Joseph H. Turner (November 3, 1907 – July 21, 1990) was an American jazz pianist.
Though endlessly confused with the singer Big Joe Turner, pianist Joe Turner came from a completely different direction, following the James P. Johnson/Fats Waller stride tradition, armed with a
superb technique and a fine sense of swing.
superb technique and a fine sense of swing.
He was an accompanist to Adelaide Hall in a duo, first with Alex Hill and then Francis Carter, the latter with whom he and Hill toured Europe in 1931, after which he stayed as a solo act.
He was drafted in World War II, and played piano in Sy Oliver's army band in 1944-1945 and Rex Stewart in 1946, Turner returned to the continent, residing in Hungary in 1948 and then Switzerland from 1949 to 1962.
Here's "Smashing Thirds" recorded in Basel, April 18. 1958.
Taken from above album.
He settled in Paris in 1962 in a residency at La Calvados, continued to play engagements elsewhere in Europe.
(Compiled and edited from Wikipedia, AllMusic, jazzhotbigstep & LA Times)