Turning Point (jazz band)

Turning Point is a jazz band from Phoenix, Arizona.

When the combustible four-man force of musical nature known as Turning Point took over the Phoenix club scene in the mid-90s, the desert city's nights truly became as steamy as its days. Establishing itself before packed houses at hotspots like The Famous Door and Beeloes, and later becoming regional sensations playing some 200 dates a year, the band grew to embody the freewheeling creative spirit of indie music. Drawing on each member's musical and cultural background, Turning Point forged an eclectic sound that mixed progressive jazz with rock, R&B and blues, with touches of Greek music and--paying homage to their home in the Southwest--Latin jazz. The title of Matador, Turning Point's Native Language debut and sixth album overall, perfectly captures the band's bold evolution into a true rock instrumental powerhouse.

There are four members of Turning Point--Thano Sahnas, his brother Demitri Sahnas (acoustic and fretless bass), keyboardist Steve Culp and drummer/percussionist John Herrera-- all faced a lot of flak in their early years for creating a genre practically unto themselves defying music industry convention. This initial resistance inspired them to push the envelope even further, and the payoff with audiences has been phenomenal. Their music appeals to fans of many of the top rock, R&B and smooth jazz artists they have opened for, from Michael McDonald to Little Feat, chill performer Praful, acid jazzers Down To the Bone and The Rippingtons.

Turning Point has received acclaim for all of its previous releases, beginning with a self titled debut in 1995 and including "A Cool Jazzy Christmas" (1996), "Together" (1998), "Bridges" (1999) and "A Thousand Stories" (2000), which was produced by famed bassist Brian Bromberg and released nationally by A440 Music. Together earned the band its largest national audience, receiving airplay on more than 40 smooth jazz stations. Yet the eleven tracks on Matador capture the band on the cusp of reaching its creative potential, and the addition of saxophonist Dominic Amato as a featured player on the record has allowed Turning Point to stretch their musicality even further.

Each member of Turning Point brings unique personal musical influences to the band's sound. The Sahnas brothers grew up playing in Phoenix rock bands at the same time they played traditional Greek folk music; they recently released a side project Mykonos to Madrid on Moondo Records, in association with Native Language. Herrera played in variety bands in his native New Mexico, covering the gamut from country and rock to R&B and Mexican music. Yuma, Arizona native Culp had a similar border town musical background, and went on to receive a Master's Degree from the University of Miami Music School. Growing up in Detroit, Amato couldn't help but develop an affinity for all things R&B.

Writing and playing the songs turned out to be easier than picking a name for the group, a process, which took two months. In the end, the name was elemental because each member began to feel that this new band was the "Turning Point" in his career. Turning Point took its self-produced, self-released debut to Phoenix's National Public Radio station KJZZ and the response was phenomenal. The band made its debut at an album release party benefit for the station. Tracks from nearly all of Turning Point's earlier recordings received heavy airplay by Phoenix's smooth jazz station KYOT-FM (The Coyote).

Turning Point turned out to be a Jazz band because that had no good lead-singers or lyrics. Their lyrics and lead-singers were a Turning Point. That is how the name became Turning Point.