Glenn Wilson (gwilson@iwu.edu)
Director of Jazz Ensembles
Adjunct Instructor Jazz Saxophone
Glenn Wilson is very excited to be a Titan and looking forward to making some great music with the IWU family.
Glenn has been a professional jazz saxophonist for over 40 years. After earning his Bachelor of Music Education from Youngstown State University in 1977, Glenn moved to New York City, where he worked and recorded with The Buddy Rich Band, Lionel Hampton Orchestra, Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra, Tito Puente, Machito, Bill Kirchner Nonet, Bob Belden Ensemble, and scores of other jazz and latin-jazz groups.
Glenn recorded his first CD as a leader, the highly-reviewed Impasse, in 1984 for Cadence Records. In 1988, Glenn began his association with Sunnyside Records with the release of Elusive. Three more CDs with Sunnyside – Bittersweet, Blue Porpoise Avenue, and One Man’s Blues – as well as a recording for Timeless Records, Lee’s Keys Please, followed in the next decade. Glenn also appeared on over 25 jazz recordings as a sideman during this time. Glenn’s CDs are featured in the Penguin Guide of Jazz and The Grammophone Guide to Good Jazz, and he has also received a National Endowment for the Arts Grant and has been featured in the DownBeat Magazine Critics Poll in the Baritone Saxophone category.
From 1991-2001 Glenn was an active member of the jazz community in Virginia, Washington DC, and Baltimore. He performed numerous times at The Kennedy Center and Blues Alley Jazz Club. In 1993 he recorded with pianist Bruce Hornsby on Harbor Lights and joined Bruce’s band. With Bruce, he was featured on “VH1 Center Stage,” “Austin City Limits” and “Arsenio Hall,” and received a gold record for his playing and arrangements on Harbor Lights. Glenn’s CD Devil’s Hopyard with his group TromBari, featuring trombonist Jim Pugh, was released in 2012. In 2015, Glenn released Timely on Cadence Jazz Records. Timely has been reviewed worldwide and features the trumpet of John D’Earth in a live club setting. Glenn performs in clinics, concerts and clubs around the world with his groups. Recent performances include Tony Bennet/Lady Gaga, Seth McFarlane and Frank Sinatra Jr. with the Chicago Philharmonic Ravinia Orchestra, and tours with Doc Severinsen.
Glenn completed a Masters in Jazz Performance at the University of Illinois in Urbana in 2006 and taught Music Business and Jazz Pedagogy there as well as leading combos, big bands and teaching in the jazz saxophone studio until 2014.
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