Mike Turk

In the 1990’s Turk performed and collaborated with great Boston players such as Gray Sargent and Marshall Wood (both presently with Tony Bennett) and had the great honor to play with Dave McKenna from time to time. Other somewhat unsung, top-notch Boston players include Jeff Stout, Dick Johnson, Jon Wheatley, Lou Columbo, Ray Santisi, Paul Schmelling, Paul Broadnax, John Lockwood, Bob Guilloti, the great jazz drummers Joe Hunt and also Alan Dawson…..many more great players not mentioned here!

In Recent years, Turk had the great pleasure of sharing the Scullers Jazz Club concert stage with jazz vocalist Rebecca Parris and her band consisting of Brad Hatfield, Peter Kontrimus and Jim Lattini.

Mike Turk’s American jazz influences played on the chromatic harmonica are exemplified throughout his recording career.

“Harmonica Salad” includes jazz tunes such as ” Lament” ( J.J. Johnson), “Half Nelson” (Miles Davis), “The Mooch” ( Ellington) ( see Anthology CD)

“ Turk’s Works” a total homage to Lester Young includes his arrangement of “Lover/ Diggin’ For Diz” ( D. Gillespie), “Three Little Words”, “Crazyology” ( Bud powell), “Peace” ( Horace Silver), “Prey Loot” ( Lucky Thompson).

“ The Nature Of Things” Cd title inspired from the recording by Bill Evans, also includes “I want To Live” ( comp Johnny Mandel from that same titled 1955 Hollywood movie), “Con Alma” ( D. Gillespie) and shows Turk returning back to his Blues Harp roots on “Pickle in The Bank”.

Turk’s foray into the history of Bossa Nova with  The Bossa 5 has a classic Bossa Nova band featuring the piano and arranging of Brazilian pianist Alfredo Cardim who came up through the original Bossa Nova scene in Rio de Janeiro & Ipanema. The similarities and influences of bebop and cool jazz on the composers of Bossa Nova tunes was often pointed out and explained by Toots Thielemans himself!

His CD release ( 2010) “ The Italian Job” is a collage of jazz tunes arranged for an Italian Jazz ensemble and recorded in Italy.

Mike pays tribute to Bill Evans in ” Pavane” (comp. Faure), Gerry Mulligan’s arrangement of with “Django’s Castle” (D. Reinhardt),  Chet Baker & George Shearing on “Conception”. Alessandro Fabbri, Mike’s Italian drummer, wrote 2 tunes on this album. Fabbri’s tunes are a seemingly European/American interpretation. However, once again, Turk settles back to the American ‘textbook’ with “Old Man River” ( J. Kern), “All My Tomorrows” ( Cahn/Van Heusen), “Funk In Deep freeze” ( H. mobley) and an anomalous vocal tribute back to Turk’s blues roots with his vocals and original composition “Maxwell Street” … the very street where Urban/Chicago Blues was born.

Turk’s  recent release “ Bluesin’ Around” is available on internet download only from CDbaby and Itunes. It is a retrospective compilation of Blues and Bluesy Jazz.

Turk reflects thoughtfully…” I’ve never had the life of a thriving, successful jazz musician, nor have I been chosen as anyone’s successor but…..damn,if it ain’t for lack of tryin’!”…

Awards

3 time recipient for NEA Jazz Fellowship Studies

Gear

"Renaissance" custom harmonica built by Douglas Tate & Bobbie Giordano of ILUS custom harmonicas

Lekholm DM 48 digital chromatic harmonica (midi contoller harmonica form)

Peavey PVM 45 mics and GK 200 vocal monitor amps