Julian Lage
{{short description|American guitarist and composer (born 1987)}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Julian Lage
| image = Julian Lage.jpg
| caption = Julian Lage at the Monterey Jazz Festival, 2014
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|12|25}}
| birth_place = Santa Rosa, California, U.S.
| origin =
| genre = Jazz
| occupation = Musician, composer
| instrument = Guitar
| years_active =
| label = EmArcy, Mack Avenue, Blue Note{{Cite web|url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/julian-lage-blue-note-squint-album/|title=Guitar Virtuoso Julian Lage Signs To Blue Note, Announces New Album, 'Squint'|last=Peacock|first=Tim|date=March 17, 2021|website=UDiscoverMusic|accessdate=July 15, 2022}}
| spouse = Margaret Glaspy
| website = {{URL|www.julianlage.com}}
}}
Julian Price Lage{{cite web|url=https://www.ascap.com/repertory#/ace/search/workID/923109876 |title=AS IT WERE |website=ASCAP |publisher=American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers |access-date=February 2, 2025}} ({{IPAc-en|l|ɑː|ʒ}} {{respell|LAHZH}}; born December 25, 1987) is an American guitarist and composer.
A child prodigy, Lage performed at the 2000 Grammy Awards at age 12, and at 15 became a faculty member of the Stanford Jazz Workshop. He released his debut album Sounding Point in 2009 on the EmArcy Records label. He was signed to Blue Note Records in 2021, with whom he has released the albums Squint (2021), View with a Room (2022), The Layers EP (2023) and Speak to Me (2024).
Lage teaches ensembles and guitar at The New School's School of Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City.
Early life and career
Lage was born in Santa Rosa, California,{{Cite web |last=TAYLOR |first=DAN |date=2022-09-21 |title=Jazz guitarist Julian Lage returns to Sonoma County with new album, live concert |url=https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/entertainment/julian-lage-santa-rosa-prodigy-turned-star-guitarist/ |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=The Press Democrat |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Gilbert |first=Andrew |date=2024-01-16 |title=Catching Up with Julian Lage {{!}} KQED |url=https://www.kqed.org/arts/13940505/julian-lage-sfjazz-san-francisco |url-status=live |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=www.kqed.org |language=en}} and is the youngest of five children.{{cite web |last1=Mergner |first1=Lee |title='A cycle of love and curiosity': Julian Lage's lifetime of inspiration from his elders and peers |url=https://www.wbgo.org/music/2023-08-03/a-cycle-of-love-and-curiosity-julian-lages-lifetime-of-inspiration-from-his-elders-and-peers |website=WBGO |access-date=2 October 2023 |language=en |date=3 August 2023}} His father, Mario, is a visual artist, and his mother is of Jewish heritage (although he did not grow up in a religious household).{{cite web |last1=Harris |first1=George W. |title=Julian Lage's Modern Lore |url=https://www.jazzweekly.com/2018/02/julian-lage-interview/ |website=www.jazzweekly.com |access-date=2 October 2023 |date=1 February 2018}} A child prodigy, Lage was the subject of the 1996 short documentary film Jules at Eight.{{cite web|title=Julian Lage: Stepping Into the Limelight |first=RJ|last=Deluke |website=All About Jazz |url=http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=32007 |date=2009-03-23 |access-date=2010-09-24}} At 12, he performed at the 2000 Grammy Awards. Three years later, he became a faculty member of the Stanford Jazz Workshop at Stanford University.{{cite web|title=Stanford Jazz Festival, Jazz Camp & Jazz Residency: A swinging success! |website=Stanford Jazz Workshop |url=http://www.stanfordjazz.org/ |access-date=2010-09-25}} Classically trained at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, he has studied at Sonoma State University and the Ali Akbar College of Music. He graduated from the Berklee College of Music in 2008.{{Cite web |url=https://www.mackavenue.com/news/julian-lages-modern-lore |title=Julian Lage's Modern Lore |website=Mack Avenue |access-date=September 5, 2019 |archive-date=December 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209120952/https://www.mackavenue.com/news/julian-lages-modern-lore |url-status=dead }}
