Biography
Steve Turre, born Stephen Johnson Turre on September 12, 1948, in Omaha, Nebraska, is a renowned American jazz trombonist, composer, arranger, and educator. Raised in the San Francisco Bay Area by Mexican-American parents, Turre was immersed from an early age in the sounds of mariachi, blues, and jazz. He began playing trombone at age ten and, after a brief stint on a football scholarship at California State University, Sacramento, shifted his focus to music, performing with the Escovedo Brothers salsa band and later studying at the University of North Texas College of Music.
Turre's professional career gained momentum in 1972 when Ray Charles hired him for a tour, and a year later, he joined Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers through the mentorship of trumpeter Woody Shaw. Over the decades, Turre has collaborated with a wide array of jazz, Latin, and pop luminaries, including Dizzy Gillespie, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, and Rahsaan Roland Kirk. Kirk notably introduced Turre to the use of seashells as musical instruments, a practice Turre embraced and developed, even discovering ancestral connections to the tradition. Turre has since become a pioneer in integrating seashells into jazz, most famously through his ensemble Sanctified Shells, and has released over 20 albums as a bandleader.
A fixture in the Saturday Night Live Band since 1985, Turre is celebrated for his innovative blending of jazz, Afro-Cuban, and Brazilian influences, as well as his commitment to both honoring and expanding jazz traditions. His legacy is marked by technical mastery, creative risk-taking, and a unique voice that bridges the past and future of jazz.
Fun Facts
- Steve Turre is a pioneer in using seashells as musical instruments, a practice inspired by Rahsaan Roland Kirk and later discovered to be part of his own family heritage.
- He has been a member of the Saturday Night Live Band since 1985, making him one of the longest-serving musicians in the show's history.
- Turre leads an ensemble called Sanctified Shells, which features a 'shell choir'—a group of musicians performing on conch shells.
- His grandfather, Ernest Turre, was a founder of the San Francisco 49ers football team.
Associated Acts
- The Saturday Night Live Band - trombone (1985–present)
- Mingus Big Band
- The Dizzy Gillespie United Nation All Star Orchestra
- Lester Bowie’s Brass Fantasy
- Dizzy Gillespie-Phil Woods All Stars
- Roland Kirk Sextet - percussion
- Roland Kirk Sextet - trombone
- Lester Bowie’s New York Organ Ensemble - trombone
- Steve Turre Quartet
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Woody Shaw - Mentor and bandleader; brought Turre into Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and influenced his approach to jazz improvisation and composition. (Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers recordings and performances) [1973–mid-1970s]
- Rahsaan Roland Kirk - Introduced Turre to playing seashells as musical instruments, shaping his signature sound. (Collaborations and performances with Kirk) [1970s]
Key Collaborators
- Ray Charles - Hired Turre for touring, providing his first major professional break. (Ray Charles touring band) [1972]
- Art Blakey - Band leader of the Jazz Messengers, where Turre played trombone. (Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers) [1973–mid-1970s]
- Herbie Hancock - Recorded and performed together on various projects. (Albums such as 'Right There' and 'Rhythm Within') [1990s]
- Mongo Santamaria - Collaborated in Latin jazz settings. (Various performances and recordings) [1970s–1990s]
- Saturday Night Live Band - Longtime member of the house band, contributing to live television performances. (SNL Band performances) [1985–present]
Artists Influenced
- Robin Eubanks - Cited Turre as an influence in expanding the expressive possibilities of the trombone in modern jazz. (Eubanks’ solo and ensemble work) [1990s–present]
- Ryan Keberle - Inspired by Turre’s innovative use of nontraditional instruments and genre fusion. (Keberle’s genre-crossing jazz projects) [2000s–present]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Then & Now | 2020 | Album |
| Rhythm Within | 1995-01-01 | Album |
| Time Is Right | 1993 | Album |
| Sanctified Shells | 1993-01-01 | Album |
| Togehter Again | 2008-06-10 | Album |
| The Very Thought of You | 2018-08-24 | Album |
| Sanyas | 2024-06-28 | Album |
| Generations | 2022-09-16 | Album |
| Rainbow People | 2008-05-23 | Album |
| Lotus Flower | 1999-01-01 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Running Away (Stir It Up: The Music Of Bob Marley)
- Montuno Caracol (Rhythm Within)
- Hambone (Then & Now)
- From Moment To Moment (Time Is Right)
- Asia Mood (Tito's Idea)
- I Shot The Sheriff (Stir It Up: The Music Of Bob Marley)
- Exploration (Sanctified Shells)
- Morning (Rhythm Within)
- Spirit Man (Sanctified Shells)
- Afro Blue (Afro Blue)
External Links
Tags: #hard-bop, #jazz, #jazz-fusion
References
Heard on WWOZ
steve turre has been played 4 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 11, 2025 | 18:49 | Coffee Potfrom Colors for the Masters | Jazz from Jax Breweryw/ Keith Hill | |
| Nov 10, 2025 | 00:02 | The Spirits Up Above | The Dean's Listw/ Dean Ellis | |
| Nov 6, 2025 | 07:25 | Blackfootfrom Lotus Flower 1999 | The Morning Setw/ Scott Borne | |
| Nov 5, 2025 | 18:10 | volunteered slaveryfrom the spirits up above | Jazz from Jax Breweryw/ Al Colón |