[1] Turner graduated from R. E. Mountain Secondary School in 1985, and attended Western Washington University's jazz studies program.
A year later he transferred to University of North Texas, and played and composed for the very well known One O'Clock Lab Band.
Upon graduation, Turner returned to Vancouver and formed the Brad Turner Quartet, which consisted of Bruno Hubert on piano, André Lachance on bass, and Dylan Van der Schyff on drums.
The members played together until 2003, and had a reunion album released in 2016 entitled Twenty (referring to their 20th anniversary as a group).
Turner has also performed and recorded with such artists as Michael Brecker, Joe Lovano, Kenny Wheeler, John Scofield, Michael Moore, Renee Rosnes, Jimmy Greene, Ingrid Jensen, Dylan Van der Schyff, Mike Murley, Seamus Blake, Kenny Werner, and Ernie Watts.