On March 24, 2009 EmArcy released his debut album Sounding Point to favorable reviews.{{cite web|title=Sounding Point: Review |first=Michael|last=Nastos |website=Allmusic |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1504003|pure_url=yes}} |access-date=2010-09-25}}{{cite news|title=Julian Lage: Sounding Point |first=John|last=Fordham |website=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/may/01/julian-lage-sounding-point-review|access-date=2011-06-01|location=London|date=2009-05-01}} It was nominated for the 2010 Grammy Award Best Contemporary Jazz Album. His second album, Gladwell, was released April 26, 2011, to positive reviews.{{cite web|title=Gladwell: Review |first=Alex |last=Henderson |website=Allmusic|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r2147992|pure_url=yes}} |access-date=2011-05-30}}{{cite web |title=Julian Lage Group, Gladwell |first=Frank |last=Alkyer |website=Downbeat |url=http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=editorspicks201105#2 |date=2011-05-01 |access-date=2011-05-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511005438/http://www.downbeat.com/default.asp?sect=editorspicks201105#2 |archive-date=2011-05-11 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|title=Julian Lage "Gladwell" |first=Nate|last=Chinen|website=New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/03/arts/music/new-cds-from-beastie-boys-aretha-franklin-and-cass-mccombs.html |date=2011-05-02 |access-date=2011-05-30}}{{cite news|title=Noisy Neighbors, New sounds from close to home|first=Andrew|last=Gilbert|website=Boston Globe |url=http://archive.boston.com/ae/music/cd_reviews/articles/2011/04/22/review_of_julian_lages_gladwell/ |date=2011-04-22}} His first solo acoustic album, World's Fair, was released on March 2, 2015, and his fourth album, Arclight, was released on March 11, 2016.
In a 2016 interview promoting Arclight on the NPR program Fresh Air, Lage revealed that around the time of the release of World's Fair he struggled with focal dystonia, a neurological disorder resulting from the repeated performance of tasks. The disorder caused spasms in his left arm and hand while trying to play the guitar. He believed that the condition was brought on at age five from playing and gripping the neck of his guitar too hard, because the guitar was bigger than he was. At the time, he believed that was what he needed to do to "sound official... and [not] drop the guitar." He had to "re-learn how to play the guitar in a way that addressed these tendencies that got [him] in trouble in the first place."{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2016/04/13/474083480/jazz-guitarist-julian-lage-on-arclight-and-shifting-musical-genres |title=Jazz Guitarist Julian Lage On 'Arclight' And Shifting Musical Genres |date=April 13, 2016 |website=NPR Music |access-date=May 9, 2023}}
He has worked in a trio with Scott Colley and drummer Kenny Wollesen and has recorded duo albums with guitarists Chris Eldridge, Gyan Riley, and Nels Cline. For the 2017 guitar duo album Mount Royal, Lage and Eldridge received a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album.{{cite web|title=Julian Lage at 30: A Visit in San Francisco With the Jazz Guitar Phenomenon |url=http://acousticguitar.com/julian-lage-at-30-a-visit-in-san-francisco-with-the-jazz-guitar-phenomenon/ |first=Adam|last=Perlmutter |date=2018-02-24|website=Acoustic Guitar}}
Lage is presently a faculty member at The School of Jazz and Contemporary Music at The New School in New York City, where he teaches ensembles and guitar. He has taught at the New England Conservatory of Music.{{Cite web|url=https://necmusic.edu/faculty/julian-lage|title=Julian Lage|website=Necmusic.edu|access-date=2021-06-11}}
