Julian Lage is the face of modern jazz guitar, and he returns to SFJAZZ as Resident Artistic Director over the last weekend in February for a series of nightly shows at impeccable Miner Auditorium. Thursday features Lage in a solo guitar setting, followed by a duo with bassist Jorge Roeder on Friday, a quartet with Roeder, John Medeski and Kenny Wolleson on Saturday, and finally a duo with fellow master guitarist Marc Ribot. Guitar Player will be on site that special Sunday, February 23, in eager anticipation of seeing the two jazz masters make a dozen strings come together as one sound.
We were at SFJAZZ for Lage’s residency last year to witness tune debuts from his Blue Note album, Speak to Me, which went on to get a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album. It features a beautiful balance of electric and acoustic guitar playing, as did his shows at SFJAZZ. Lage’s solo acoustic performance was one for the ages with an abundance of outrageously impressive elements. We followed up with a Frets feature interview, where he revealed myriad insights.
He spoke all about the art of solo acoustic, including so many lessons learned from touring with Leo Kottke that we broke that out into its own Learn column.
This time we’re fired up about Lage’s duo show with Ribot, a jazz man with deep roots in the Americana scene whose recording credits include Tom Waits, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Elvis Costello and John Mellencamp. Ribot has also released over 25 albums under his own name over a storied career spanning more than four decades.
Watch Lage's and his band play "Speak to Me" at SFJAZZ below.
A Guitar Player Presents promotion will be in effect on site February 23rd. We’ll have some free packs of Martin’s top-shelf Luxe Kovar strings, so be sure to drop by on the way in. Let’s duet! Tickets are almost sold out.
WIN TICKETS!
For a chance to win a pair of tickets to see GP Presents Julian Lage’s duo with Marc Ribot in San Francisco, send an email to gp@jimmyleslie.com, put “Lage/Ribot” in the subject line and simply include a sentence about yourself and why you want to go.
Phone contact greatly appreciated for confirmation.
Winner must provide his or her own transportation to SFJAZZ in San Francisco, California, on Sunday, February 23, and have his or her own accommodations in the Bay Area.
Best of luck!
EVENT DETAILS
GP Presents Julian Lage and Marc Ribot on Sunday, February 23
SFJAZZ Center, Miner Auditorium
201 Franklin St, San Francisco, CA 94102
7:00pm show
Free GP magazines, Martin Strings
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