Biography
Award-winning guitarist Julian Lage has been widely acclaimed as one of the most prodigious guitarists of his generation. The New York-based musician boasts a long resumé as a desired sideman with artists as diverse as Gary Burton, Taylor Eigsti, John Zorn, Nels Cline, Chris Eldridge, Eric Harland, and Fred Hersch, to name just a few. Equally important is his reputation as a soloist and bandleader. He is equally versed in jazz, classical, pop, and show tunes, and has spent more than a decade searching through the myriad strains of American musical history via an impeccable technique and a gift for freely associating between styles, tempos, keys, and textures that adds to his limitless improvisational spirit. Sounding Point, his 2009 debut album for Emarcy, featuring Bela Fleck and Chris Thile among his sidemen, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album. For Room, his Mack Avenue debut in 2014, he recorded as a duo with Cline, revealing the depth of their respect and camaraderie. It proved so successful that Lage joined Cline’s group for the landmark Lovers in 2016, the same year his own Arclight was released. On the latter, Lage played a Telecaster — a guitar not normally associated with jazz — in a program of modern originals and pre-bop covers with bassist Scott Colley and drummer Kenny Wollesen. He brought the lineup back together for 2018’s acclaimed Modern Lore, the same year he worked with Cline’s quartet for the Grammy-nominated Currents, Constellations.
Lage was a child prodigy — playing his instrument at the age of five and performing in public a year later. Shortly thereafter, Lage began playing with such renowned artists as Carlos Santana (when he was only eight years old!), Pat Metheny, Kenny Werner, Toots Thielemans, Martin Taylor, and David Grisman, among others, resulting in Lage being the subject of the Academy Award-nominated 1996 documentary film Jules at Eight. In addition to performing, Lage recorded as a duo with Grisman (the 1999 release Dawg Duos), and contributed a fine cover of “In a Sentimental Mood” with Martin Taylor and David Grisman to the 2000 compilation Acoustic Disc: 100% Handmade Music, Vol. 5. Lage also appeared at numerous jazz concerts/festivals and performed at the 2000 Grammy Awards.
In 2009, Lage released his debut solo album, Sounding Point, on Emarcy. The album was widely celebrated as the arrival of a new and authoritative voice on the instrument. This was followed by the concept album Gladwell in 2011. He fronted a quintet that featured bassist Jorge Roeder, tenor saxophonist Dan Blake, cellist Aristides Rivas, and drummer/percussionist Tupac Mantilla. The guitarist switched labels for 2013’s Free Flying. Issued on Palmetto Records, it was recorded in duet with pianist Fred Hersch.
The duo format apparently agreed with Lage, though its focus shifted a bit. In 2014, he issued two such albums. The first was Avalon with guitarist Chris Eldridge. Produced by the Milk Carton Kids’ Kenneth Pattengale, it contained bluegrass, folk, jazz, and classic pop standards; the pair called it a “love letter to the acoustic guitar.” Lage’s second 2014 album, Room, with fellow jazz guitarist Nels Cline, appeared on Mack Avenue. It focused on a range of material, from intricately composed and complex works to free and spontaneous improvisations.
In 2016, Lage released the trio album Arclight with bassist Scott Colley and drummer Kenny Wollesen. Produced by Grammy-winning guitarist/songwriter Jesse Harris (Norah Jones, Madeleine Peyroux), the album featured the single “Nocturne.” A five-song EP, Live in Los Angeles, followed later that year, documenting concert versions of songs from Arclight. In early 2017, Lage reunited with Chris Eldridge for Mount Royal, a second volume of acoustic guitar duets. Later that year, he paired with Gyan Riley for Midsummer Moons, a duet album of ten John Zorn compositions. The following year Lage reassembled his trio with Colley and Wollesen for Modern Lore. Produced by Harris, this set flipped the script on Arclight. Where the previous set — his first electric guitar trio date — found the artist inspired by freewheeling, pre-bop jazz, the latter recording incorporated the rhythmic sensibility and persona of early rock & roll in improvisational settings.