On March 17, 2021, it was announced that he signed to Blue Note Records. Along with the announcement, it was announced that his debut release on the label entitled Squint would be released on June 11. The lead single "Saint Rose" was released on that day as well. April 9 saw the release on the second single "Boo's Blues."{{Cite web|url=https://www.jambase.com/article/julian-lage-boos-blues-single|title=Julian Lage Shares 'Boo's Blues' Single|last=Todd|first=Nate|date=April 9, 2021|publisher=JamBase|accessdate=July 15, 2021}}
View With a Room was released on September 16, 2022{{Cite web|url=https://jazz.fm/julian-lage-view-with-a-room-album-bill-frisell/|title=Julian Lage teams up with Bill Frisell on new album View With a Room|last=Feibel|first=Adam|date=June 27, 2022|publisher=Jazz.FM91|website=Jazz.FM|accessdate=July 15, 2022}} The lead single, Auditorium, was released on June 21.{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Julian-Lage-Announces-New-Album-With-Bill-Frisell-Shares-First-Song-20220621|title=Julian Lage Announces New Album With Bill Frisell & Shares First Song|last=Major|first=Michael|date=June 21, 2022|publisher=BroadwayWorld|accessdate=July 15, 2022}} Word for Word, the second single, was released on July 13.{{Cite web|url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/julian-lage-tributary/|title=Julian Lage Shares New Single 'Word For Word'|last=Schube|first=Will|date=July 13, 2022|publisher=uDiscoverMusic|accessdate=July 15, 2022}} The third single, Tributary, was released on August 10.{{Cite web|url=https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/julian-lage-tributary/|title=Listen To Julian Lage's New Song 'Tributary'|last=Schube|first=Will|date=August 10, 2022|publisher=uDiscoverMusic|accessdate=August 14, 2022}} The fourth single, Chavez, was released on August 31.{{Cite web|url=https://www.guitarplayer.com/news/julian-lage-chavez-view-with-a-room|title=Watch Julian Lage Dial Up the Virtuosity in the Video for Playful New Single, "Chavez"|last=Horsely|first=Jonathan|date=August 31, 2022|publisher=Guitar Player|accessdate=November 18, 2022}}
On November 14, 2023, Lage release the single, Omission,{{cite web |url=https://www.bluenote.com/julian-lage-new-single-omission-out-now-spring-2024-tour-announced-a-grammy-nomination-for-the-layers |title=Julian Lage: New Single 'Omission' Out Now; Spring 2024 Tour Announced & a Grammy Nomination for 'The Layers' |date=November 14, 2023 |website=Blue Note |access-date=March 12, 2024}} continuing to use the acoustic instrumentation found on his EP The Layers, which was released on March 17, 2023.{{cite web |url=https://www.bluenote.com/julian-lage-the-layers-featuring-bill-frisell-jorge-roeder-dave-king |title=Julian Lage Releases 'The Layers' Featuring Bill Frisell, Jorge Roeder & Dave King |date=March 17, 2023 |website=Blue Note |access-date=March 12, 2024}}
Discography
= As leader =
- Sounding Point (EmArcy, 2009)
- Gladwell (EmArcy, 2011)
- Free Flying with Fred Hersch (Palmetto, 2013)
- Close to Picture with Chris Eldridge (Self-released, 2013)
- Avalon with Chris Eldridge (Modern Lore, 2014)
- Room with Nels Cline (Mack Avenue, 2014)
- World's Fair (Modern Lore, 2015)
- Arclight (Mack Avenue, 2016)
- Live in Los Angeles (Mack Avenue, 2017) {{cite web | url=https://www.mackavenue.com/news/julian-lage-live-in-los-angeles | title=Julian Lage: Live in Los Angeles | website=Mackavenue.com | access-date=17 February 2021 | archive-date=December 9, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209120943/https://www.mackavenue.com/news/julian-lage-live-in-los-angeles | url-status=dead }}
- Mount Royal with Chris Eldridge (Free Dirt, 2017) {{cite web|url=https://freedirt.net/collections/julian-lage-chris-eldridge/products/julian-lage-chris-eldridge-mount-royal|title=Julian Lage & Chris Eldridge - Mount Royal|website=Free Dirt Records & Service Co.|access-date=2 February 2018 }}{{cite web|url=http://bluegrasstoday.com/bone-collector-video-from-julian-chris/|title=Bone Collector video from Julian & Chris |date=10 January 2017|publisher=Bluegrass Today|access-date=2 February 2018}}
- Modern Lore (Mack Avenue, 2018)
