Morgan Turner is a bassist and composer in Chicago, IL. After ten years of pursuing saxophone professionally and at the collegiate level, she was diagnosed with Temporomandibular Jaw Disorder (TMJ) in Summer of 2020, months before beginning her final year of her undergraduate degree. She was faced with a difficult decision when doctors recommended she either switch professions or switch instruments. Being unable to abandon her passion, she picked up the upright bass and began investing every moment of her spare time into pursuing this new medium of expression. The connection with the instrument was near immediate.

Morgan graduated from Northern Illinois University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies. During that time, she was able to take primary lessons with Geof Bradfield on saxophone and Marlene Rosenberg on bass once she made the instrument switch, learning a great deal from both. She also had the opportunity to study composition with guitarist Bobby Broom. Since relocating to Chicago after graduation, she has had the opportunity to play at several of her favorite local venues, including Elastic Arts, Fulton Street Collective, The Green Mill, and many more. Morgan has been lucky to share the stage with many of her favorite musicians, including Reggie Thomas, Lenard Simpson, Devin Drobka, Arman Sangalang, Cami Mennitte, and many more.

​Morgan is also an avid composer. During her time at NIU, she had a chance to hone her skills in composition and arranging, especially while she was transitioning instruments. Her compositions have been featured on WNIJ, Northern’s public radio station, as well as in numerous performances within both her own groups and others.

In Summer of 2022, Morgan, as a member of the group IRIS, was selected to participate in Jazz Aspen Snowmass Summer Jazz Academy small group session in Aspen, CO. Recently, she was selected to be a part of the 2022-2023 Mentee class for the Women in Jazz Organization, giving her the incredible opportunity to be mentored by a woman in the industry. During her time in the program, Morgan studied composition with Ayn Inserto. In Fall of 2024, she began pursuing a Master of Music in Jazz Studies at Western Michigan University where she studies with bassist Carlo De Rosa.

Currently, Morgan is looking forward to continuing to lead and write for her own project, The Morgan Turner Quartet, a group that blends contemporary jazz and folk music through original compositions. She also plays regularly with the band IRIS, a collective of peers performing original music in the jazz tradition. Their self titled debut album is out now on Shifting Paradigm Records. Additionally, she is excited to continue collaborating with others as a sidewoman, and seeing how she can aid in bringing their music to life.