Bruce Turner
Encyclopedia
Bruce Turner was an English
saxophonist
, clarinet
ist, and bandleader
.
Born Malcolm Bruce Turner in Saltburn
, he learned to play the clarinet
as a schoolboy and began playing alto sax while serving in the Royal Air Force
during World War II
. He played with Freddy Randall
from 1948-53, and worked on the Queen Mary
in a dance band and in a quartet with Dill Jones
and Peter Ind
. He briefly studied under Lee Konitz
in New York City
in 1950.
His first period with Humphrey Lyttelton
ran from 1953 to 1957, but began inauspiciously. At a concert performed in Birmingham's Town Hall
, Lyttelton's more literal traditionalist fans displayed a banner instructing "Go Home Dirty Bopper!" After leaving Lyttelton he led his own Jump Band from 1957-65, which was featured in the 1961 film Living Jazz. Turner arranged the music for this film as well. On 16th and 17th February 1961, Turner and his band recorded the LP Jumpin' At The NFT (National Film Theatre) which was issued later that year, on Doug Dobell
's 77 Records
label, to coincide with the film's release. In January 1963, the British
music magazine, NME
reported that the biggest trad jazz event to be staged in Britain
had taken place at Alexandra Palace
. The event included George Melly
, Diz Disley
, Acker Bilk, Chris Barber
, Kenny Ball
, Ken Colyer
, Monty Sunshine
, Bob Wallis
, Alex Welsh
, Mick Mulligan
and Turner.
He returned to duty under Randall from 1964-66, and played with Don Byas
(1966) and Acker Bilk (1966-70). He continued to work with Lyttelton and Ind in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and played with the Jump Band intermittently; he also worked with Wally Fawkes
, John Chilton
, Stan Greig
(1975-76), Alex Welsh
, and Dave Green. He led his own small ensembles in the 1990s, up until his death in 1993 in Newport Pagnell
.
Turner's autobiography Hot Air, Cool Music, published by Quartet Books appeared in 1984. He also wrote a column on jazz for the Daily Worker
. Some of Turner's albums have been reissued by Lake Records.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
saxophonist
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
ist, and bandleader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
.
Born Malcolm Bruce Turner in Saltburn
Saltburn
Saltburn is a long linear coastal village, which is situated on the northern shore of the Cromarty Firth, in Ross-shire, Scottish Highlands, and is in the Scottish council area of Highland....
, he learned to play the clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
as a schoolboy and began playing alto sax while serving in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He played with Freddy Randall
Freddy Randall
Frederick James 'Freddy' Randall was an English jazz trumpeter and bandleader born in Clapton, East London.Randall led the St. Louis Four in 1939, and played as a freelance sideman in the early 1940s. He served in the military during World War II, then played with Freddy Mirfield in a group...
from 1948-53, and worked on the Queen Mary
RMS Queen Mary
RMS Queen Mary is a retired ocean liner that sailed primarily in the North Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967 for the Cunard Line...
in a dance band and in a quartet with Dill Jones
Dill Jones
Dillwyn Owen Paton Jones, or Dill Jones , was a Welsh jazz stride pianist.-Biography:Jones was born in Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthenshire, on 19 August 1923. He was brought up in New Quay on the Cardiganshire coast. Music was in the family as his mother was a pianist and his aunt played organ at the...
and Peter Ind
Peter Ind
Peter Ind is a British jazz double-bassist and record producer.Ind began playing professionally in the late 1940s, including being part of the 'house band' on the ship Queen Mary from 1949 to 1951. He relocated to New York City in 1951, where he played with Lennie Tristano, Lee Konitz , Buddy...
. He briefly studied under Lee Konitz
Lee Konitz
Lee Konitz is an American jazz composer and alto saxophonist born in Chicago, Illinois.Generally considered one of the driving forces of Cool Jazz, Konitz has also performed successfully in bebop and avant-garde settings...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1950.
His first period with Humphrey Lyttelton
Humphrey Lyttelton
Humphrey Richard Adeane Lyttelton , also known as Humph, was an English jazz musician and broadcaster, and chairman of the BBC radio comedy programme I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue...
ran from 1953 to 1957, but began inauspiciously. At a concert performed in Birmingham's Town Hall
Birmingham Town Hall
Birmingham Town Hall is a Grade I listed concert and meeting venue in Victoria Square, Birmingham, England. It was created as a home for the Birmingham Triennial Music Festival established in 1784, the purpose of which was to raise funds for the General Hospital, after St Philip's Church became...
, Lyttelton's more literal traditionalist fans displayed a banner instructing "Go Home Dirty Bopper!" After leaving Lyttelton he led his own Jump Band from 1957-65, which was featured in the 1961 film Living Jazz. Turner arranged the music for this film as well. On 16th and 17th February 1961, Turner and his band recorded the LP Jumpin' At The NFT (National Film Theatre) which was issued later that year, on Doug Dobell
Doug Dobell
Douglas "Doug" Dobell was a British record store proprietor and record producer, responsible for running Dobell's Record Shop in Charing Cross Road, London, and 77 Records...
