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Lage Lund

Lage Lund is acclaimed as one of the finest guitarists of his generation, and one of the more compelling jazz artists today. A regular in the “Rising star – Guitar” category in the Downbeat Critic’s Poll, he has been hailed by Pat Metheny as a favorite young guitarist, and is “all music and all soul” according to Russell Malone - one of the judges who awarded Lund top prize in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition.

Armed with a growing and impressive body of original compositions, and mastery of the standard repertoire - Lund swings with great authority displaying a staggering harmonic sophistication and a singularly fluid voice as a soloist. He also brings a “casually magnetic” presence to the stage, “channeling reticence into a whisper-quiet mystique” and "balances his abundant proficiencies with an aesthetic of gleaming calm" (New York Times).

Born and raised in Norway, Lund relocated to Boston after high school on a scholarship to Berklee College of Music. In 2002 he moved to New York and soon became the first electric guitarist ever to enroll at the Juilliard School of Music. In the years since his Monk Competition victory, he has become a sought-after sideman with the David Sanchez Quartet, the Maria Schneider Orchestra, Mark Turner, Seamus Blake and many more.

After a series of three releases featuring bassist Ben Street and drummer Bill Stewart 2019 sees the release of "Terrible Animals”. Joined by a never-before-convened, top-of-the-pyramid rhythm section (Sullivan Fortner, piano; Larry Grenadier, bass;Tyshawn Sorey, drums) it is the most compositionally ambitious and daringly performed of Lage Lund's five albums on Criss Cross. Ten far-flung originals that elicit the full measure of their creativity , spurring Lund - who makes ingenious use of effects within his flow - to some of his most dynamic and varied playing on record.

Through frequent appearances and tours stateside and throughout Europe, Asia and around the world, Lund has ascended to the highest ranks as a performer and a creative force. He is among those setting the agenda for jazz improvisation in the 21st century.

Awards

2005 - Thelonious Monk International Jazz Guitar Competition


Tags

7
Liner Notes

Lage Lund: Idlewild

Read "Lage Lund: Idlewild" reviewed by C. Andrew Hovan


An open and revealing format for any artist, the jazz trio offers rewards on many levels. Left in veracious hands, there is a spacious pocket that can be filled by any number of rhythmic and harmonic ideas, not to mention a freedom in melodic phrases which don't have to be constrained by strict chordal structures. On the other hand, it is the mere vulnerability of the format that can challenge all but the most seasoned musicians. With its ...

2
Liner Notes

Lage Lund: Idlewild

Read "Lage Lund: Idlewild" reviewed by C. Andrew Hovan


An open and revealing format for any artist, the jazz trio offers rewards on many levels. Left in veracious hands, there is a spacious pocket that can be filled by any number of rhythmic and harmonic ideas, not to mention a freedom in melodic phrases which don't have to be constrained by strict chordal structures. On the other hand, it is the mere vulnerability of the format that can challenge all but the most seasoned musicians. With its ...

6
Liner Notes

Seamus Blake: Bellwether

Read "Seamus Blake: Bellwether" reviewed by C. Andrew Hovan


The music speaks for itself. This timeworn axiom has often served as a suggestion that there's an intangible aspect to music's universal language that is somehow beyond mere words. In some cases this may be true, but on the other hand, this outlook has occasionally in the past served as a viable excuse for justifying music of a somewhat dubious nature.In recently talking with saxophonist Seamus Blake by phone from Vancouver, it occurred to me that his “less ...

15
Album Review

Melissa Aldana: 12 Stars

Read "12 Stars" reviewed by Chris May


Before we get into tenor saxophonist Melissa Aldana's album--which is excellent, so hang on in there--a word about press releases and publicity campaigns. Specifically, those from Blue Note. The label's headquarters in Los Angeles is in danger of becoming known for award-winning b.s. in this regard, as demonstrated during the campaign for Aldana's label debut. Here is an example: 12 Stars, we are told, “grapples with concepts of childrearing, familial forgiveness, acceptance, and self-love." Given that there is ...

