Mark Turner

In a career that spans two decades and encompasses a broad array of musical ventures, saxophonist Mark Turner has emerged as a towering presence in the jazz community. With a distinctive, personal tone, singular improvisational skills and an innovative, challenging compositional approach, he’s earned a far-reaching reputation as one of jazz’s most original and influential musical forces.

A New York Times profile of Turner titled “The Best Jazz Player You’ve Never Heard” called him “possibly jazz’s premier player,” noting his reputation amongst his peers and his influential stature in the jazz world.

2013 finds Turner entering an exciting new creative phase, with his varied talents showcased on a variety of notable new recording projects. Later this year, he’ll release his sixth album as a leader—his first under his own name in a dozen years. He’s also featured on new or upcoming releases by pianist Stefano Bollani, guitarist Gilad Hekselman, pianist Baptiste Trotignon and the Billy Hart Quartet, of which Turner’s been a member for nearly a decade and with whom he recorded two previous albums. He’s also continuing his work as a member of Fly, a collaborative trio with bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard.

Those projects add to an already expansive body of work that encompasses Turner’s own widely acclaimed albums and an assortment of collaborations, along with his prolific work as an in-demand sideman. Turner’s diverse discography includes collaborations with many of jazz’s leading lights, including Kurt Rosenwinkel, Lee Konitz, James Moody, Dave Holland, Joshua Redman, Delfeayo Marsalis, Brad Mehldau, Reid Anderson, Omer Avital, Diego Barber, David Binney, Brian Blade, Seamus Blake, Chris Cheek, George Colligan, Gary Foster, Jon Gordon, Aaron Goldberg, Ethan Iverson, Jonny King, Ryan Kisor, Guillermo Klein, Matthias Lupri, OAM Trio, Mikkel Ploug, Enrico Rava, Jochen Rueckert, Jaleel Shaw, Edward Simon and the SF Jazz Collective.

Born in 1965 in Ohio and raised in Southern California, Turner grew up surrounded by music. “There was always a lot of R&B and jazz and soul and gospel going on in the house all the time,” he recalls. “This was in the early ’70s, when the whole integration and civil rights thing had begun to go mainstream, and my mother and stepfather were in the first wave of young black professionals and intellectuals who moved to upper-middle-class white neighborhoods. They and their friends were always going out to see live jazz. I was intrigued by that, and I was intrigued by the whole history of jazz music and African-American culture, as well as the music itself. And my father, who died when I was one and a half, had played saxophone, so maybe I was looking for a connection with him too.”

After starting out on clarinet in elementary school, Turner gravitated towards saxophone in high school, while also exploring his talent for the visual arts. Although he briefly studied design and illustration at Long Beach State University, his passion for jazz ultimately led him to pursue a career in music. Turner’s meticulous, analytical work ethic led him to study and dissect the work of such saxophone giants as John Coltrane, Joe Henderson, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins, Warne Marsh and Lester Young in the pursuit his own musical voice.

“I really got into it and worked really hard, just trying to figure out who I am,” he says, adding, “That’s how I am with everything. It took a while, and it was kind of an arduous struggle, but it allowed me to figure out what I wanted from music. Even when I was spending my time sounding like other people, I felt like that was part of my path to sounding like myself. The more you spend time with the form and the language, the more your own personality comes out.”

After graduating from Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of Music in 1990, Turner moved to New York, where his rapidly developing talents were quickly recognized. Between 1995 and 2001, he recorded five albums of his own—Yam Yam, Mark Turner, In This World, Ballad Session and Dharma Days—while keeping busy as a sought-after collaborator and sideman.

“It was around 1992 that I began to notice or feel that what I was doing was uniquely mine,” Turner asserts. “It had been two and a half years of struggle, but the summer of 1992 was the period where I was finally able to hear it. Maybe no one else would notice, but that’s where I could see how things were gonna go.”

Despite his growing reputation and influence, Turner intentionally pulled back from working as a leader after 2001′s Dharma Days, focusing much of his energy on parenthood while channeling his creativity into numerous collaborative projects.

