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Brad Turner

"It's That Time" is the Brad Turner Quartet's first release on Cellar Live Records; although Brad has performed as a sideman on many of the releases on this label, this is his first as a leader. A live recording, this record captures the quartet at it's best - having played together for eighteen years now, the group has developed a level of musical empathy rarely heard in modern mainstream jazz today.

Brad Turner's phenomenal talents as a trumpeter, pianist, drummer and composer make him one of Canada§s most-in- demand musicians. Brad has performed and/or recorded with such artists as Joe Lovano, Kenny Wheeler, Michael Moore, Reneé Rosnes, Achim Kaufmann, John Scofield, Ingrid Jensen, Dylan van der Schyff, Mike Murley, Mark Helias, Charles McPherson and Gary Bartz. Brad's groups have opened for McCoy Tyner, Roy Haynes, Wayne Shorter, Clarke Terry and Diana Krall.

As a Leader or through his work with Canadian jazz super- group Metalwood, Brad's impressive list of creative and artistic awards include: Three Juno Awards Downbeat Electric Group of the Year Award Winner of Jazz Report magazine’s Trumpeter of the Year Two time winner of Jazz Reports Composer of the Year Multiple Western Canadian Music Award Winner CMW Indie Award Winner Two time Composer of the Year Award winner at the National Jazz Awards In addition to being named Musician of The Year, Brad received an unprecedented 6 nominations at the 2005 National Jazz Awards including: Acoustic Group of the Year Album of the Year: Question The Answer Instrumentalist of the Year Keyboardist of the Year Trumpeter of the Year

William Carn's Choices: The Unburdening

Read "The Unburdening" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
August 7, 2025

The Covid pandemic allowed Canadian trombonist William Carn to push toward electronics, to move in the direction of going remote with his fellow players for the process of putting a set of sounds together. His debut album, 2023's self-produced Choices (review here) started the process. He doubles down (a much-heard phrase in the 2020s, thanks to a certain politician) on the do-it- at-home mode for his second recording, The Unburdening. The previously mentioned politician's 'double down' means doing something cruel ...

Album Review

Brad Turner: Trio Plus One It's All So

Read "Trio Plus One It's All So" reviewed by Pierre Giroux

by Pierre Giroux
June 25, 2025

Brad Turner has long been celebrated as one of Canada's most versatile and expressive artists, whether delivering shimmering lines on the trumpet, crafting emotionally resonant compositions, or, as he does on Trio Plus One, It's All So, showcasing his refined pianistic voice. The album features nine tracks--eight of which are Turner originals-- affirming his stature not only as an instrumentalist but also as a composer of rare intuition and breadth. Joining Turner are long- time collaborators Darren Radtke on bass ...

Album Review

Tom Keenlyside: Third Street Wobble

Read "Third Street Wobble" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
March 19, 2025

Tom Keenlyside, a saxophonist from Vancouver, British Columbia, who has performed in his native Canada and around the world with a who's who of jazz and pop musicians, leads an impressive quintet on Third Street Wobble, his seventh recording as a leader or member of various groups, on many of which his flute has been in the foreground. Keenlyside stays with the tenor saxophone here, sharing front-line duties with trumpeter Brad Turner in a group whose other able ...

Album Review

Neil Swainson Sextet: Here for a While

Read "Here for a While" reviewed by Pierre Giroux

by Pierre Giroux
September 9, 2024

Neil Swainson's Here For A While is a tutorial in modern jazz composition and ensemble synergy. Swainson, a bassist of profound depth and melodic sensibility, has gathered a formidable sextet for this project, including Brad Turner on trumpet and flugelhorn, Kelly Jefferson on tenor andsoprano saxophones, Steve Davis on trombone, Renee Rosnes on piano and Quincy Davis on drums. Together, they bring to life nine compositions that are as intricate as they are engaging, each a testament to Swainson's skill ...

Album Review

Atley King: Unconditional

Read "Unconditional" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
February 9, 2024

Unconditional is the debut recording as leader by Atley King who is described in a press release as “Canada's leading young jazz vibraphonist." While that portrayal may or may not be true--not to mention gratuitous--King is very good, as are the members of his admirable quintet. Besides playing splendidly, King wrote the first eight of the album's nine selections, closing with John Coltrane's soulful “Naima." His compositions are fine, albeit more or less generic--that is to say, ...

