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
📺 Live streaming available
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.

Guest: Jack West

In this episode, host Steve Roby welcomes guitarist, composer, and inventor Jack West, whose unique sound NPR once described as "a whole new sub-genre of jazz." After more than two decades away from the recording studio, Jack returns with two major projects: the stunning new album Guitars on Life (a duet collaboration with Walter Strauss) and Essential Curvature, a retrospective compilation of his best work from the 1990s and 2000s.

Episode Highlights:

Jack discusses his musical roots in rural Alabama and his decision in 1993 to leave rock bands and focus exclusively on acoustic guitar

The story behind his collaboration with Walter Strauss and how they wrote most of Guitars on Life in just one week

Jack's innovative "acoustic spank" technique, which allows him to simultaneously play guitar, bass, and percussion

His invention of a specialized thumb pick that enables rapid-fire triplet strikes in both directions

The eco-friendly PET plastic vinyl alternative used for the Guitars on Life release

A preview of his upcoming Gliss Guitar - a revolutionary acoustic guitar with motorized pitch control on every string

Music Featured:

"More Guitar" from Guitars on Life

"Double Bounce" from Guitars on Life

All music featured in this episode was supplied by Jack West and used with his permission.

Upcoming Show:

Catch Jack West live at the Freight & Salvage in Berkeley on Thursday, February 26th at 8:00 PM for a special double bill featuring:

The Jack West Slide Guitar Ensemble (featuring Josh Jones on drums, Gary Brown on bass, and Lalo Crane on marimba)

The Walter Strauss & Jack West acoustic guitar duo

Tickets and more information: https://secure.thefreight.org/15495/15496-jack-west-walter-strauss-260226

Learn More:

Visit Jack West's official website: https://www.jackwestguitar.com

Show Notes:

Bassist and composer Lisa Mezzacappa joins host Steve Roby to discuss her latest project, the flexible ensemble Lisa Mezzacappa Five-ish, and their new album Otherworldly. For over two decades, Lisa has been a cornerstone of the Bay Area's experimental jazz scene, crafting adventurous music inspired by speculative fiction, cosmic landscapes, and the art of spontaneous collaboration.

In this episode, Lisa reveals how her sextet (yes, it's called Five-ish) came together, blending longtime collaborators such as saxophonist Aaron Bennett and drummer Jordan Glenn with newer voices, including oboist Kyle Bruckman and vibraphonist Mark Clifford. She discusses her unique compositional approach—writing for improvisers as individuals rather than as a uniform ensemble—and how she translates literary and ecological concepts into sonic terrain.

Lisa also shares insights into the album's standout tracks, including the urgent opener "Life is Running Out" and the expansive closer "The Dream, the Reality." She explains the concept of "tight looseness"—the sweet spot where precision meets spontaneity—and what audiences can expect from her upcoming performances at SF Jazz's intimate Joe Henderson Lab.

Plus, Lisa reveals she's just completed an ambitious project: 12 album releases in 12 months on her own Queen Bee Records label.

Featured Music:

"Life is Running Out" by Lisa Mezzacappa Five-ish

"The Dream, the Reality" by Lisa Mezzacappa Five-ish

All music was supplied by the artist and used with their permission.

Show Info & Links:

Upcoming Performance:

Lisa Mezzacappa Five-ish at the Joe Henderson Lab, SF Jazz

Sunday, February 22nd | Two shows: 6:00 PM & 7:30 PM

Doors open 30 minutes before showtime (arrive early for best seating—general admission)

Tickets: sfjazz.org

More Information:

Lisa Mezzacappa's website: lisamezzacappa.com

Queen Bee Records on Bandcamp: queenbeerecords.bandcamp.com

Album: Otherworldly by Lisa Mezzacappa Five-ish (available now)

Backstage Bay Area is your window into the vibrant arts and music scene of the San Francisco Bay Area. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.