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Julian Lage

Following his Grammy-nominated 2009 debut Sounding Point, virtuoso guitarist Julian Lage returns with the evocative and finely wrought Gladwell - the second effort by his offbeat, eclectic group with cellist Aristides Rivas, percussionist Tupac Mantilla, bassist Jorge Roeder and saxophonist Dan Blake.

The album unfolds according to a fanciful and story-driven plan, as Lage explains: "We began playing with the idea of creating a story we could use as a guiding light in our writing process.... The result was the development of an imaginary and forgotten town known as Gladwell.... As a metaphor, Gladwell presented us with a clear architecture, to compose songs that evoke feelings of people and places we hold dear."

Sweeping, colorful and thrillingly executed, the album opens with "233 Butler," named for the Brooklyn street address of vintage instrument shop, Musurgia. Here and throughout, Lage showcases his group's highly developed rapport and varied, refreshing approach to orchestration, with originals pieces that bring to life the fictional sights and sounds of Gladwell: the train station ("Listening Walk"), the church ("Cocoon," featuring Blake on melodica - channeling sounds that could be likened to the artsy streets of Paris), the bazaar ("Iowa Taken"). "Some songs specifically identify with particular parts of the town," writes Lage, "while other pieces simply fit into the overall concept and musical direction. The intention of the music is to encourage the listener, at every turn, to take a step towards the unknown...."

As with Sounding Point, Gladwell reflects Lage's wide-ranging musical interests and talents, ranging from chamber music, American folk and bluegrass to latin, world, string-band tradition and modern jazz. The album also exhibits contemporary singer-songwriter aesthetics. "Margaret" was inspired by Lage's friend, singer-songwriter Margaret Glaspy, with whom he has frequently shared the stage. "However," written by Dan Blake, "explores the rich synthesis of Afro-pop with Irish fiddle music along with American folk music," writes Lage.

Frequently one hears Lage deploy the cello and saxophone almost as a single, interconnected instrument. "Iowa Taken," meanwhile, allows Lage to shine in a trio setting with just bass and drums. The leader's fluid improvisations and rich, beautifully captured tone on electric and acoustic guitars anchor the music at every step, but the contributions of the band members are equally indispensable.

"Dan has a background in classical composition as well as improvisation," says Lage, "so he brings a sense of curiosity to the band that is deeply rooted in a variety of traditions. From Aristides we've learned a tremendous amount about how to play as a chamber-like ensemble, how to utilize dynamics and blending, and how to move and breathe as a unit. The sound of cello has opened our ears to the world that lives between classical music and jazz and it is amazing to witness how Aristides so uniquely marries the two. Tupac is like a conductor of energy, using his diverse palette of colors to shape and inform the music - his approach is never static, and it is exhilarating to share in his passion for uncovering new approaches. Jorge [who was the first member to join the band] has an incredible grounding force that enables the band to really take off in any direction at any point in time - I feel Jorge's presence as kind of like the narrator of a story, always keeping an eye on the bigger perspective while remaining an active participant at every turn."

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7
Live Review

Julian Lage at Ann Arbor's Ark

Read "Julian Lage at Ann Arbor's Ark" reviewed by James Aren


Julian Lage The Ark Ann Arbor, Michigan September 8, 2023 Julian Lage plays like a man amused. He shakes his head and laughs at the things happening to his guitar as if he didn't make them happen. He rocks back and forth in his chair, tapping his foot, staring off into the distance reading music that no one else sees. The crowd laughs too when they hear something they know is impossible. No ...

6
Album Review

Kris Davis: Diatom Ribbons Live At The Village Vanguard

Read "Diatom Ribbons Live At The Village Vanguard" reviewed by Mark Corroto


The term “proof of concept" might be the appropriate subtitle to Kris Davis' Diatom Ribbons' Live At The Village Vanguard. Her concept, first heard on the eponymous release Diatom Ribbons (Pyroclastic, 2019), is demonstrated on two discs taken from 12 sets over six nights at the famed Greenwich Village nightclub. The pianist does indeed verify that her concepts have practical application. She initially formed a core group, a quartet with bassist Trevor Dunn, turntablist and electronics composer Val Jeanty (aka ...

4
Album Review

Kris Davis: Diatom Ribbons Live At The Village Vanguard

Read "Diatom Ribbons Live At The Village Vanguard" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic


Rogue pianist and noted polymath Kris Davis exercises the mercurial fluidity of her future-forward-thinking quartet, Diatom Ribbons--drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, turntablist and electronic musician Val Jeanty, and bassist Trevor Dunn--ushers guitarist Julian Lage into the maelstrom and voila! Another memorable Live at the Village Vanguard emerges boldly and triumphantly. As befits Davis and company, the collective energy running rampant on this two-disc set is hard to pin down, but it is as palpable and discernible as a cut ...