“The last record I made was right when our first child was born, and that had a lot to do with me pulling back from being a leader for awhile,” Turner states, explaining, “Being a leader is so intense and you really have to put your whole self into it, and I just felt like I wanted to be there for my kids. When you’re a leader, you’re carrying a lot of weight and responsible for a lot of things that have nothing with music. Being a sideman, you basically just have to worry about being there and doing a good job. But my kids are 10 and 13 now, so it’s a little less demanding and I’ve got more room now to do more things that I feel strongly about.”

Of his forthcoming album, a quartet effort with Avishai Cohen on trumpet, Joe Martin on bass and Marcus Gilmore on drums, Turner notes, “I spent a lot of time on the compositions, which I usually do. The blowing is important, but I don’t think about that when I’m writing. I just write the tune, and then we see if we can improvise on it or not. Some of the new tunes are long and kind of involved, and some of them are kind of my version of being pyrotechnical. I just wanted to explore, and I wanted to be able to go in there with a band that would be flexible and have the craftsmanship and the foundation to play something difficult and still make it sound musical.”

Despite his long-awaited return to recording as a leader, Turner still values his collaborative work and has no plans to cut back on it.

“I would never want to solely be a leader, and if someone handed me the chance to do that, I’d say no,” he says. “I like to interpret other people’s music. I learn from doing that, and it’s a big part of what I’ve become as a musician. In the situations where I’m the leader and writing the music, it’s a combination of everything I’ve heard and everything I’ve done,. The way that I write and the way that I play and the bands that I bring together are all a representation of all of the musical situations that I’ve been in, and I’d never want to give that up.”

With an impressive musical history already under his belt and more on the way, Mark Turner is clearly on the verge of a creative renaissance. As The New York Times noted, “His best work is clearly still ahead of him.”
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Billy Hart: Just

by Jack Kenny
March 22, 2025

"Just" is an elegant album calculated to please. More than any earlier releases on ECM, it is Billy Hart's album, The quartet has been working together for over twenty years and has rightly morphed from a collective to the one steered by Hart. The drummer has supplied his sinewy rhythmic mastery to albums across the years with Herbie Hancock, Pharoah Sanders, Wayne Shorter, McCoy Tyner and Stan Getz. Here, Hart is both the strongest voice, the innovator and the driver ...

Radio & Podcasts

Mark Turner: He's Here, He's There, He's Everywhere!

by Ludovico Granvassu
March 18, 2025

Mark Turner is so busy as leader, co-leader and special guest on countless new albums, that he--literally--seems to be here, and there, and everywhere (pretty much like Ted Lasso's Roy Kent!). Here is a quick guide to enjoying his current ubiquitousness!Happy listening!Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Billy Hart Quartet “Just" Just (ECM) 0:16 Host talks 4:06 The Fury feat. Lage Lund, Mark Turner, Matt Brewer, Tyshawn Sorey “Ender's ...

Album Review

The Fury: Live in Brooklyn

Read "Live in Brooklyn" reviewed by Alberto Bazzurro

by Alberto Bazzurro
March 4, 2025

È quella del chitarrista Lage Lund la firma principale di questo album squisitamente corale (fin dal nome in ditta): tre dei sette brani complessivi sono infatti suoi, due di Mark Turner, uno del contrabbassista Matt Brewer, e in più c'è l'unico brano non dovuto a membri del gruppo, il primo, a firma del sassofonista Myron Walden. Il linguaggio che ne risulta è del tutto coeso, congruo, un linguaggio che definiremmo “medio" (che non significa mediocre, attenzione), non particolarmente ...

Album Review

Benjamin Lackner: Spindrift

Read "Spindrift" reviewed by Mario Calvitti

by Mario Calvitti
February 28, 2025

Il nuovo lavoro del pianista berlinese Benjamin Lackner, Spindrift, non si distacca molto dal precedente Last Decade, anch'esso pubblicato da ECM un paio di anni fa. La differenza principale è la presenza di una seconda voce strumentale, quella del sax tenore di Mark Turner, che si affianca alla tromba di Mathias Eick nell'esposizione e elaborazione dei temi lirici composti dal pianista (tutti ad eccezione di “Chambary" firmata dal batterista). Il sassofonista non è l'unico nome illustre che ha ...

