Roger Glenn: Reachin' (Jazz Dispensary Top Shelf series, 180g) [CRAFT RECORDINGS]

Why you'll love it

An all-analogue Top Shelf reissue: Kevin Gray cut it from the original master tapes, on 180g vinyl in a tip-on jacket. The Mizell Brothers of Donald Byrd's Black Byrd produced it, with Headhunters Bill Summers and Paul Jackson in the band and a young Sheila E. on percussion.

This edition

• Jazz Dispensary Top Shelf series
• All-analogue lacquers cut from the original master tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio
• 180g vinyl pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing
• Tip-on jacket with the original artwork

About the album

Roger Glenn grew up around the music; his father was trombonist and vibraphonist Tyree Glenn, and before this record he had played flute for Cal Tjader, vibes for Herbie Mann and spent time with Dizzy Gillespie. For his debut as a leader he called on Larry and Fonce Mizell, his old high school bandmates, who had just made Black Byrd, and they surrounded him with a band of Bay Area heavyweights, from Headhunters Bill Summers and Paul Jackson to Mark Soskin on keys and Ray Obiedo on guitar.

While everyone else headed for the disco, Glenn went somewhere more mystic and personal: Latin jazz, cosmic funk and rare groove, with his flute and vibes gliding over four percussionists on "Reachin'", "Rio" and "Rezo Chango". It has long been a collector's record. Now you can have it without having to outbid anyone in a church basement.

Tracklist

Listen

Out July 10, 2026 on Craft Recordings (cat# CR00970), a reissue of the 1977 album.