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Roger Glenn

Second-generation, master-musician, Roger Glenn performs on Flute, Sax & Vibes and Latin Hand Percussion.

About Me

Born into jazz royalty, Roger Glenn is the son of the late Tyree Glenn, who was one of 57 notable jazz musicians photographed in the 1958 portrait A Great Day in Harlem by Art Kane. Roger grew up in a jazz family around New York City with his parents Tyree and Gloria Glenn, and his brother Tyree Glenn Jr., who plays tenor sax with his own rhythm and blues band, and Roger’s father Tyree, who played trombone and vibraphone with Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, and Louis Armstrong. Roger had an early hands-on education in jazz by working with his father in a band that also featured jazz greats such as Wynton Kelly on piano, Joe Jones on drums, and Slam Stewart on bass. Some of Roger’s earliest teachers were Julius Baker (flute), Alberto Socarras (flute), Garvin Bushell (clarinet, sax, flute), and his father Tyree on vibes.

Roger’s mother introduced him at an early age to Latin music and Latin jazz musicians such as José Fajardo, Johnny Pacheco, Eddie & Charlie Palmieri, and Celia Cruz. His total family inspiration, and later playing in the Army Band with fellow members Grover Washington Jr. and Billy Cobham, gave him the education necessary to perform and record with Mary Lou Williams, Mongo Santamaria, Donald Byrd, Dizzy Gillespie, Cal Tjader, Rosemary Clooney, and Herbie Mann. Roger’s flute playing is featured on the Grammy Award-winning Cal Tjader recording “La Onda Va Bien,” as well as many notable recordingss by Donald Byrd, Peaches and Herb, ConFunkShun, Bobby Hutcherson, and Mongo Santamaria.

In addition to his own groups: Roger Glenn Latin Jazz Ensemble and The San Francisco Jazz Quartet, he most recently has been touring as a special guest with Taj Mahal Trio, Taj Mahal and the New Hula Blues Band, Kurt Elling, and The Count Basie Orchestra. He also can be found sharing the stage with John Handy, Pete Escovedo, Calvin Keys, Jamie Davis, and as special guest with The Cole Porter Society, and 17-piece Morchestra. Roger Glenn Jazz Organ Trio toured the west coast as the opening act for the legendary Steely Dan (spring 2015). Roger is finalizing studio production on his long-awaited CD: Roger Glenn Latin Jazz Ensemble “In the Moment”. The San Francisco Jazz Quartet is also one of Roger’s main touring groups since the release of their debut album “Ode to Swing.”