's 77 Records
77 Records
77 Records was a British record label set up in 1957 by Doug Dobell, the proprietor of Dobell's Jazz Record Shop at 77 Charing Cross Road, London...
label, to coincide with the film's release. In January 1963, the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
music magazine, NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
reported that the biggest trad jazz event to be staged in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
had taken place at Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace
Alexandra Palace is a building in North London, England. It stands in Alexandra Park, in an area between Hornsey, Muswell Hill and Wood Green...
. The event included George Melly
George Melly
Alan George Heywood Melly was an English jazz and blues singer, critic, writer and lecturer. From 1965 to 1973 he was a film and television critic for The Observer and lectured on art history, with an emphasis on surrealism.-Early life and career:He was born in Liverpool and was educated at Stowe...
, Diz Disley
Diz Disley
Diz Disley was an Anglo-Canadian jazz guitarist and graphic designer. He is best known for his jazz guitar playing, strongly influenced by Django Reinhardt, and for his collaborations with the violinist Stéphane Grappelli....
, Acker Bilk, Chris Barber
Chris Barber
Donald Christopher 'Chris' Barber is best known as a jazz trombonist. As well as scoring a UK top twenty trad jazz hit he helped the careers of many musicians, notably the blues singer Ottilie Patterson, who was at one time his wife, and vocalist/banjoist Lonnie Donegan, whose appearances with...
, Kenny Ball
Kenny Ball
Kenny Ball is an English jazz musician, best known as the lead trumpet player in Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen.-Career:...
, Ken Colyer
Ken Colyer
Kenneth Colyer was a British jazz trumpeter and cornetist, devoted totally to New Orleans jazz. His band was also known for skiffle interludes.-Biography:...
, Monty Sunshine
Monty Sunshine
Monty Sunshine was an English jazz clarinetist, whose main claim to fame was his clarinet solo on the track "Petite Fleur", a million seller for the Chris Barber Jazz Band in 1959...
, Bob Wallis
Bob Wallis
Robert 'Bob' Wallis was a British jazz musician, who had a handful of chart success in the early 1960s, during the UK traditional jazz boom.-Biography:...
, Alex Welsh
Alex Welsh
Alex Welsh was a Scottish jazz musician, who played the cornet, trumpet and sang.-Biography:Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Welsh started playing in the teenage 'Leith Silver Band' and gigged with Archie Semple's 'Capital Jazz Band'. After moving to London in the early 1950s, Welsh formed his own band...
, Mick Mulligan
Mick Mulligan
Peter Sidney "Mick" Mulligan was an English jazz trumpeter and bandleader, best known for his presence on the trad jazz scene....
and Turner.
He returned to duty under Randall from 1964-66, and played with Don Byas
Don Byas
Carlos Wesley "Don" Byas was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, long-resident in Europe.- Oklahoma and Los Angeles :...
(1966) and Acker Bilk (1966-70). He continued to work with Lyttelton and Ind in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and played with the Jump Band intermittently; he also worked with Wally Fawkes
Wally Fawkes
Wally Fawkes Wally Fawkes Wally Fawkes (born 1924 in Vancouver, Canada (left in 1931 for England) is a British-Canadian jazz clarinetist and, until recently, a satirical cartoonist...
, John Chilton
John Chilton
John James Chilton is a British jazz trumpeter and writer. During the 1960s he also worked with pop bands, including The Swinging Blue Jeans and The Escorts....
, Stan Greig
Stan Greig
Stanley Mackay Greig is a Scottish pianist, drummer, and bandleader.Greig's father was a drummer and piano tuner. Greig played with Sandy Brown while still in high school in 1945, then played piano and drums with him from 1948 to 1954...
(1975-76), Alex Welsh
Alex Welsh
Alex Welsh was a Scottish jazz musician, who played the cornet, trumpet and sang.-Biography:Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Welsh started playing in the teenage 'Leith Silver Band' and gigged with Archie Semple's 'Capital Jazz Band'. After moving to London in the early 1950s, Welsh formed his own band...
, and Dave Green. He led his own small ensembles in the 1990s, up until his death in 1993 in Newport Pagnell
Newport Pagnell
Newport Pagnell is a town in the Borough of Milton Keynes , England. It is separated by the M1 motorway from Milton Keynes itself, though part of the same urban area...
.
Turner's autobiography Hot Air, Cool Music, published by Quartet Books appeared in 1984. He also wrote a column on jazz for the Daily Worker
Daily Worker
The Daily Worker was a newspaper published in New York City by the Communist Party USA, a formerly Comintern-affiliated organization. Publication began in 1924. While it generally reflected the prevailing views of the party, some attempts were made to make it appear that the paper reflected a...
. Some of Turner's albums have been reissued by Lake Records.
Discography as leader
- Accent on Swing
- The Dirty Bopper
- That's the Blues, Dad
- Juicy and Full Toned
- Jumpin' for Joy
- The Jump Band Collection
- Jumpin' At The NFT