From Sideman to Spotlight: Roger Glenn's 50-Year Journey to "My Latin Heart"

After five decades as jazz's best-kept secret, multi-instrumentalist Roger Glenn steps into the spotlight with his first solo album in 50 years. In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steve Roby sits down with the son of jazz royalty to discuss Latin jazz, life lessons from legends, and why 2025 was finally the right time to share his story.

Episode Highlights

• Growing Up in Jazz Royalty: Roger shares stories of his father, Tyree Glenn, and the legendary musicians who shaped his musical education—from Count Basie's Joe Jones to Miles Davis's Winton Kelly
• The Great Day in Harlem: Roger reveals he skipped the iconic 1958 photo shoot, only to later perform with many of those same jazz giants, including Mary Lou Williams
• 18 Instruments and Counting: How Roger became a multi-instrumental wizard, mastering everything from flute to vibraphone
• The 50-Year Wait: Why COVID, economic downturns, and Grammy category eliminations delayed the release of "My Latin Heart"
• Cultural Fusion: The deep meaning behind tracks like "Zambos Mambo" and "Congo Square," exploring the African and European roots of American music
• Beyond Music: Roger's parallel passions as a multi-engine pilot, helicopter pilot, and sailor—and how they inspire his compositions

Featured Tracks

• Zambos Mambo
• Showcasing Roger's incredible flute work (currently charting on Jazz Week)
• Congo Square
• A tribute to cultural fusion featuring Roger's vibraphone mastery
• All music used on the podcast was supplied by the musicians and used with there permission

Upcoming Shows

Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society - Half Moon Bay
Sunday, March 8th at 4:30 PM
Featuring special guest Ray Obito on guitar
🎟️ Limited tickets remaining
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Get Tickets

May House - Palo Alto
Thursday, March 27th

Links & Resources

• Roger Glenn Official Website
• Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society
• Stream "My Latin Heart" (available now on all platforms)

About Roger Glenn

Roger Glenn is a multi-instrumentalist virtuoso who has spent decades elevating the music of icons such as Dizzy Gillespie, Taj Mahal, and Mongo Santamaria. The son of Tyree Glenn (who played in Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong's orchestras), Roger has mastered more than 18 instruments and is now celebrating his first album as a leader in 50 years. "My Latin Heart" has charted on Jazz Week for 23 weeks, peaking at #14.

Backstage Bay Area celebrates the vibrant music scene of the San Francisco Bay Area. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.