3
Album Review

Melissa Aldana: 12 Stars

Read "12 Stars" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi


Presente da alcuni anni ai vertici dei sondaggi dei critici di Down Beat, la sassofonista cilena Melissa Aldana ha da poco superato i 30 anni e in un decennio s'è imposta con un talento magistrale. Dopo cinque incisioni in proprio (l'ultima Visions le è valsa una nomination ai Grammy per il miglior assolo improvvisato nel brano “Elsewhere") ora debutta con l'etichetta Blue Note accompagnata dalla parole del suo presidente Don Was: «È tra i massimi musicisti e compositori della sua ...

12
Album Review

Melissa Aldana: 12 Stars

Read "12 Stars" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic


Many musicians have chosen their Blue Note moment to reveal themselves as the artist they are or intend to be. So it is not surprising that a young, gifted artist such as Grammy nominee Melissa Aldana, riding a sure, ascendant arc both creatively and professionally, goes big on her Blue Note debut. From the start, 12 Stars is the exact antithesis of the parlance of isolation. It is a confab of equals. Though in her notes the saxophonist ...

2
Radio & Podcasts

Covid Chronicles, Vol. 1: Reunion Episode

Read "Covid Chronicles, Vol. 1: Reunion Episode" reviewed by Leo Sidran


In March 2020, just as the world was closing under the advancing cloud of Covid 19, I spoke to a handful of musician friends from around the world to hear how they were doing and to explore some of the pressing questions around the shutdown and the arts.One year later, I check in with (almost) all of them to hear what the last year has been like for them, what were the challenges and opportunities of the first ...

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313

Education

Danilo Perez, John Patitucci, Joe La Barbera, Sheila Jordan, Dave Liebman, Lage Lund @ Roma Jazz's Cool 2011

Source: Giorgia Mileto

ROMA JAZZ'S COOL VII edition July 11th -17th 2011 Registrations to the VII edition of ROMA JAZZ'S COOL—full immersion of top level jazz workshops, managed by Saint Louis College of Music of Rome—are now open. The 2011 edition will be from July 11th to 17th 2011. The well-known names of International jazz who confirmed their participation: DANILO PEREZ, piano—SHEILA JORDAN, vocals—JOHN PATITUCCI, bass and double bass—JOE LA BARBERA, drums—LAGE LUND, guitar—DAVE LIEBMAN, sax, impro and combos. This 7th edition will ...

466

Interview

Guitarist Lage Lund Interviewed at AAJ

Guitarist Lage Lund Interviewed at AAJ

Source: All About Jazz

Growing up in Norway, a young Lage Lund dreamt of moving to New York, though not to play guitar, but to break dance in the NY subway system. Luckily for jazz guitar fans, this dream was never realized. Instead, Lund picked up the guitar at the age of thirteen and hasn't looked back. Since then, he has recorded on numerous records as a sideman, released three albums under his own name, and won the most prestigious jazz competition in the ...

152

Performance / Tour

Bassist Orlando le Fleming to Record Live Album with Antonio Sanchez, Will Vinson and Lage Lund

Bassist Orlando le Fleming to Record Live Album with Antonio Sanchez, Will Vinson and Lage Lund

Source: Michael Ricci

Orlando le Fleming will be recording a live album on November 29th and 30th at Freddy's in Brooklyn. His band features Antonio Sanchez, Will Vinson and Lage Lund. They will play two sets starting at 8:30 p m.

About Orlando le Fleming Orlando le Fleming was born in Birmingham, England on July 7 1976. Both of his parents are professional musicians; his mother a cellist and his father a composer. His first ambition was to become a professional cricketer, an ...