After tours with his own and Cline’s groups, Lage formed a new trio with bassist Jorge Roeder and drummer Dave King (Bad Plus) to cut his third Mack Avenue offering, Love Hurts. Whereas Arclight explored the pre-bop and country swing eras and Modern Lore surveyed first wave rock & roll, Love Hurts found the guitarist searching through the music of the late 1960s and early to mid-’70s in various genres for a series of covers — including songs by Roy Orbison, Ornette Coleman, Jimmy Giuffre, and Peter Ivers — in a jazz fusion of his own design. It was released in February 2019.
Releases
Speak To Me - Julian Lage
The Layers - Julian Lage
View With A Room - Julian Lage
Squint - Julian Lage
Videos
Julian Lage “Vanishing Points” (Live)
Julian Lage “Serenade” (Live)
Julian Lage “Two In One” (Live)
Julian Lage On “Broken Record” With Guest Host Don Was: Blue Note Records 85th Anniversary Series
Julian Lage “As It Were” (Live)
Julian Lage “76” (Live)
Julian Lage “Omission” (Live)
Julian Lage & Joe Henry On “First Look” With Don Was
Julian Lage “Speak To Me” (Live)
Julian Lage “Nothing Happens Here” (Live)
SPOTLIGHT
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JULIAN LAGE “SPEAK TO ME”
By Tom Moon Julian Lage’s vivid, wondrously textured new album Speak To Me offers a series of dispatches from his ongoing search for narrative beyond words. Intimate in tone and capacious in intention, the album represents some of the most ambitious music Lage has documented to date. Its originals travel a wide range of American music, and delight in the deliberate crossing of wires between... read more
JULIAN LAGE’S “VIEW WITH A ROOM”
Guitarist Julian Lage expands his horizons on View With A Room, a collection of 10 compelling original compositions that marks his second release for Blue Note Records. Having established a home base with his brilliant and deeply attuned trio of bassist Jorge Roeder and drummer Dave King—most recently heard on the guitarist’s acclaimed 2021 Blue Note debut Squint—Lage casts his gaze outward... read more
JULIAN LAGE REFLECTS ON THE BLUE NOTE LEGACY WITH “SQUINT”
As Julian Lage set out to record his leader debut for Blue Note Records, the virtuoso guitarist reflected on the label’s storied history and the way his own music connected with it. The result is Squint, a striking new album that weds incisive, expressive songwriting with the profound interplay Lage has honed over the past few years with his deft trio featuring bassist Jorge Roeder and drummer... read more
News
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BLUE NOTE NOMINEES FOR THE 2025 GRAMMY AWARDS
Congratulations to all the Blue Note artists who received nominations for the 2025 GRAMMY Awards! BEST CONTEMPORARY INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM: Bill Frisell Orchestras The guitarist’s trio with bassist Thomas Morgan and drummer Rudy Royston collaborates with the Brussels Philharmonic and Umbria Jazz Orchestra on two... read more
JULIAN LAGE SHARES “NOTHING HAPPENS HERE”; NEW SINGLE & LIVE VIDEO OUT NOW
Guitarist Julian Lage has released the fourth song from his vivid and wondrously textured new Blue Note album, Speak To Me, which will be released March 1. The acoustic guitar-based ballad “Nothing Happens Here” features Kris Davis on piano, Patrick Warren on keys, and Levon Henry on saxophone, alongside Dave... read more
JULIAN LAGE ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM “SPEAK TO ME” PRODUCED BY JOE HENRY
Guitar virtuoso Julian Lage has announced the March 1 release of Speak To Me, his vivid and wondrously textured new Blue Note album produced by Joe Henry which offers a series of dispatches from his ongoing search for narrative beyond words. Intimate in tone and capacious in intention, the music travels a wide range... read more
