Turk Murphy

Turk Murphy headed one of the standout ensembles in San Francisco’s Dixieland revival. Before that prominence he had worked in several large orchestras, among them the groups of Mal Hallett and Will Osborne. Initial recognition came through his role in Lu Watters’ Yerba Buena Jazz Band, an outfit widely credited with shaping the revival, from 1940 to 1947. He started his own band in 1947; thirteen years later it settled into a long-term residency at Earthquake McGoon’s while still undertaking occasional road trips. Although Murphy was never viewed as a trombone virtuoso and his occasional vocals were merely serviceable, his collective playing stood out, and he assembled a compelling book of 1920s obscurities, standards, and occasional new originals. His groups maintained strong musical standards throughout, at various times employing trumpeters Don Kinch, Bob Short, and Leon Oakley, clarinetist Bob Helm, pianists Wally Rose, Pete Clute, and Ray Skjelbred, and singer Pat Yankee. Turk Murphy and his cherished ensemble recorded extensively for Good Time Jazz, Fairmont, Columbia (1953-1956), Verve, Dawn Club, Roulette, RCA, Motherlode, Atlantic, GHB, MPS, Stomp Off, and Merry Makers.