Welcome to the world of Tim Turvey

07/08/09 - brantford.com
Cheryl Storneli


photo by mike machado

The sweet sounds of jazz filled the white and green walls of the Arts Block at the Tim Turvey Ensemble’s CD release party last night.

With a packed house and thick air, the crowd was anxiously awaiting the music that was to come.

After a few words to the audience from Turvey - “we don’t strive for perfection, we only hope to have fun,” - the night began with a Herbie Hancock tune to get the band warmed up.

As they followed the tune of the song and got into the feel of the night, I took a moment to look around the Arts Block. The minute I had walked through the door, I noticed that the atmosphere completely changed at night. Littered across the room was a wonderful blend of people, older, younger, casual, sophisticated - I’d never seen a variety like this in Brantford before. With the Peace & Diversity mural still on display, it added an artsy, undeniable cultural feel to the entire tonight.

Turning back to the band that had settled in and worked out the kinks, they flowed easily into the first song of the night, off the new album Clatter in a Quiet House , a working title according to Turvey.

Song by song, the ensemble was thoroughly enjoyable to hear as the night flowed together seamlessly. Throughout each song additional instruments from the ensemble would add an entirely new dynamic that complimented the song perfectly.

Standing out to me would have to be the songs We Met at a Funeral and Antel Kocze which Turvey noted as “a tribute to the king of the gypsys. From violin to trumpet to the accordion, no two songs were alike or dull.

The crowd appeared to be enthralled and focused on the band as Turvey moved with the melody of the music from behind the drums, never sitting still.

Fingers flew across chords, people danced across the floor as the talent on stage was so incredible, and it was hard to break away from the daze you’d easily fall into. I still wonder how they managed to have so much talent in a single band.

When you close your eyes and listen, jazz music will often paint pictures in your mind. The beauty and uniqueness of jazz, to me, is that there are often no lyrics. Your mind is completely free to think, wander or be inspired. Each note, each melody, each instrument, work together to simply feed your mind what it needs to create something out of the song. Now, I understand why artists paint to jazz and classical music.

Who is Tim Turvey?

“I don’t actually know what started me into music,” said Turvey. “I suppose it could have been the desire to express raw emotion and angst through music.”

Buying his first set of drums when he was 14, from a farmer for $40, the musically-fluent artist aspired to play punk rock. For a while Turvey did explore the genre in the local punk rock band, Drunk n’ Anger.

“That’s the problem in today’s society. We’re too focused on names and categories and trying to identify ourselves with them,” said Turvey. “No matter how you look at it there are only 12 notes, it’s about the way you arrange them.”

For the current album with the working title Clatter in a Quiet House , the nine songs were written over the course of a full year, consisting of a variety of styles from personal influences. The album took three, 12-hour days to record at Vibe Wrangler Studios, with an extra day for mixing and mastering.

“I wrote all the music, handed it to the band, and they just played it. I’m very comfortable with them,” said Turvey.

Comfort is key for the jazz musician as he ensures the music is able to flow where it wants to.

“You have to let the music dictate its direction. It’s like a big nose, it’s going to sniff its way to where it’s going to go,” said Turvey. “I am 100 per cent happy with this album.”

Agreeing with Turvey was saxophone player, Jonas Berkeley: “Of the 12 albums I’ve been a part of, this is the one I’m most happy with.”