Multiple Reviews

Mark Turner and Jason Palmer: Not Even The Sky Is The Limit

by Pat Youngspiel
February 13, 2025

The independent non-profit label Giant Step Arts continues to cultivate its narrow but highly selective roster of top-tier players with new live recordings by label-regulars Mark Turner and Jason Palmer. Each has been a part of the other's quartet for several years at this point, endowing their respective projects with the unifying contours of their idiosyncratically written-out horn parts and signature designs in improvisation. Here, Mark Turner is heard as the sole horn player in a newly formed quartet on ...

Album Review

Jason Palmer: The Cross Over: Live in Brooklyn

Read "The Cross Over: Live in Brooklyn" reviewed by Troy Dostert

by Troy Dostert
February 5, 2025

For a label that just got its start in 2018, it has quickly become evident that Giant Step Arts brings a potent, focused discipline to its documentation of some of the most distinctive jazz talents of our time. Rather than covering the field with as many different musicians as possible, the label's founder, Jimmy Katz, has chosen instead to cultivate close relationships with a relatively modest number--foremost of whom is trumpeter Jason Palmer, who has released three discs on the ...

Album Review

Benjamin Lackner: Spindrift

by Jack Kenny
January 8, 2025

Benjamin Lackner has a vision and his album is a coherent statement of his ideas: a radical statement of lyricism, gentleness, restraint and understatement. It was a long-time dream. For some time, Benjamin Lackner has had a wish to record with ECM. In an interview, he outlined his attempts to produce music that would impress ECM's Manfred Eicher. Benny Lackner became Benjamin. He experimented with different formats, eventually achieving his ambition with Last Decade (2022), his first album ...

Video / DVD

Mark Turner + Gary Foster

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
June 25, 2019

Seventy years ago, on March 4, 1949, cool jazz was recorded for the first time. Given a mandate to record whatever new jazz was important, Pete Rugolo, Capitol's head of A&R, brought the Lennie Tristano Sextet into the studio to tape two songs—Wow and Crosscurrent. The music by Lee Konitz (as), Warne Marsh (ts), Lennie Tristano (p), Billy Bauer (g), Arnold Fishkin (b) and Harold Granowsky (d) featured the reeds playing bone dry (with zero vibrato), high on the upper ...
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Event

Live recording and concert, May 23-24: Jason Palmer Qt. feat. Mark Turner, Joel Ross, Kendrick Scott, Edward Perez at NYC's InterContinental Barclay

Source: Ludovico Granvassu
May 19, 2019

A one-of-a-kind musical experience, combining the intimacy of a house concert with the luxurious ambience, comfort and breath-taking views of the Harold S. Vanderbilt Penthouse. Limited space available as this is a recording session that aims at providing the intimacy of a house concert, but with world-class musicians. Contact Astrid ([email protected]) to reserve your spot. Concert and live recording on May 23 and 24 debut an all-star quintet led by Jason Palmer featuring Mark Turner, with Joel Ross, Kendrick Scott, ...
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Book / Magazine

Saxophonist Mark Turner Profiled In International Arts Magazine

Source: Taylor Davis-Van Atta
October 17, 2017

The latest issue of Music & Literature showcases and explores the career of American saxophonist Mark Turner. Exclusive tributes and appreciations from over 20 of Turner’s musical collaborators and admirers, including Avishai Cohen, Kurt Rosenwinkel, María Kim Grand, Marcus Gilmore, Gilad Hekselman, Ethan Iverson, Billy Hart, Jorge Rossy, among many others, complement an extensive new retrospective interview with music critic Ben Ratliff. These pieces are accompanied by transcriptions and facsimiles of Turner’s musical notebooks, offering further insight into an artist ...
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Video / DVD

