Richard Turner at the Grove Inn. © Guy Hatton

Richard Turner 1984 - 2011

We are sad to report the news that trumpeter Richard Turner died on Thursday 11 August as a result of a sudden seizure. Richard grew up in Leeds and as a teenager was a familiar face at jam sessions and gigs. Even at a young age it was obvious he was going to be an exceptional jazz musician. Richard left Leeds to study at the Royal Academy. Since then he has made a name for himself on the national and London scene.

London Jazz

From London Jazz: "Richard started the gig at the Con Cellar Bar in Camden and ran it for nearly four years, welcoming great musicians: Fly (Mark Turner, Jeff Ballard, Larry Grenadier), Donny McCaslan, Ingrid Jensen, Will Vinson, Joel Frahm, Julian Siegel, Phil Robson, Gwilym Simcock, Kit Downes, The Calum Gourlay- Freddy Gavita Big Band, Matt Penman....down those narrow stairs. He also led the band Round Trip, whose debut album Chris Parker reviewed for us. This is a tragic loss to those close to Richard, and deepest sympathies go to them. For the rest of us, Richard's contribution to the London music scene has been immense, can only be responded to with huge gratitude, and will be irreplaceable".

See original article: londonjazz.blogspot.com/.../rip-richard-turner

Jazzwise

Few lives summon the spirit of Robert Glasper’s song ‘Tribute’ better than that of London-based trumpeter Richard Turner, who died tragically of a seizure while swimming on Thursday 11 August aged 27. But like the song says, it’s not those birth and death dates that matter, but the dash in between, how you fill every unforgiving minute with life that matters. And Turner the trumpet man knew how to do that.

When we met just a few weeks ago, he’d talked with understandable excitement about his band Round Trip’s eponymous new album, about the “proper jazz story!” (his words) of Gary Husband plucking him from obscurity to play and record in his starry Drive, and the joy of playing in the Mike Gibbs band alongside former mentors from his student days at the Royal Academy. And of course, there was the Con Cellar bar weekly gig that he hosted and festivals that he’d kicked off and continued with such commitment over the years. Another river that ran through our conversation was the swimming that had so nearly been his life before he took the jazz path and would sadly come to be a final companion.

And yet with all that behind him, and with so much that should have come, it was others that filled his conversation: he’d rather talk of the musicians in his band, his mentors at Leeds and the Academy, fellow promoters, Loop, F-IRE, inspirations like Hubbard and Ornette, anyone but himself. He was a hard man to interview because he wanted to promote the stories of others. But that made him a good man to have on your side. Richard Turner will be much missed not only as one of the real talents of his generation, but for all he did to support jazz and bring it to a newer, younger generation.

Andy Robson

See original article: jazzwisemagazine.com/../farewell-richard-turner

2003 - A young Richard with Caroline Owen, Kenny Higgins and Omar Puente after a gig with Alegria © Caroline Owen

Tributes

I was saddened to hear of the death of jazz Trumpeter Richard Turner. I have recollections of him when he was first starting out and played a gig with him at a hotel in Leeds. It must have been when Richard was about 17 or 18. I remember he had already got some serious chops together and his playing was quite amazing even then.

Initially I was my usual cantankerous self with the young guy coming to sit in. As it turned out he played the whole night and made a marked impression. After a few tunes he asked if we could do some funk style, well I gave him the Richie Binns run down on pick up bands, and why that wasn't an option. He graciously took it on the chin.

I remember a young man of high intelligence who a little later, unfazed by me, sat down and quizzed me why I wouldn't switch the groove. I then relayed a story to him about the great tenor sax player Don Weller and what I had learnt from him about getting the best from pickups. At the break or the end I forget which he came to ask my advice on colleges. He had a place at a classical college in London I believe and wanted my opinion.

I was quite flattered seeing as I am basically a player from the street .I wasn't best placed for any real guidance. Here was a guy who wasn't only very clever; he had diplomatic skills running along side. I remember quite vividly taking some time before I answered his question. I finally said that life was short and you should go play the music you want to do. Try not to be influenced by peer pressure. As far as formal music education was concerned, embrace it all if you have the chance.

The last thing I said to him was you should always play a gig like it is the last gig you're ever going to do. He said nothing but simply smiled. That is the last I saw of him. As we all know Richard Turner went on to become a great trumpet player. It is a very sad loss for jazz and the music scene in general.

Richie Binns Sept 2011