Brad Turner Quartet

I don’t think Brad Turner’s Quartet has put out a bad album. I’m sure if you asked Brad he would cringe at a few things about his earlier recordings like any musician who listens to their early stuff. There will be absolutely no cringing by anybody now or ever about his latest release on Maximum Jazz, Small Wonder. Anchored by Dylan van der Schyff’s propulsive and creative drumming, Andre Lachance’s ultra creative and sensitive bass lines, Bruno Hubert’s quirky and completely unique piano stylings and of course the leader’s incredibly melodic and complex trumpet playing. Small Wonder is a complete album as you will hear. Great sound, great playing, great compositions and great design! This is a must have. You will not be disappointed! (The Scene, CoryWeeds.ca) - The Scene, CoryWeeds.ca

Small Wonder
#1 Album at Canadian Jazz Radio for
3 straight weeks
on both Chartattack and Earshot charts!
(Dec 2007 & Jan 2008) - ChartAttack & Earshot Charts

"One of the Top Trumpeters in Jazz today." - Downbeat, 2007 - Downbeat Magazine

Jazz renaissance man Brad Turner sticks to trumpet and flugelhorn on this recently released CD. He's ably backed by his Vancouver-based trio of pianist Bruno Hubert, bassist André Lachance and drummer Dylan Van der Schyff on a repertoire of eight of Turner's evocative originals.

Crisply recorded at CBC Studio 2 in Vancouver, the session showcases Turner's flawless technique and boundless imagination on a varied collection of tightly wound tunes driven by the leader's excellent backing band.

They've been together for 14 years, and you can hear it on every track. Lachance and Van
der Schyff's loping rhythmic propulsion is pushed along by Hubert's thoughtful keyboard accents, while Turner burns an intense narrative through his tune's playful changes.

- Joseph Blake, Times Colonist - Joseph Blake, Times Colonist

4 Stars!

Brad Turner plays many instruments, but he sticks to his first love, the trumpet, on Small Wonder, Turner's latest release fronting his Vancouver quartet with Bruno Hubert on piano, Andre
Lachance on bass and Dylan van der Schyff on drums.

The program of eight Turner originals launches with Scuffle, an up-tempo number on which
the leader plays a forward-driving solo, Hubert divides and fractures the pulse, and van der Schyff channels late percussion great Tony Williams on drums. Van der Schyff is also prominent
on Punchy, where the band's rhythmic phrases are interspersed with drum fills.

The leader, who works flugelhorn into the mix, has a commanding voice on all numbers. 70
Mile begins with lyrical horn and bass in open time before settling into a mid-tempo groove,
and Turner spends time in the upper range, alternating single-note runs and held notes before the song's minimalist ending. He's more aggressive on The Redeye, which has a bebop
tempo but without the frantic, busy nature of most bop tunes.

This is small-combo playing in its purest form. Special mention goes to Claire Lawrence for
his pin-point production. - Marke Andrews, Vancouver Sun

Canadian Brad Turner's band plays a program of eight tunes by its leader. Small Wonder
presents subtle explorations within mainstream acoustic jazz. The opener "Scuffle" combines
smart arranging with spirited, straight-ahead blowing. Turner's horn at first recalls Dave
Douglas or Ralph Alessi, and Bruno Hunert's repeated piano lines serve as a potent echo of
Pat Martino's fetching "Noshufuru". "Scuffle" serves the classic introduction to everything in
its wake, namely deft playing surrounded by creative charts.

This is classical jazz with longer forms. Each player - including André Lachance and drummer
Dylan Van der Schyff – sublimely attunes to an ensemble sound that allows one's imagination
to take over. On the title track, another medium-tempo swinger, the song eventually
takes off with Hubert's relaxed solo, his spare lines allowing he gliding groove to be felt.
Turner gets the effect of a mute with his open horn, blowing gentle and delicate. Unlike
Alessi and Douglas, Turner's playing tends toward cool throughout, subverting what might
be outward-bound chops. "70 Mile," "Remberings" and "Mourning Song" offer vivid examples
of this in a more balladic form. - Downbeat Magazine

"He's a kind of Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock and Keith Jarrett all rolled into one...one of those musicians who can make his presence felt within the sound of a few notes." - Globe & Mail

Canadian artist Brad Turner is a triple threat: a pianist, trumpeter and drummer, he has developed a significant reputation over the past eight years with artists including roots music specialists Zubot & Dawson, avant cellist Peggy Lee and the elastically-timed fusion group Metalwood. A two-time winner of the National Jazz Awards “Composer of the Year” as well as “Jazz Trumpeter of the Year,” he has also won numerous Juno awards, the Canadian version of the Grammy. For an artist to emerge in such a relatively short time and garner such critical acclaim would certainly suggest someone worth investigating! - All About Jazz