Album Review

Cory Weeds: Home Cookin'

Read "Home Cookin'" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
January 17, 2024

On Home Cookin', his second recording with an eleven-piece “little big band," tenor saxophonist Cory Weeds is doing the best he can. Really. As Weeds writes in the liner notes, the plan was to rehearse the band for two nights at Frankie's Jazz Club in Vancouver, Canada, home to Weeds and most of the band's personnel, then to convene at the Warehouse Studio on Sunday to record. Arriving at the club on Friday evening, Weeds found to his dismay that ...

Album Review

Cory Weeds: Home Cookin'

Read "Home Cookin'" reviewed by Pierre Giroux

by Pierre Giroux
November 26, 2023

Cory Weeds, a prominent figure in the contemporary jazz scene, has made a remarkable statement with his Little Big Band's latest album Home Cookin'. The session showcases a vibrant collection of compositions/arrangements carefully curated to resonate with his personal journey, including those by Horace Silver, Thad Jones and Oliver Nelson, which are essential to him for a variety of reasons. The band comprises ten of his favorite world-class Vancouver, BC-based musicians. These previously mentioned influential tracks ...

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Award / Grant

Brad Turner Quartet Nominated for Traditional Jazz Album of the Year at 2009 Juno Awards!

Source: All About Jazz
February 11, 2009

Vancouver, BC – CARAS and the Juno Awards have released its list of nominees and we are proud to announce that Vancouver's Brad Turner Quartet together with their latest release Small Wonder has received a nomination for Traditional Jazz Album of the Year! Juno award winning Brad Turner is one of Canada’s most prominent, prolific and in-demand jazz artists and musician. DownBeat Magazine recently named Brad “one of the top trumpeters in Jazz today". Based in Vancouver, Brad is known ...
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Award / Grant

Brad Turner Wins Trumpeter and Producer of the Year Honours

Source: All About Jazz
April 9, 2008

Brad Turner wins Trumpeter and Producer of the Year honours at 2008 National Jazz Awards Wednesday, April 9, 2008 (Vancouver, BC)- The finest in Canadian jazz were honoured at the 2008 National Jazz Awards gala in Toronto Tuesday night. Celebrating its seventh anniversary the NJA's handed out awards in a total of 22 categories and we are pleased to announce that award winning Brad Turner one of Canada's most prominent, prolific and in-demand jazz artists received top honours in the ...
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Award / Grant

The Brad Turner Quartet Nominated for Favourite Jazz Artist/Group or Duo of the Year!

Source: All About Jazz
February 27, 2008

Tuesday, February 28, 2008 (Vancouver, BC) - The 2008 Independent Music Awards (aka. The Indies) have released its list of nominees and we are proud to announce that the Brad Turner Quartet has received a nomination in the Favourite Jazz Artist/Group or Duo of the Year category. Juno award winning Brad Turner is one of Canada's most prominent, prolific and in-demand jazz artists and musician. Based in Vancouver, Brad is known mainly for his trumpet playing, but is proficient on ...
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Award / Grant

Brad Turner Receives Three Nominations at the 2008 National Jazz Awards

Source: All About Jazz
February 8, 2008

Brad Turner receives three nominations at the 2008 National Jazz Awards! Thursday, February 8, 2008 (Vancouver, BC) - The National Jazz awards have released its list of nominees and we are proud to announce that our very own Brad Turner has received nominations in the following three categories; Trumpeter of The Year, Instrumentalist of The Year (all instruments) and Producer of the Year. Juno award winning Brad Turner is one of Canada's most prominent, prolific and in-demand jazz artists and ...
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Radio

"Small Wonder" by the Brad Turner Quartet is the #1 Record at Jazz Radio in Canada!

Source: All About Jazz
January 2, 2008

It's hard to pick a highlight on this record. It touches so many aspects of what makes a great jazz record. This is a must have. You will not be disappointed!

