Julian Lage epitomizes modern jazz guitar, and he’s going to be the Resident Artistic Director at SF Jazz over the third weekend of January, holding court at the Miner Auditorium.
The first night features Lage in a solo guitar setting. Night two brings Lage’s working trio – featuring bassist Jorge Roeder and Dave King on drums – joined by Lage’s wife, singer/songwriter Margaret Glaspy for an evening of music from their collaborative project, Rude Ruth. The third night is the world premiere of Julian Lage and the Speak to Me Band, which will play tunes from their forthcoming Blue Note album, Speak to Me.
The Speak to Me Band sextet expands upon the rhythm section of Roeder and King with the addition of pianist Kris Davis (Terri Lyne Carrington), keyboardist Patrick Warren (Tom Waits), and saxophonist Levon Henry (Meshell Ndegeocello).
Lage’s most recent EP, The Layers, is nominated for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. A companion piece to his 2022 album, View with a Room, the collection featured six original pieces recorded during the same sessions with Roeder, King, and fellow guitar master Bill Frisell.
Lage also just released a gorgeously grooving acoustic guitar-driven single, Omission, which you can spin below.
Let’s allow PR man and true Lage fan Ken Weinstein to testify about what it’s like to witness Lage play live: “No idea is left unexplored, from heart to soul and brain to fingers. It’s beautiful. He’s painting right in front of you. It’s something to behold. I know that’s a lot of heavy hype. I don’t mean it to be. I’m just always so knocked out when I see him play.”
The Guitar Player Presents promotion will be onsite for the first evening of Lage’s SF Jazz residency on Thursday, January 18. We’ll have some free packs of Martin’s new Luxe Kovar strings, so be sure to drop by on the way in.
Tickets for the entire affair are selling very quickly. Get yours now.
Win Tickets
For a chance to win a pair of tickets to see GP Presents Julian Lage play solo guitar in San Francisco, click here and put “Lage” in the subject of your email. Include a sentence about yourself and why you want to go. Phone is contact greatly appreciated for confirmation.
The winner must provide their own transportation to SF Jazz in San Francisco, California, on Thursday, January 18, and have their own accommodations in the Bay Area. Best of luck!
Event Details
GP Presents – Julian Lage, Solo Guitar
Thursday, January 18: 7:30 p.m.
SF Jazz Center, Miner Auditorium – San Francisco, California
Free GP magazines, Martin Strings
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