Ben Wendel - The Seasons Project: August with Mark Turner + NPR + Concerts + ACT II

Source: Jason Byrne, Red Cat Publicity
September 2, 2015

Dear Friends, Colleagues, Journalists, DJs & PDs, Ben Wendel is incredibly happy to announce the next installment of his video art project, The Seasons. Previous guests on The Seasons include Julian Lage, Shai Maestro, Matt Brewer, Joshua Redman and others. This month features a duet with the great saxophonist and composer, Mark Turner, “someone who has greatly influenced me and countless other musicians", commented Wendel. For those that know Mark's playing, this duet ended up being directly influenced by his ...
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130

Performance / Tour

Mark Turner and Tony Malaby Step in at Village Vanguard

Source: AAJ Staff
August 26, 2010

Joe Lovano, the tenor saxophonist, couldn't make it to the Village Vanguard this week. It was the beginning of an annual two-week stretch with the trio he's played in for 25 years, with the guitarist Bill Frisell and the drummer Paul Motian. But Mr. Lovano double-booked himself, so he had to be in Edinburgh, soloing with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra. Two tenors, Tony Malaby and Mark Turner, are filling his spot. Not alternating, but simultaneously. This isn't so much ...
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118

Recording

Buy One CD, Get the Other for Free Feat. Mark Turner, Dave Binney, Michel Godard, Luciano Biondini and Others

Source: Michael Ricci
May 10, 2010

SPECIAL OFFER!

Buy the CD SAMO SALAMON TRIO feat. MICHEL GODARD & ROBERTO DANI: Live! (Samo Records SSCD 04, 2009), which received amazing reviews:

“Samo Salamon has recorded live successfully before, on Ela's Dream (Splasch, 2005) and Kei's Secret (Splasch, 2006). Live! is another worthy addition to a significant body of work, one that can only enhance Salamon's reputation as a distinctive composer and original guitar stylist." ALLABOUTJAZZ (Jakob Baekgaard, December 2009)

“All in all, the disc is an exceptional ...
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270

Recording

New Samo Salamon Albums Featuring Mark Turner and Michel Godard

Source: Michael Ricci
December 13, 2009

The guitarist's Samo Salamon 2008 album Samo Salamon Quartet: Mamasaal feat. Mark Turner is finally available on Emusic and Amazon for downloading...it features a great band with MARK TURNER on tenor saxophone and MATT BREWER on bass: Link to eMusic

There are also samples available on the website of the guitarist - Samo Salamon Website, where you can also request the CD version.

A new album SAMO SALAMON TRIO: Live! featuring the best tuba player around Michel Godard and one ...
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139

Performance / Tour

Kurt Rosenwinkel Group with Mark Turner at Chris' Jazz Cafe on March 8 & 9, 2008

Source: All About Jazz
March 4, 2008

The Kurt Rosenwinkel Group will be performing at Chris' Jazz Cafe on March 8 & 9, 2008. Rosenwinkel's new CD is the two-disc release The Remedy: Live At The Village.

KURT ROSENWINKEL GROUP

Kurt Rosenwinkel - guitar Mark Turner - saxophone Aaron Parks - piano Ben Street - bass Obed Calvaire - drums

March 8 & 9, 2008 Sets @ 8 & 10 PM Chris' Jazz ...
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108

Performance / Tour

Kurt Rosenwinkel Group with Mark Turner at Chris' Jazz Cafe on March 8 & 9, 2008

Source: All About Jazz
February 27, 2008

The Kurt Rosenwinkel Group will be performing at Chris' Jazz Cafe on March 8 & 9, 2008. Rosenwinkel's new CD is the two-disc release The Remedy: Live At The Village.

KURT ROSENWINKEL GROUP

Kurt Rosenwinkel - guitar Mark Turner - saxophone Aaron Parks - piano Ben Street - bass Obed Calvaire - drums

March 8 & 9, 2008 Sets @ 8 & 10 PM
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174

Event