- Love Hurts (Mack Avenue, 2019)
- Squint (Blue Note, 2021)
- View with a Room (Blue Note, 2022)
- The Layers EP (Blue Note, 2023)
- Speak to Me (Blue Note, 2024){{Cite web|url=https://jazz.fm/julian-lage-speak-to-me-album-blue-note/|title=Julian Lage announces new album Speak to Me|last=Feibel|first=Adam|date=January 17, 2024|publisher=Jazz.FM91|accessdate=January 19, 2024}}
= As sideman =
With Gary Burton
- Generations (Concord Jazz, 2004)
- Next Generation (Concord Jazz, 2005)
- Common Ground (Mack Avenue, 2011)
- Guided Tour (Mack Avenue, 2013)
With John Zorn
- Midsummer Moons (Tzadik, 2017)
- Insurrection (Tzadik, 2018)
- Salem 1692 (Tzadik, 2018)
- The Book Beri'ah Vol.4 – Chesed (Tzadik, 2018)
- Nove Cantici Per Francesco D'Assisi (Tzadik, 2019)
- Virtue (Tzadik, 2020)
- Songs for Petra (Tzadik, 2020)
- Teresa De Ávila (Tzadik, 2021)
- Parables (Tzadik, 2021)
- New Masada Quartet (Tzadik, 2021)
- John Zorn’s Bagatelles Vol.10 (Tzadik, 2022)
- A Garden Of Forking Paths (Tzadik, 2022)
- Incerto (Tzadik, 2022)
- New Masada Quartet Volume Two (Tzadik, 2023)
- Multiplicities II (Tzadik, 2023)
- Quatrain (Tzadik, 2023)
- Full Fathom Five (Tzadik, 2023)
- Homenaje A Remedios Varo (Tzadik, 2023)
- Nothing Is As Real As Nothing (Tzadik, 2023)
- Her Melodious Lay (Tzadik, 2024)
- Lamentations (Tzadik, 2024)
- New Masada Quartet, Vol. 3 (Tzadik, 2024)
With others
- Terri Lyne Carrington, More to Say (E1, 2009)
- Nels Cline, Lovers (Blue Note, 2016)
- Nels Cline, Currents, Constellations (Blue Note, 2018)
- Kris Davis, Duopoly (Pyroclastic, 2016)
- Virgil Donati, Ruination (Gildon Music, 2019)
- Dave Douglas, Uplift Twelve Pieces for Positive Action (Greenleaf Music, 2018)
- Taylor Eigsti, Lucky to Be Me (Concord Jazz, 2006)
- David Grisman, Dawg Duos (Acoustic Disc, 1999)
- Eric Harland, Voyager: Live by Night (Space Time, 2011)
- Eric Harland, Vipassana (GSI, 2014)
- Jesse Harris, No Wrong No Right (Dangerbird, 2015)
- Charles Lloyd, 8: Kindred Spirits (Live from the Lobero) (Blue Note, 2020)
- Charles Lloyd, Trios: Sacred Thread (Blue Note, 2022)
- Sophie Milman, in the Moonlight (E1, 2011)
- Yoko Ono, Take Me to the Land of Hell (Chimera Music, 2013)
- Dayna Stephens, Today Is Tomorrow (Criss Cross, 2012)
- Dayna Stephens, Peace (Sunnyside, 2014)
Awards and nominations
{{Infobox musician awards
| name = Julian Lage
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| wins = 1
| nominations = 4
| award1 = Grammy Awards
| award1W = 0
| award1N = 3
| award2 = Independent Music Awards
| award2W = 1
| award2N = 1
}}
| class="wikitable" |
| style="text-align:center;"|Year
! style="text-align:center;"|Nominated work ! style="text-align:center;"|Event ! style="text-align:center;"|Award ! style="text-align:center;"|Result |
|---|
| 2010
| Sounding Point | rowspan=2| Grammy Awards | Best Contemporary Jazz Album | {{nominated}} |
| 2018
| rowspan="2" | Mount Royal (with Chris Eldridge) | Best Contemporary Instrumental Album | {{nominated}} |
| 2018
| Independent Music Awards | Best Instrumental Album | {{won}} |
| 2019
| Modern Lore | Best Contemporary Instrumental Album | {{nom}} |
| 2024
| The Layers | Best Contemporary Instrumental Album | {{nom}} |
| 2025
| Speak to Me | Best Contemporary Instrumental Album | {{nom}} |
References
{{Portal|Biography|United States|Jazz}}
{{Reflist}}
{{commons category}}
External links
- [http://julianlage.com/ Official website]
- [https://www.npr.org/2011/10/28/106230652/guitarist-julian-lage-on-piano-jazz On Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz]
{{Julian Lage}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lage, Julian}}
Category:20th-century American guitarists
Category:21st-century American guitarists
Category:American jazz guitarists
Category:Palmetto Records artists
Category:Musicians from Santa Rosa, California
Category:Mack Avenue Records artists
Category:EmArcy Records artists
Category:Jazz musicians from California
Category:Musicians with dystonia
Category:American musicians with disabilities
Category:Jewish American musicians