7
The Big Question

Who Are The Stars Today?

Read "Who Are The Stars Today?" reviewed by Joseph Vella


The other day a friend asked me the all-important question: Who are the new “stars" in jazz today? Some names that came to mind were James Francies, Oded Tzur, and Julian Lage but would I call them “stars" of the music? Technically proficient artists? Yes. Stars? Not sure. Today, there is no shortage of gifted artists of all ilks but does anyone stand apart like Buddy, Freddie, Nina, Herbie, Grover or Eliane? And what about influential bands like ...

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Album Review

Julian Lage: View With A Room

Read "View With A Room" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


View With A Room looks in on two generations of American guitarists; the younger generation is represented by Julian Lage, the leader of the effort, and the older generation by Bill Frisell, who sits in on seven of the ten original Lage tunes ("Echo" is co-written by Lage and the set's bassist Jorge Roeder). Following up on Lage's 2021 Blue Note Records debut, Squint (and let's give the label's boss, Don Was, a big tip of the hat ...

2
Album Review

Julian Lage: Squint

Read "Squint" reviewed by Mario Calvitti


Dopo aver scritturato negli scorsi anni due chitarristi di indubbio valore come Nels Cline e Bill Frisell, la Blue Note mette a segno un nuovo colpo assicurandosi i servigi di un altro virtuoso della sei corde, l'ex enfant prodige Julian Lage (che in realtà era già comparso in un titolo della label al fianco proprio di Cline come membro del suo quartetto in Currents, Constellations). Questo Squint rappresenta il suo esordio da titolare per l'etichetta, alla guida di un trio ...

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Radio & Podcasts

Julian Lage: Notes With The Weight Of Words

Read "Julian Lage: Notes With The Weight Of Words" reviewed by Leo Sidran


When Julian Lage plays guitar, it's hard not to get swept up in it. His relationship with the instrument is natural and contagious. Maybe that's because it's been with him for most of his life. When he was just 8 years old, Julian was the subject of an Academy Award nominated documentary film called Jules at Eight. Before he entered his teens, he had already performed with Carlos Santana and jazz vibraphonist Gary Burton. While still in high school he ...

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3

Festival

Le Festival International De Jazz De Montreal set for June 30-July 9

Le Festival International De Jazz De Montreal set for June 30-July 9

Source: Braithwaite & Katz Communications

The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, presented by TD Bank Group in collaboration with Rio Tinto is taking downtown by storm once again this summer. From June 30 to July 9, 2022, the public can soak up that thrilling festival vibe for 10 fun and festive days. In addition to the stellar program announced earlier, the festival is proud to present brand-new initiatives that will be making downtown Montréal shine, not to mention treating music lovers to a feast ...

Performance / Tour

Jazz this week: Julian Lage & Chris Eldridge, Jay Oliver, Jazz St. Louis gala, and more

Jazz this week: Julian Lage & Chris Eldridge, Jay Oliver, Jazz St. Louis gala, and more

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

With a forecast for spring-like weather in the offing, it should be a good weekend to get out and hear some live music in St. Louis. However, if you're headed down to the annual Mardi Gras parade on Saturday, don't expect to find much jazz or blues among the musical options. With the notable exception of the Funky Butt Brass Band, who will make appearances at the Mayor's Ball on Friday night, at the parade tent in Soulard on Saturday ...

Video / DVD

StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Julian Lage and Chris Eldridge

StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Julian Lage and Chris Eldridge

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

With appearances here this week by both Mike Stern and Ralph Towner, it's already been a good month in St. Louis for fans of jazz guitar, and it's not over yet. Guitarists Julian Lage and Chris Eldridge, who will perform next Wednesday, February 22 at Off Broadway, may operate in a very different stylistic realm than either Stern or Towner, but their skills are equally worthy of attention from serious guitar enthusiasts. Lage, 29 years old, was a child phenom ...

1

Performance / Tour

Jazz this Week: Benny Green, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Julian Lage & Chris Eldridge, Dave Dickey Big Band, and more

Jazz this Week: Benny Green, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Julian Lage & Chris Eldridge, Dave Dickey Big Band, and more

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

View more events at stlouis.jazznearyou.com. As Jazz Appreciation Month winds down and we head into May, it's another busy weekend for live jazz and creative music in St. Louis, with several touring headliners in town and a number of noteworthy events featuring local performers, too. Let's go to the highlights... Wednesday, April 29 Pianist Benny Green returns with his trio for the first of four nights at Jazz at the Bistro, in what will be his first appearance at the ...