JULIAN LAGE: NEW SINGLE “OMISSION” OUT NOW; SPRING 2024 TOUR ANNOUNCED & A GRAMMY NOMINATION FOR “THE LAYERS”
Julian Lage has released “Omission”—a reverent new single imbued with a pastoral swing—and announced his upcoming Speak to Me Tour which will take the guitar virtuoso across the United States and Europe in Spring 2024. “Omission” finds the acclaimed producer Joe Henry enhancing Lage’s trademark melodic... read more
JULIAN LAGE RELEASES “THE LAYERS” FEATURING BILL FRISELL, JORGE ROEDER & DAVE KING
Virtuoso guitarist Julian Lage has released The Layers, a stunning companion piece to his acclaimed 2022 album View With A Room. The collection features six original pieces recorded during the same sessions which found Lage discovering new orchestrational possibilities by augmenting his deeply attuned trio of... read more
LISTEN TO JULIAN LAGE & BILL FRISELL’S ACOUSTIC GUITAR DUET ON “THIS WORLD”
Guitarist Julian Lage has released “This World,” a song featuring Lage and Bill Frisell alone together on acoustic guitars. The track is from his upcoming new album, The Layers, which comes out March 17 and is available for pre-order now on Blue Note Store exclusive color vinyl, black vinyl, CD or... read more
JULIAN LAGE ANNOUNCES MARCH 17 RELEASE OF “THE LAYERS” FEATURING BILL FRISELL, JORGE ROEDER & DAVE KING
On March 17, guitar virtuoso Julian Lage will release The Layers, a stunning companion piece to his acclaimed 2022 album View With A Room. The collection features six original pieces recorded during the same sessions which found Lage discovering new orchestrational possibilities by augmenting his deeply attuned trio... read more
JULIAN LAGE SHARES NEW SINGLE “CHAVEZ” + LIVE TRIO PERFORMANCE VIDEO
Guitarist Julian Lage has shared “Chavez,” his hard-driving new single which is available now to stream or download. An official live performance video featuring the extraordinary trio of Lage, bassist Jorge Roeder, and drummer Dave King also premieres today. “Chavez” marks the latest track release from... read more
JULIAN LAGE RELEASES NEW SINGLE “TRIBUTARY” FEATURING BILL FRISELL, JORGE ROEDER & DAVE KING
Guitar virtuoso Julian Lage has shared “Tributary,” the latest single from the guitar virtuoso’s forthcoming album View With A Room featuring fellow guitarist and labelmate Bill Frisell, bassist Jorge Roeder, and drummer Dave King. An official live performance video featuring the formidable trio of Lage,... read more
JULIAN LAGE SHARES NEW SINGLE “WORD FOR WORD”
Guitar virtuoso Julian Lage has shared the new single “Word For Word,” which is available now to stream or download. An official live performance video featuring the formidable trio of Lage, bassist Jorge Roeder, and drummer Dave King also premieres today. “Word For Word” is the latest single from Lage’s... read more
Live Dates
May 25
Julian Lage
Festival des Guitares du monde, Rouyn-noranda Canada
May 31
Julian Lage
BMC Presents: Bryan Sutton's North Carolina Guitar Celebration, Brevard United States
Jun 14
Julian Lage
Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles United States
Jun 27
Julian Lage
Chris Thile's Acousticamp 2025, Pacific Grove United States
Jul 11
Julian Lage
North Sea Jazz Festival 2025, Rotterdam Netherlands
Jul 15
Julian Lage
The Exchange, North Shields United Kingdom
Jul 16
Julian Lage
Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival 2025, Edinburgh United Kingdom
Jul 17
Julian Lage
Brudenell Social Club, Leeds United Kingdom
Jul 19
Julian Lage
Molde International Jazz Festival 2025, Molde Norway
Nov 03
Julian Lage
Elbphilharmonie Kulturcafé, Hamburg Germany
