Roger Glenn

The son of Tyree Glenn -- a trombonist and vibrophonist who played extensively with Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, and Louis Armstrong -- Roger Glenn likewise played vibraphones, but was known most prominently as a flutist. The younger Glenn established himself in the industry with early ‘70s dates for Mongo Santamaría, playing on Mongo ‘70, Mongo at Montreux, and Mongo’s Way, where he first utilized his background in Latin jazz. Shortly after that, he became a valuable member of Donald Byrd's extended musical family tree. Not only did he play on Byrd’s Black Byrd and Street Lady, but he connected with the architects of those albums, Fonce and Larry Mizell, and played on their sessions with Bobbi Humphrey (Fancy Dancer) and Johnny Hammond (Gears). In 1976, he led Reachin’, a typically breezy Mizell-assisted set released on Fantasy. After the late ‘70s, his studio time decreased, but he continued to perform on the West Coast (he relocated to San Francisco) and throughout Europe. A true mult-instrumentalist, he also played clarinet, oboe, and saxophone. ~ Andy Kellman