Dann Glenn
Encyclopedia
Dann Glenn is an American jazz fusion
electric bass guitar virtuoso and composer
, who has published and recorded a catalog of six symphonies, and released numerous jazz and avant garde albums, over the years.
Known for years as a bassist, after an injury to his left hand, Glenn became disenchanted playing the bass, and temporarily switched his primary instrument to that of electric guitar
around 2003-04; ultimately returning to the electric bass
, after his hand healed in 2011. Also an accomplished pianist, Glenn's status as a multi-instrumentalist has served him well, on his jazz fusion and modern orchestral recordings.
.
Dann was mentored by Monk Montgomery
, the first bassist to record electric bass on a jazz tune (with Lionel Hampton
), and brother of jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery
.
Dann's first published release was a collaboration with film scorer Dan Slider entitled "A Whispered Warning" (ITI-Allegiance Records-JL031) in 1984.
Glenn also began performing at the famed North Hollywood jazz club Donte's, and after striking up friendships with such guitarists as Jennifer Batten
(Michael Jackson
, Jeff Beck
) and John Goodsall
(Brand X
), Glenn was asked to join the faculty at the Bass Institute of Technology (now Musicians Institute) in Hollywood.
This is where Dann met bassist Jeff Berlin
, becoming life-long friends and colleagues. Glenn was also a close friend of the late-great Jaco Pastorius
, who died in 1987.
After having his fill of the West coast, Glenn relocated to the Midwest and began issuing solo releases that focused on several varied musical styles.
Starting, and ultimately leaving, a band known as BangTower, Glenn went on to create a new ensemble, the Eleven Eleven Orchestra, which features bass virtuosos Jeff Berlin
and Baba Elefante, and renowned drummer Ronnie Ciago. Glenn also collaborated with former Godsticks bassist Jason Marsh (also the album's producer) and Baba Elefante on a release entitled "Electric." In 2011, Glenn appeared in the motion picture "Johnnie Be Good" alongside Eric Clapton
, Keith Richards
, and many other icons of music.
Street Without Joy
Emerald Tiger
Atlantis
Espionage
Maybe Never
Little Toy Horns
Subharmonia
Eleven Eleven Orchestra
Electric
Dann Glenn/Volume 1
in 1969. Not for the faint of heart, this novel's storyline contains graphic sexuality and violence, peppered with abstract dreamscapes throughout. In 2011 this novel became an eUB book, available for digital readers. (ISBN 9781609846978)
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
electric bass guitar virtuoso and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, who has published and recorded a catalog of six symphonies, and released numerous jazz and avant garde albums, over the years.
Known for years as a bassist, after an injury to his left hand, Glenn became disenchanted playing the bass, and temporarily switched his primary instrument to that of electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
around 2003-04; ultimately returning to the electric bass
Electric Bass
Electric bass can mean:*Electric upright bass, the electric version of a double bass*Electric bass guitar*Bass synthesizer*Big Mouth Billy Bass, a battery-powered singing fish...
, after his hand healed in 2011. Also an accomplished pianist, Glenn's status as a multi-instrumentalist has served him well, on his jazz fusion and modern orchestral recordings.
As a musician
Beginning in the 1970s, Dann Glenn's career started as a rock musician, who later became a serious jazz player and classical composer. During his formative years he played with such musicians as Blues guitarists Michael Bloomfield (guitarist), and Luther TuckerLuther Tucker
For the publisher see The Genesee FarmerLuther Tucker was an American blues guitarist.While soft spoken and shy, Tucker made his presence known through his unique and clearly recognizable guitar style. Tucker helped to define the music known as Chicago Blues, but played everything from blues to...
.
Dann was mentored by Monk Montgomery
Monk Montgomery
William Howard "Monk" Montgomery was an American jazz bassist.Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, Montgomery was the older brother of guitarist Wes Montgomery; younger brother, Buddy Montgomery played vibraphone and piano...
, the first bassist to record electric bass on a jazz tune (with Lionel Hampton
Lionel Hampton
Lionel Leo Hampton was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, bandleader and actor. Like Red Norvo, he was one of the first jazz vibraphone players. Hampton ranks among the great names in jazz history, having worked with a who's who of jazz musicians, from Benny Goodman and Buddy...
), and brother of jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery
Wes Montgomery
John Leslie "Wes" Montgomery was an American jazz guitarist. He is widely considered one of the major jazz guitarists, emerging after such seminal figures as Django Reinhardt and Charlie Christian and influencing countless others, including Pat Martino, George Benson, Russell Malone, Emily...
.
Dann's first published release was a collaboration with film scorer Dan Slider entitled "A Whispered Warning" (ITI-Allegiance Records-JL031) in 1984.
Glenn also began performing at the famed North Hollywood jazz club Donte's, and after striking up friendships with such guitarists as Jennifer Batten
Jennifer Batten
Jennifer Batten is an American guitarist, who has worked as both a session musician and solo artist. She has released three studio albums: her 1992 debut, Above Below and Beyond, was produced by former Stevie Wonder guitarist Michael Sembello. In 1997, she released the worldbeat-influenced Jennifer...
(Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
, Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck
Geoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
) and John Goodsall
John Goodsall
John Goodsall is a progressive rock & jazz fusion guitarist most noted for his work with Brand X, Atomic Rooster and Fire Merchants.Goodsall was born in Pennsylvania and has lived in Los Angeles, England, Milan and Minnesota. He began playing guitar at age 7...
(Brand X
Brand X
Brand X was a jazz fusion band active between 1975–1980 and 1992-1999. Noted members included Phil Collins , Percy Jones , John Goodsall and Robin Lumley ....
), Glenn was asked to join the faculty at the Bass Institute of Technology (now Musicians Institute) in Hollywood.
This is where Dann met bassist Jeff Berlin
Jeff Berlin
Jeff Berlin is an American jazz, jazz fusion and progressive rock electric bass player.Jeff Berlin's bass playing is somewhat similar to that of Jaco Pastorius, though Berlin plays a fretted bass and has stated his distaste for Jaco imitators.-Early life:Jeff Berlin was born to parents who were...
, becoming life-long friends and colleagues. Glenn was also a close friend of the late-great Jaco Pastorius
Jaco Pastorius
John Francis Anthony Pastorius III , known as Jaco Pastorius, was an American jazz musician and composer widely acknowledged as a virtuoso electric bass player....
, who died in 1987.
After having his fill of the West coast, Glenn relocated to the Midwest and began issuing solo releases that focused on several varied musical styles.
Starting, and ultimately leaving, a band known as BangTower, Glenn went on to create a new ensemble, the Eleven Eleven Orchestra, which features bass virtuosos Jeff Berlin
Jeff Berlin
Jeff Berlin is an American jazz, jazz fusion and progressive rock electric bass player.Jeff Berlin's bass playing is somewhat similar to that of Jaco Pastorius, though Berlin plays a fretted bass and has stated his distaste for Jaco imitators.-Early life:Jeff Berlin was born to parents who were...
and Baba Elefante, and renowned drummer Ronnie Ciago. Glenn also collaborated with former Godsticks bassist Jason Marsh (also the album's producer) and Baba Elefante on a release entitled "Electric." In 2011, Glenn appeared in the motion picture "Johnnie Be Good" alongside Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
, Keith Richards
Keith Richards
Keith Richards is an English musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created "rock's greatest single body of riffs", and placed him as the "10th greatest guitarist of all time." Fourteen songs written by Richards and songwriting...
, and many other icons of music.
As a composer
Glenn's body of work comprises the following six symphonies:- Symphony No. 1 (Biblia)
- Symphony No. 2 (Variations on a Dream)
- Symphony No. 3 (The High Rise Symphony)
- Symphony No. 4 (The Vietnam Symphony)
- Symphony No. 5 (The Alaska Symphony)
- Symphony No. 6 (The Galactic Symphony)
As a solo jazz artist
A Whispered WarningStreet Without Joy
Emerald Tiger
Atlantis
Espionage
Maybe Never
Little Toy Horns
Subharmonia
Eleven Eleven Orchestra
Electric
Dann Glenn/Volume 1
As an author
In 2004 Glenn's first published novel Almost A Proverb was released. This book (ISBN 978-1-4134-4833-7) reflects his tour of duty during the Vietnam WarVietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
in 1969. Not for the faint of heart, this novel's storyline contains graphic sexuality and violence, peppered with abstract dreamscapes throughout. In 2011 this novel became an eUB book, available for digital readers. (ISBN 9781609846978)
See also
- John Goodsall John GoodsallJohn GoodsallJohn Goodsall is a progressive rock & jazz fusion guitarist most noted for his work with Brand X, Atomic Rooster and Fire Merchants.Goodsall was born in Pennsylvania and has lived in Los Angeles, England, Milan and Minnesota. He began playing guitar at age 7...
- Monk Montgomery Monk MontgomeryMonk MontgomeryWilliam Howard "Monk" Montgomery was an American jazz bassist.Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, Montgomery was the older brother of guitarist Wes Montgomery; younger brother, Buddy Montgomery played vibraphone and piano...
- Jaco Pastorius Jaco PastoriusJaco PastoriusJohn Francis Anthony Pastorius III , known as Jaco Pastorius, was an American jazz musician and composer widely acknowledged as a virtuoso electric bass player....
- Jeff Berlin Jeff BerlinJeff BerlinJeff Berlin is an American jazz, jazz fusion and progressive rock electric bass player.Jeff Berlin's bass playing is somewhat similar to that of Jaco Pastorius, though Berlin plays a fretted bass and has stated his distaste for Jaco imitators.-Early life:Jeff Berlin was born to parents who were...
- Jeff Beck Jeff BeckJeff BeckGeoffrey Arnold "Jeff" Beck is an English rock guitarist. He is one of three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds...
- Michael Bloomfield Michael Bloomfield (guitarist)