

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Performance / Tour

Tribute to Ray Barretto at Creole Supper Club!

Tribute to Ray Barretto at Creole Supper Club!

Source: All About Jazz

Creole Restaurant and Music Supper Club 2167 Third Avenue (N.E. corner 118th St.), New York, New York 10035 - (212) 876-8838

 Presents
: LATIN JAZZ LEGACY SERIES 

AUGUST 2009 August 21st and 22nd at 8:00pm & 10:00pm
 TRIBUTE TO RAY BARRETTO
 Featuring the super-talented artists: Special Guest Steve Turre (trombone), Chembo Corniel (conga) Vince Cherico (drums), Boris Kozlov (bass), Peter Brainin (saxophones), John Di Martino (pianist, musical director) - Paying homage to the Grammy winning Latin jazz giant Ray Barretto - ...

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Interview

Trombonist Steve Turre Interviewed at AAJ

Trombonist Steve Turre Interviewed at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz

Few can match Steve Turré's skill as a trombonist. His technical mastery, which has seen him win five Down Beat polls, goes hand-in-hand with a deep respect for the music that has gone before him, and over the course of forty years he has honed his skills with some of the best. Since his formative experience as a teenager playing alongside the great saxophonist/flautist Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Turré has gone on to play with many artists including Ray Charles, B.B. ...

Nick Finzer
trombone

Photos

Concerts

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Routes

Enja
2023

buy

Generations

Smoke Sessions Records
2022

buy

Then & Now

Postcards
2022

buy

The New Young Lions...

Arkadia Records
2022

buy

Cinque

ArtistShare
2018

buy

Colors for the Masters

Smoke Sessions Records
2016

buy

Cinque + Narration 2 (Part 1)

From: Cinque
By Steve Turre

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