RIP Richard Turner

Richard Turner
Photo credit: Guy Hatton

We are hearing shocking, tragic news. The trumpeter Richard Turner died yesterday as a result of a sudden seizure.

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.

UPDATE: See the tribute on Jack Davies' blog.  The obituary written by Nick Smart on the Royal Academy of Music website. The Remembering Richard Turner Facebook page, set up by Josh Morrison and George Crowley. Tribute by Andy Robson on the Jazzwise website

UPDATE 2: Richard's brother Andy posted this on Facebook.  As you all know, my bro died last week. Reading all these amazing stories, memories and tributes is truly overwhelming for me and my mum. Some make us cry with laughter which is great. We found out today that Rich died from a ruptured aortic aneurysm whilst swimming. We've been assured that he didn't suffer at all. This could have happened at any time and was not at all related to him swimming. There was nothing that anybody could have done to prevent this from happening, however we would like to thank all the people who tried everything to help him especially the lifeguards at the Lido who should be proud of their efforts. Rich was in the best physical shape of his life (did you see his pecs?). He was also in the best place mentally that I have seen him in a very long time. My bro died happy doing something he loved and this is a comfort to us all. Further info will follow about arrangements etc and you will all be welcome to join us in Leeds to celebrate Richard’s life.

UPDATE Fri 19th . A news story in the Evening Standard

. And the Streatham Guardian has a news story. And a tribute on the website of St. Albans band Friendly Fires

UDATE August 25th. Josh Morrison has posted funeral details on Facebook

Funeral Details: Tuesday 30th August at 12:30.
There will be a service at:
St Matthew's Church
Wood Lane
Chapel Allerton
Leeds
LS7 3QF

This will be followed by a gathering at Chapel Allerton Tennis Club, a very short walk from the church.

Wensley Avenue
Chapel Allerton
Leeds, West Yorkshire
LS7 3QX

CD Review: Round Trip - Round Trip

Round Trip - Round Trip>
(F-IRECD 39. CD Review by Chris Parker)

'Swing, groove and exploratory improvisation' are trumpeter Richard Turner's chief concerns on this, his quartet Round Trip's debut recording. The band's overall approach, however, recalls the early (acoustic) recordings of Ornette Coleman, in which a melodic line is sketched by the front-line horns (here, Turner's partner is alto player Michael Chillingworth) then explored, with all the harmonic freedom conferred by a lack of a chordal instrument, through solos propelled by a lively, springy rhythm section: bassist Tom Farmer and drummer Joshua Morrison.

Turner himself is a resourceful player, as readily employing sounds and textures from 'free' music as from more straightahead jazz; Chillingworth, although slightly more conventional in his approach, has a pleasingly piercing tone, and together they are a powerful, often tellingly contrasting front line, whether the band is addressing the above-mentioned Colemanesque themes or the more through-composed material that also interests Turner.

Lively, fresh, spontaneous and musicianly, this is an absorbing debut album from a quartet whose live performances are well worth seeking out.

F-IRE