Jazz innovator Steve Turre, composer, arranger, trombonist, and conch shell player, has consistently won both the readers’ and critics’ polls in JazzTimes, Down Beat, and Jazziz for Best Trombone and for Best Miscellaneous Instrumentalist (shells). He grew up in the San Francisco Bay area where he absorbed daily doses of mariachi, blues and jazz. While attending Sacramento State University, he joined the Escovedo Brothers salsa band, which began his career-long involvement with that music genre. In 1972 his career gained momentum when Ray Charles hired him to go on tour. A year later, Mr. Turre’s mentor, Woody Shaw, brought him into Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. After his tenure with Blakey, Steve went on to work with a diverse list of jazz, Latin, and pop musicians, including: Dizzy Gillespie, McCoy Tyner, J.J. Johnson, Herbie Hancock, Lester Bowie, Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Van Morrison, Pharoah Sanders, Horace Silver, Max Roach, and Rahsaan Roland Kirk. The latter introduced hum to the seashell as an instrument. Since his tour through Mexico City with Woody Shaw, he has incorporated seashells into his diverse musical style. In addition he has been performing as a member of the Saturday Night Live Band since 1984,
Showtimes ~ 7:00pm | 9:00pm