About Glenn Tucker:

Glenn Tucker is an accomplished jazz pianist, organist, composer, and arranger based in Ann Arbor. All of the music you are hearing tonight has been composed by Glenn. Glenn grew up studying with local legends and educators such as Sean Dobbins, Paul Finkbeiner, Tad Weed, Vincent York, Community High School’s Jack Wagner, and while at the University of Michigan, Glenn studied with the great Geri Allen.

Glenn’s stature as a pianist, Hammond organist, and arranger steadily rose on the Detroit scene. He is a favorite sideman to a who’s-who of Detroit jazz veterans: George “Sax” Benson, Wendell Harrison, Allan Barnes, Leonard King, George Davidson, Ralphe Armstrong, Marion Hayden, Larry Smith, Ron English, etc. He has also performed on several occasions with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and from 2014-2016 he played keyboards for R&B great Michael Henderson, including accompanying guest appearances by Jean Carne among others. His sophomore album Determination was released in 2015 by Mack Avenue subsidiary Detroit Music Factory. A duet collaboration with the legendary George “Sax” Benson, Dreamers, was released on Benson’s 87th birthday in February of 2016. In fall of 2017, he released Abundances, a trio project with bassist Marion Hayden and master drummer George Davidson.

In 2016, Glenn was selected from an international search to be pianist for the eleventh class of the Thelonious Monk Institute at UCLA. While at the Monk Institute, Glen traveled to Panama and Cuba and studied with such legends as Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, James Newton, Kenny Burrell, scholar Robin D. G. Kelley, Jimmy Heath, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Terri Lyne Carrington, Danilo Pérez, Dick Oatts, Jabali Billy Hart, and other jazz greats. Glenn resided in Los Angeles from 2016-18.

 

About this fundraiser:

Glenn was forced into retirement at the young age of 28 in 2018 by severe myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), a harrowing disease the medical field has long neglected, and that also sidelined legendary pianist Keith Jarrett during the 1990s. Two recent studies found that half of Long COVID cases —those experiencing complications following a COVID infection—are actually COVID-onset ME. Another study estimates that nationally there are 22 million Long COVID cases and 669,000 in Michigan alone. This concert, which will include a free live stream, aims to raise awareness for Long COVID and ME, and to raise money for the COVID-19 Longhauler Advocacy Project, which seeks, among other things, to provide financial assistance to Longhaulers struggling financially—for instance, single parents who have yet to be approved for disability—and to advocate for patient-led research.

 

Glenn is on indefinite hiatus from recording and public performance while he courageously fights this disease. While Glenn is grateful for the stability in his life, he wants to do his part to help fellow survivors of ME and now Long COVID. Please contribute as generously as possible to the COVID-19 Longhauler Advocacy Project in appreciation of the years of joy and excellence Glenn contributed to the Ann Arbor / Detroit jazz community.

 

About the musicians and the Blue LLama: The musicians playing are all longtime collaborators of Glenn’s, and have played this music with him for many years. You will be listening to:

Kurt Krahnke – Bass

Jesse Kramer – Drums, Music Director

Jeff Pedraz – Bass

Rick Roe – Piano

Jake Shadik – Saxophone

Raphael Statin – Saxophone

Jonathan Taylor – Drums, Percussion

Ralph Tope – Guitar

Alex White – Drums

 

After countless challenges with the COVID-19 health crisis, the Blue Llama Jazz Club is committed to supporting the local community by raising funds and awareness for those affected by LONG COVID and COVID-onest ME. We are pleased to present Glenn’s music with this stellar lineup of creative and hard working musicians.

–Dave Sharp Artistic Director