BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
When they were young, Kevin Turcotte and his brother, David, discovered two coronet trumpets in their house.
Dusting them off, the brothers began playing the trumpets with enthusiasm.
David would eventually put his coronet away and take up the game of basketball and pursue Olympic glory in 1988, while Kevin stuck with the instrument, mesmerized by its rich and varied sound.
This intrigue would eventually turn Kevin into one of Canada's most prominent jazz musicians.
Born in Ottawa, but raised in Hanmer and Sudbury since he was four, Kevin always loved music.
?I lived in a musical household,? said Turcotte. ?My brother and I would play two old coronets that our aunts from Saskatchewan left behind on a trip. Eventually the sounds of jazz from records shifted my focus and I started listening and playing along with that music.?
After graduating from Lockerby Composite School, Turcotte studied music at the University of Toronto and Humber College.
It was there, submerged in Toronto's vibrant music scene, Kevin would become a jazz trumpeter for hire and make a name for himself in the national and international music scenes.
Kevin and some buddies landed a gig at Expo 86, jump-starting his music career.
?It kind of gave me a good taste,? said Turcotte. ?It all started from there. I got back to Toronto and into more playing situations. I was never one of these people that was dead set on having music as a career because it was always a hobby and fun for me. Living in Toronto, I just started hearing a lot of great jazz and I got into it.?
Since leaving Sudbury, Turcotte has established himself as a star.
Just recently, with one of the many bands he works with, the Great Uncles of the Revolution, Turcotte won a 2004 Canadian Juno Award for Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year, Blow the House Down.
Turcotte also wrote two of the songs on the album.
He was also named Trumpeter of the Year at the 2004 National Jazz Awards, among other numerous accomplishments. He has won the Trumpeter of the Year for seven years in a row.
?It feels great and I love the fact I can make a living playing creative music,? said Turcotte. ?The awards that come with it are nice, but it's more about making the music happen and that's what I enjoy. It's nice to be recognized across the country though.?
He can be heard on over 60 recordings including CDs by Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass, Time Warp and the Barry Elmes Quintet. Turcotte has also traveled the world, entertaining countless music lovers to his passionate sounds in the former Soviet Union, South America and Italy.
?You go play music for people around the world, but you also meet musicians from around the world and that's cool,? said Turcotte. ?I have to count myself lucky.?
Turcotte never has a problem getting motivated to push his creative genius.
?I like playing with musicians of like mind who are interested in exploring new sounds,? said Turcotte. ?It inspires you to create music that will be meaningful and will have strength to it and communicate with the audience.?
Sudbury was instrumental in developing Turcotte's musical talents.
?I found Sudbury to be a vibrant musical scene growing up,? said Turcotte. ?I would go to Bell Park and listen to concerts. I was inspired by guys coming through town. Hearing live music was a good way to kick start my interest.?
Jazz is expanding.
?These days Jazz means so many different things,?said Turcotte. ?It incorporates improvisation and an element of swing or groove to it, but the style could be anything you want. There's no limit to what you can do with jazz, so if you're a creative musician and want to use your instrument to say something, jazz is really an open book.?
Turcotte, 40, lives and plays in Toronto. He teaches music at the University of Toronto.
He and his wife, Lisa Martinelli have a 19-month old daughter, Natalie-Jaye.
Turcotte is currently working on numerous projects and planning to do some touring. He will be featured on an upcoming CD by Dave Young and touring with NOJO in the fall.
?When you're a freelancer, it's hard to say where and with who you will be playing with,? said Turcotte. ?I am just enjoying the whole variety of the jazz picture.?
