Mark Turner

Mark Turner

Mark Turner is an American jazz saxophonist from Fairborn, United States, born in 1965 and raised in Southern California. He works in jazz and post-bop, and is known for a personal tone, improvisational skill and a compositional approach that is challenging and inventive.

Career

Turner builds a career across more than two decades of jazz activity and appears on a wide range of recording projects. He is a leader with six albums to his name, including a release under his own name after a long gap. He also appears on recordings by pianist Stefano Bollani, guitarist Gilad Hekselman, pianist Baptiste Trotignon and the Billy Hart Quartet.

He has been a member of the Billy Hart Quartet for nearly a decade and records with the group on two earlier albums. He also continues to work with Fly, a trio with bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jeff Ballard. The verified membership list associated with his work also includes Mark Turner Quintet, Player 69, TRIP, Mark Turner Quartet, Diego Piñera Trio, Dreamtime, Benoit Delbecq 4 and Kris Defoort Quartet.

Background

Turner grows up in a household where R&B, jazz, soul and gospel are always present. He becomes interested in jazz and its history at an early age, alongside African-American culture. His father also plays saxophone, which forms part of his connection to the instrument.