Vancouver, B.C., Wednesday, January 02, 2008 : Maximum Jazz is proud to announce the new release “Small Wonder" by the Brad Turner Quartet is currently the number one recording at jazz radio across the country. Released in-stores across Canada on October 30, 2007 via the Maximum Jazz label and ...
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Recording

Brad Turner Quartet Releases Brand New Studio Album

Source: All About Jazz
October 17, 2007

On October 30th Maximum Jazz together with EMI Music Canada are proud to release Small Wonder by the Brad Turner Quartet.

Small Wonder, the quartet's fifth release and first in over three years is a return to the recording studio environment; where past recordings may have reflected the more improvisational group concept that the quartet has become known for, Small Wonderrevisits the structured realm of specifically composed pieces by Brad with each band member in mind.

Brad states “that playing ...
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Polished lines roll out of his horn with apparently effortless ease.

I don’t think Brad Turner’s Quartet has put out a bad album. I’m sure if you asked Brad he would cringe at a few things about his earlier recordings like any musician who listens to their early stuff. There will be absolutely no cringing by anybody now or ever about his latest release on Maximum Jazz, Small Wonder.

Anchored by Dylan van der Schyff’s propulsive and creative drumming, Andre Lachance’s ultra creative and sensitive bass lines, Bruno Hubert’s quirky and completely unique piano stylings and of course the leader’s incredibly melodic and complex trumpet playing. Small Wonder is as complete as album as you will hear. Great sound, great playing, great compositions and great design!

Polished lines roll out of his horn with apparently effortless ease.

On a number of occasions I have heard Brad Turner compositions before and been so taken with them asked him for a lead sheet only to look at realize it will take a miracle for me to actually negotiate the changes. In other words his tunes are a lot harder than they sound. This is a compliment to the seasoned composer. I can often remember the melodies and find myself humming them or parts of them throughout the day after listening to the record but to actually sit down and analyze what's going on and how to play over the changes is a whole other ball game.

The four guys seem to interpret all of the tunes with a great amount of ease and comfort. Evidence that this band is very comfortable with one another and so they should be. It’s the quartet’s fifth release and except for the first one Long Story Short where the late Chris Nelson occupies the bass chair the band has remained virtually the same. Kudos go out to Brad Turner for managing to keep things happening with this band. There isn’t exactly a lot of playing opportunities in the city but somehow BT continues to find the inspiration to write, rehearse and lucky for us, record the band.

Whether its playing drums in Bruno Hubert’s Trio, piano in his own trio, trumpet in Bill Coon’s Double Quartet or trumpet in his own quintet Turner always seems to ‘bring it.’ It is however very clear in talking with Brad and also listening that The Brad Turner Quartet is his number one priority and apple of his eye.

Its hard to pick a highlight on this record. It touches so many aspects of what makes a great jazz record. I love the opening track Scuffle, the openness and freeness of the bass / trumpet intro in 70 Mile is beautiful and I love the way it goes into the opening groove. Punchy is exactly as the title sounds and is a bit of a feature for van der Schyff who’s drumming sounds like a complete orchestra. There is absolutely nothing missing in his drumming which is wonderful.

It's nice to see Maximum Jazz living up to its name and actually releasing a few jazz records. This is a must have. You will not be disappointed! (Cory Weeds, CoryWeeds.ca)

Question The Answer is another milestone in a career which, while still only in its early stages, already demonstrates a clear conception and mature vision that makes one wonder where Turner will be in ten years’ time. - All About Jazz.com

His horn work (was) inspired by its willful aversion to the familiar licks and lines that have defined modern jazz trumpet...demonstrating instead a mind of his own and his flightly melodies and solid rhythmic grounding. - Globe and MailOne of Canada’s most vibrant Jazz players. • Vancouver Sun

He’s one of those musicians who can make his presence felt within the sound of a few notes. - Globe and Mail

There and Back has incredibly accomplished effervescent sound... the chemistry is reminiscent of the great Miles Davis ‘60’s bands. - Edmonton Journal

He’s kind of Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock and Keith Jarrett all rolled into one. - Globe and Mail

A beautiful musician. - Joe Lovano

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