GLENN CASHMAN found inspiration for a free-wheeling, compositional approach to saxophone and improvisation in the playing of Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter and John Coltrane and his compositions reflect a rainbow of influences. He is bi-coastal, serving as Associate Professor of Music at Colgate University in Hamilton, NY and spending more than 3 months a year in Southern, CA, performing and recording. He has also held positions as Director of Jazz Studies at Cal State Fullerton and Towson University in Baltimore. Glenn has twice been named Artist in Residence at the famed St. Petersburg Conservatory in Russia and has appeared at jazz festivals across the USA and in Sweden. In 2006, Glenn was named Founding Director of the Muckenthaler Jazz Festival in Fullerton, CA, presenting six concerts in a outdoor summer series along with his dear friend Eric Futterer, Producer. His Los Angeles group, the 14 piece “Glenn Cashman and the Southland Big Band” and his "Southland Nonet" debuted there. These groups feature top LA jazz & studio performers and the big band's 2009 release has received international airplay while being reviewed enthusiastically in the jazz press. Glenn's music for the Southland Big Band and Southland Nonet is published by Walrus Music.
PERFORMING-RECORDING Glenn's first solo CD, I'VE GOT YOUR RHYTHM, was released on the Indigo label and features jazz greats Kenny Barron, Ray Drummond and Ben Riley. Glenn and LA piano giant Tom Ranier, who have performed together at the Jazz Bakery, Westin-LAX and Colgate University, released a duo CD, BLUE IN GREEN, in 2004 on the Primrose Lane Music label. Tom and Glenn also released a sextet project entitled BRIGHT IDEA on Primrose Lane Music in 2006 that features Bob Sheppard (alto sax), Bob McChesney (trombone), Luther Hughes (bass) and Kendall Kay (drums). Since 2004, Glenn has recorded as the tenor saxophonist for the Cannonball-Coltrane Project (CCP) led by the irrepressible Luther Hughes. The group, which includes alto saxophonist Bruce Babad, pianist Ed Czach and drummer Paul Kreibich, has recorded four CDs: Luther Hughes & The Cannonball Coltrane Project (2004), SECOND HELPING (2006), SPECTACULAR! (2008) THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER (2011), all of which have aired nationally on radio and appeared on the JazzWeek Charts. "THINGS" peaked at #2. The quintet has performed at jazz festivals and colleges all across the country, as well as a number of venues in Southern California, including The Jazz Bakery, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Orange County Performing Arts Center. In 2007, the CCP released a 2006 live performance at Saddleback College on DVD. An East Coast recording with LA guitar guru Ron Escheté, Hammond B3 organist Rick Montalbano and drummer Jimmy Johns is slated for release in the near future. Glenn also performed on the DVD released by guitarist Hideaki Tokunaga on DVD Jazz Music Sweethearts.
Glenn has also performed or recorded with Dennis Chambers, Claudio Roditi, Ron Eschete, Mundell Lowe, Jeff Clayton, Kendall Kay, Harold Danko, Mike Wofford, Holly Hofmann, Llew Matthews, Bill Cunliffe, Paul Bollenback, Drew Gress, Jim Pugh, Jeff Littleton, George Colligan, Don Littleton, Tony Martucci, Frank Potenza, Harold Land Jr., Deana DeRose, Chuck Berghoffer, John von Olen, Steve Gadd, Jimmy Ford, Ramon Banda, John Stowell, Howard Curtis, the Bill Warfield Big Band, Mark Massey, Doug McDonald, Gap Mangione Big Band, Todd Coolman, David Kane, Mike Smith (drummer), The US Army Jazz Ambassadors, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and many others. He has appeared in jazz club and concert venues in Russia, Sweden, Australia, on the East Coast and in such Southern California jazz spots as the Newport Beach Jazz Party, The Lighthouse Cafe, Cafe 322, The Jazz Bakery, Kikuya, Westin LAX, LA Crowne Plaza, Charlie O's, Sangria & many others. Glenn has also performed with the Central New York Jazz Orchestra alongside such notables as Rob McConnell, Eddie Daniels, Buddy DeFranco, Benny Golson, Robin Eubanks, Carmen Bradford, Barbara Morrison, Howard Johnson, Kevin Mahogany and Byron Stripling.
COMPOSITION COMMISSIONS "The Circuit" for Big Band commissioned by Bill Warfield Big Band for a live recording "Duffs Blues" on the Blue Leaf label. "Tropicale" for Big Band commissioned by trumpeter John Blount (U.S. Navy Commodores Jazz Ensemble) and recorded on the Sea Breeze release "Better Days Ahead" by John Blount with Dave Tucker and the New Big Band. Additionally, Holly Hofmann & Mike Wofford have recorded Glenn's "No Mercy" and performed it at many festivals and venues including the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C..