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Performance / Tour

Randy Ingram Quartet Feat. Lage Lund @ The 55 Bar, Friday, July 17

Randy Ingram Quartet Feat. Lage Lund @ The 55 Bar, Friday, July 17

Source: All About Jazz

Randy Ingram Quartet Randy Ingram, fender rhodes Lage Lund, guitar Matt Clohesy, bass Jochen Rueckert, drums live at the 55 Bar Friday, July 17, 2009 6-9pm no cover 55 Christopher Street New York, NY 10014 212-929-9883 55bar.com Randy Ingram is a thoughtful, versatile young pianist, composer and improviser, with an expressive touch and a keen imagination. Since moving to Brooklyn ...

108

Performance / Tour

Lage Lund in Concerts in NYC

Lage Lund in Concerts in NYC

Source: All About Jazz

Date: April 15, 22 & 29th 2008 Jazz guitarist Lage Lund will have a Tuesday residency at “Cachaa" in New York City starting April 15th, 2008. His quartet features some well-known up and coming jazz musicians in New York City, e.g. Danny Grissett (piano,) Rodney Green (drums,) and Orlando Le Fleming (bass). The band will play two sets at 10:00 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. Tickets are $15. Lage Lund won the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition in 2005, named ...

266

Recording

Lage Lund: Standards - Available on Itunes

Lage Lund: Standards - Available on Itunes

Source: All About Jazz


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Performance / Tour

Lage Lund 5 @ Jazz Gallery Friday on Juky 20th

Lage Lund 5 @ Jazz Gallery Friday on Juky 20th

Source: All About Jazz


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Performance / Tour

Lage Lund 5 at 55bar Wednesday 11/29

Lage Lund 5 at 55bar Wednesday 11/29

Source: All About Jazz


108

Performance / Tour

Lage Lund 5 @ Fat Cat Friday & Saturday 7/28-29

Lage Lund 5 @ Fat Cat  Friday & Saturday 7/28-29

Source: All About Jazz

The Lage Lund 5 Will be at Fat Cat Located at 75 Christopher st. at 7th Ave in NYC Friday and Saturday July 28-29 Sets @ 10:30 and 12:00 Tickets $15 The Band is: Lage Lund: Guitar Joel Frahm: Saxes Lawrence Fields: Piano Matt Clohesy: Bass (28th) Matt Penman: Bass (29th Obed ...

87

Performance / Tour

Lage Lund 5 @ Jazz Gallery Friday 7/21

Lage Lund 5 @ Jazz Gallery Friday 7/21

Source: All About Jazz

The Lage Lund 5 Will be at the Jazz Gallery Located at 290 Hudson st. (corner of spring) in NYC Friday July 21st Sets @ 9 and 10:30 Tickets $12 - $15 The Band is: Lage Lund: Guitar Will Vinson : Saxes Jon Cowherd : Piano Matt Penman: Bass Rodney ...

“Of the younger cats, Lage Lund is THE one. He’s a wonderful player, scary actually!” – Kurt Rosenwinkel

“ A guitarist who balances his abundant proficiencies with an aesthetic of gleaming calm” - NY Times "The guitarist Lage Lund exudes a diffident and self-deprecating kind of cool. He's not a talker, or even much of a frontman. But as he demonstrated at the TriBeCa Performing Arts Center on Tuesday night, his playing and presence can both be casually magnetic. Like Jim Hall, one of the guitarists in his heroes' gallery, he channels reticence into a whisper-quiet mystique." —The New York Times

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Primary Instrument

Guitar

Location

New York City

Brad Kang
guitar
Ant Law
guitar
Anton Chekurov
saxophone, alto
Oli Astral
guitar
Hallgrim Bratberg
guitar, electric

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Echoes Of The Inner...

Blue Note Records
2024

buy

12 Stars

Blue Note Records
2021

buy

Idlewild

Criss Cross
2015

buy

We Make The Rules

Self Produced
2014

buy

Foolhardy

Criss Cross Jazz
2013

buy

Unlikely Stories

Criss Cross
2010

buy

All Across the City

From: Lage Lund Four: Live at Smalls
By Lage Lund

Videos

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