“It started with my childhood,” Tuner explains. “I grew up going to jazz clubs – even when I was a baby. I was two years old, in a baby carriage, on the side of the stage. My first performance was in a jazz club when I was four. That’s how I began. Stevie Wonder, Nat King Cole – they were two influences. My household was full of jazz and soul. We listened to some pop and R&B too, like Michael Jackson, but probably more Al Green was being played.”
Briefly, Turner entertained the notion of a life other than just music. “When I was younger, my mother’s father was a pediatrician,” he recalls. “That seemed cool to me, so for a while I thought I’d be a singing doctor… and then I dropped the doctor part,” he laughs.
Thankfully, Turner’s father, who was also a jazz singer, encouraged Turner to head toward music. “My father was very supportive,” Turner continues, “but he said if you are going to do it, you have to put everything into it – you have to hone your skills. I loved sport when I was in high school. The one thing he made me sacrifice was sport. He told me that you have to devote all of your time to your craft and I appreciate him for that.”
In fact, Turner is appreciative full stop. “I woke up this morning for one thing,” he chuckles. “I’m living my dream. Right now I’m in Japan, then I’m coming to your beautiful country. I’ve never done that before. I feel extremely blessed. I also have two beautiful children, who love their father. I get to wake up and be able to sing – that’s a blessing for me and I never take that for granted.”
Despite the fact that Turner is equally passionate about soul and jazz, somehow he manages to avoid the ire of purists and is perfectly happy with the mix. “I don’t get too many cranky purists,” he reflects. “Sometimes though, some jazz purists might test me to see how vast my jazz language may be. The other side, the hip hop world, sometimes I hear something ridiculous like, ‘That’s too jazzy’. I’ve learned to do me and that’s working. It’s funny to see – I’ve always wanted to tread the line.
“I remember when I was in middle school, Wynton Marsalis won a Grammy for jazz and classical music and I thought, ‘Man, I want to do that’. I can sing the hell out of a standard and croon with the best of them, but I can also write something that can make you groove just as much.”
In order to secure its future, Turner thinks it’s important for the jazz community to engage with a younger audience. He believes that the connection is possible via super talented artists with style.
“When the music is too elitist, it makes it hard for the younger audience,” he explains. “Say when ticket prices are high, they don’t come and they won’t be aware of what’s going on. That’s why we have to catch them with style.”
Turner is also enthusiastic about hitting our shores to perform as part of the Melbourne International Jazz Festival. In terms of what audiences can expect, it will be that meld he performs so well.
“It’s soul that has been influenced by jazz – it’ll be a melting pot.” he promises. “You’ll leave with the feeling that you’ve experienced everything. I’ll go many places. I’ll perform some songs from Erimaj and some from my albums. I’ll stretch and do what jazz musicians do.”
BY MEG CRAWFORD
