It’s All So
Brad Turner; Trio Plus One
Cellar Music CMF090924 (bradturner.bandcamp.com/album/it-s-all-so)
Much of what I wanted to discuss about It’s All So is already covered in the album’s detailed and eloquent liner notes. The music speaks for itself too, and hopefully this review provides context in the form of a glowing recommendation for those who have yet to listen.
Brad Turner is a stalwart Vancouver-based multi-instrumentalist, composer, and educator who I first heard on trumpet. Unlike some who merely dabble on other instruments, Turner brings a unique and masterful voice to any tool of expression. That tool is piano on It’s All So, and the “plus one” of Turner’s Trio Plus One is percussionist Jack Duncan.
Duncan is a creative guest, joining Turner’s longstanding rhythm section of Darren Radtke on bass and Bernie Arai on drums. The piano trio format offers ample creative space, and Duncan adds steady grooves without “boxing in” any of the album’s eight selections. Turner penned each composition for the musicians present, save for an arrangement of Cole Porter’s Love For Sale that is unique enough to sound like another original.
Jazz is at the heart of It’s All So, but the album features grooves equally appropriate under the “Latin” umbrella. The compositions and playing remind me of Woody Shaw and Clare Fischer at times, among other artists who expertly fused these genres. This could suggest a departure from the hard-swinging catalogue of Cellar Music, but after repeated listening the album fits their mandate to a tee. This is a unique and memorable addition to Turner’s discography.