48

Performance / Tour

Julian Lage Trio's New Year's Eve Concert at Berklee Performance Center Kicks Off NPR's Toast of the Nation Broadcast

Julian Lage Trio's New Year's Eve Concert at Berklee Performance Center Kicks Off NPR's Toast of the Nation Broadcast

Source: MassJazz: Jazz in Massachusetts

The Julian Lage Trio is in concert at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston on Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 7:45 and 9:30 p.m. The special concert kicks off National Public Radio's (NPR) annual worldwide jazz broadcast, Toast of the Nation, and is part of First Night Boston festivities. Radio host Eric Jackson of Jazz on WGBH is master of ceremonies. Tickets to the concert are $18 by purchase of a First Night Button. The concert is a collaboration between ...

164

Radio

Julian Lage - From Guitar Prodigy to Guitar Master

Julian Lage - From Guitar Prodigy to Guitar Master

Source: Groove Notes

Another great session from the KPLU studios...check out audio, video, and photos below! By Justin Steyer, Nick Francis and Nick Morrison Guitarist Julian Lage performs live in the KPLU studios on June 15, 2011. Justin Steyer / KPLU CLICK HEAR TO LISTEN TO THE SESSION When Julian Lage was 8 years old, his skill as a guitarist was the subject of a documentary film, Jules at Eight. Before he entered his teens, he had already performed with Carlos Santana and ...

71

Radio

The Jazz Session #276: Julian Lage

The Jazz Session #276: Julian Lage

Source: AAJ Staff


175

Interview

Julian Lage Unplugged

Julian Lage Unplugged

Source: Jazz Online By Joseph Vella


199

Recording

Julian Lage - Gladwell (2011)

Julian Lage - Gladwell (2011)

Source: Something Else!

By S. Victor Aaron Don't get me wrong, I love jazz guitarists who derive their inspiration from guys like Wes Montgomery, Kenny Burrell and Pat Metheny, but it's so refreshing to hear a new guitarist come along who excels by taken the road less traveled. That's former child prodigy guitarist Julian Lage, who seems to be more in line with the vocabulary of swing jazz guitar pioneer Django Reinhardt, classical guitar godfather Andres Segovia and bluegrass guitar picking legend Tony ...

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Recording

Guitarist Julian Lage Paints Picture Of Imaginary Town On New Album - "Gladwell" - Released On Emarcy Records

Guitarist Julian Lage Paints Picture Of Imaginary Town On New Album -  "Gladwell" - Released On Emarcy Records

Source: DL Media

Following his Grammy-nominated 2009 debut Sounding Point, virtuoso guitarist Julian Lage returns with the evocative and finely wrought Gladwell—the second effort by his offbeat, eclectic group with cellist Aristides Rivas, percussionist Tupac Mantilla, bassist Jorge Roeder and saxophonist Dan Blake. The album unfolds according to a fanciful and story-driven plan, as Lage explains: “We began playing with the idea of creating a story we could use as a guiding light in our writing process.... The result was the development of ...


Herbie Hancock: "Julian, you play with heart, mind, and soul. Where’d you find all this so early in life?"

David Grisman: "I was amazed by the depth of his playing, he’s a real improviser who just goes with the flow. He’s not about anything other than making a beautiful musical statement.”

Gary Burton: "We had to do various takes on different tunes, and it struck me how none of his solos were alike. He was constantly inventive but without a need to show off. His way of proving himself is not by being flashy, but by discovering the meaning in the music."

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Filip Dinev
guitar
Arcangelo Pezzella
guitar, electric
AP Project
band / ensemble / orchestra
Marc Crofts
violin
Carlos Heredia Santos
guitar, electric
Eric Zabala
vibraphone
Rohan Buch
saxophone
Hallgrim Bratberg
guitar, electric
Spencer Alexander
guitar, electric

Photos

Concerts

Mar 28 Thu
Mar 30 Sat
Julian Lage
Lincoln Theatre
Washington City, DC
Apr 19 Fri
Apr 21 Sun

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Diatom Ribbons Live...

Pyroclastic Records
2024

buy

View With A Room

Blue Note Records
2022

buy

Squint

Blue Note Records
2021

buy

Love Hurts

Mack Avenue Records
2019

buy

Modern Lore

Mack Avenue Records
2018

buy

Arclight

Mack Avenue Records
2016

buy

Videos

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