Gualala Arts Promoting public interest and participation in the arts since 1961
Gualala Arts presents the Roger Glenn Latin Jazz Ensemble in Music of the Americas, a Whale & Jazz Series concert on Saturday, May 30 at 4 pm at the Gualala Arts Center. Tickets are $25 in advance for General Admission and +$5 on the day of the event, available at Gualala Arts, the Dolphin Gallery, and online at GualalaArts.org; $100 Sponsor Tickets with select seating are offered exclusively online. Led by renowned multi‑instrumentalist Roger Glenn—master of more than 18 instruments including vibraphone, flute, and saxophone—the ensemble features Marcos Silva on piano, Robb Fisher on bass, Kelly Zaban Fasman on drums, and Michaelle Goerlitz on percussion.
Glenn, celebrated for his versatility and improvisational brilliance, grew up immersed in jazz as the son of famed trombonist and vibraphonist Tyree Glenn, who performed with Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, and Louis Armstrong. His career includes early recordings with Mary Lou Williams and collaborations with jazz greats such as Cal Tjader, Mongo Santamaria, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Mann, Donald Byrd, and Taj Mahal. His 2025 album My Latin Heart, released by Patois Records and marking his first project as a leader in nearly 50 years, blends jazz with Afro‑Caribbean and Afro‑Brazilian rhythms and spent 17 weeks in the JazzWeek Top 20, ultimately landing at #92 on the JazzWeek Top 100 Jazz Recordings of 2025. Critics have praised the album’s transportive quality and Glenn’s enduring artistry, with Brooks Geiken of ArtsFuse and LatinJazz.net noting its ability to “transport” listeners and Joe Dimino of Neon Jazz calling Glenn “a music and jazz treasure” whose work deserves preservation for generations.