GLERÁ Jazz Quintet: Icelandic Inspirations

GLERÁ: Named after the river in northern Iceland, Glerá’s music effortlessly flows between different musical landscapes. Spearheaded by drummer and longtime member of the Sun Ra Arkestra, Wayne Smith Jr, Glerá has found the line between organized chaos and peaceful unison with original music inspired by Sufjan Stevens, Ornette Coleman, and Paul Motian.

This is a family-friendly event!

Wayne Smith Jr. – drums

Josh Lee – soprano saxophone

Dylan Band – tenor saxophone

Elijah Cole – guitar Sam Harris – bass

About Wayne Smith Jr.:

Nurtured in the legendary Philadelphia jazz scene, Wayne Smith, Jr.’s career as drummer is as promising as it is eclectic. After graduating from the famed Creative and Performing Arts High School, he went on to study at the world renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston. Eager to advance his music career, Wayne began performing regularly at staples of the Philadelphia jazz community including Chris’ Jazz Cafe and Ortlieb’s Jazzhaus. As his reputation grew, he branched out, performing in New York, Baltimore and Washington D.C alongside such well known musicians as Donald Byrd, Orrin Evans, Duane Eubanks, John Ellis, Stacy Dillard and Bootsie Barnes.  He teamed up with Victor North (saxophonist) and Lucas Brown (organist) to form Three Blind Mice and the trio still performs together to this day. After being tapped to join the legendary Sun Ra Akestra, Wayne toured Europe, Canada, and Australia, which would prove instrumental in his development as an artist.