Steve Turre

Steve Turre is a Professor of Trombone in the Jazz Arts department at Manhattan School of Music, where he has influenced generations of jazz musicians. A Mexican-American born in the San Francisco Bay area, Turre has established himself as one of the world's preeminent jazz innovators with a career spanning over five decades.

Turre's research interests encompass multiple dimensions of jazz performance and innovation. He has pioneered the use of conch shells as musical instruments, creating what he calls 'Sanctified Shells' - transforming his horn section into a 'shell choir.' His work integrates diverse musical traditions including jazz, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, mariachi, and blues influences. Turre's artistic approach maintains 'one foot in the past and one in the future,' balancing tradition with innovation while demonstrating 'a strong command of all musical genres.'

His extensive discography reveals a musician constantly evolving while honoring jazz traditions. Turre's work shows progression from hard-swinging ensemble playing toward more nuanced explorations including ballad interpretations with strings, intergenerational collaborations, and innovative acoustic techniques like playing seashells into piano strings. His recent albums demonstrate increasing focus on mentorship, with Generations specifically bridging musical eras by pairing legendary musicians with emerging talent.

• JazzTimes Best Trombone
• JazzTimes Best Miscellaneous Instrumentalist
• Downbeat Best Trombone
• Downbeat Best Miscellaneous Instrumentalist
• Jazziz Best Trombone
• Jazziz Best Miscellaneous Instrumentalist

Turre's mentorship extends beyond the classroom, as evidenced by his work with younger musicians like his son Orion Turre, Wallace Roney Jr., Isaiah J. Thompson, and Corcoran Holt. His three-decade tenure with the Saturday Night Live Band demonstrates remarkable versatility across musical contexts. Turre maintains active performance schedules while continuing to innovate, recently exploring ethereal sounds by playing seashells into piano strings. His Sanctified Shells ensemble represents a unique laboratory for musical experimentation that has become a signature element of his artistic identity.