He dominates complex music and simple music, fast and slow. Many notes or just ringing sustain. Uses the whole fretboard. Loud or quiet. Aggressive or delicate. Absolutely takes my breath away.
I almost killed myself tonight. I came back to this, and as silly as it may sound... it really helped me to cope with everything that has been going on. Thank you Julian for being such an inspiration to me and others.
Sorry to hear that, I'm just gonna take the opportunity to say that if you haven't already, you should seek help from professionals, because it can really REALLY help and make an actual difference, other than this I'm sending love your way . Yes coming back to good music helps you remember how beauty can permeate and radiate from trivial things like vibrating string, I surely find it moving. Such an amazing musician
little brother, i know that you're sad and alone, i am too, we're being helped a lot, people do find a way to love us, i'm still finding ways to protect us from every storm that's left. i love you and you've never deserved to feel this way, neither do i. it is sad to see that we think of ending things, for the time being, i'll shelter you and comfort you for everything that you've endured. i can't promise that things get any better, but i can tell you there is a way in which things do get better. let's count on eachother to remind ourselves how badly we have it, maybe that way we'll stop for a breather. anyhow, it's been too long since i spoke to you, but now i'm keeping you very close and safely kept, no need to be alone anymore, for neither of us.
You know, people in these comment sections keep saying "Ted Greene", but I guess I don't hear that. They're two of my favorites ever, certainly, but they're very different (and entirely equal) in my mind. While both play Telecasters and have a wonderful sense of harmony, they've each got their own thing going. Greene always sounded like a piano or string quartet or something like that, but Lage always sounds like a guitar. Greene's genius was in making you think that he couldn't possibly only have 6 strings. Lage's genius is all about unapologetically celebrating those 6 strings for what they are. He so clearly loves being a guitarist and everything about the instrument and how it sounds. You hear "guitaristic" used pejoratively from time to time, but I use it in a very positive way when I talk of Lage. He might be the best guitaristic guitarist ever, like Greene might be the best pianistic guitarist ever.
This is a late response, but I totally agree. I love Ted Greene and Julian Lage, but I don't hear many similarities in their playing style besides the strong use of counterpoint.
Completely agree. Whilst Lage's influences are audible, they combine to create just 'him'. I think he's one of the rare ones who come along every ten years or so to change the way the instrument is approached, and in turn have others imitate them. As for comparisons, sometimes it's only a visually similar instrument that tricks people into false comparisons. I mean, how many times do you see a great modern blues player with a butterscotch Tele and hear people say, "Wow, he's really like Roy Buchanan". Bullshit!
Nate P Ted Green was much more musical and unique. (in my opinion) That being said, Lage is a incredible talent and I think he’s an awesome guitarist. Ted was just something else!
Completely agree. I love Lage's music, but Ted Greene was a force of nature, touched by the hand of God etc. however you want to put it. The guy performed miracles with the guitar. When I hear Ted Play Autumn Leaves or Girl With the Flaxen Hair, like you said, its pianic, orchestral, a full bodied string quartet on two slabs of wood bolted together! Massive respect to both guitarists, Lage is equally as good I think but for different reasons.
I saw his trio last weekend. Never ever have I witnessed music itself like I did that night. And it was all achieved with this barebones Telecaster tone. Best event I’ve witnessed ever, the musicality of the trio went way beyond I thought it was possible. BTW I can’t find videos that showcase what I saw that night only a couple seem to be in the same ballpark.
Jeff Degener Same here. If you ever have the chance to see him live, that can be a life changing moment. I saw his trio last weekend in Madrid. Never ever have I witnessed music itself like I did that night (all achieved with this barebones Telecaster tone). Best event I’ve witnessed, the musicality of the trio went way beyond I thought it was possible. BTW I can’t find videos that showcase what I saw that night only a couple seem to be in the same ballpark
It's incredible how JL let his Telecaster sound like an accoustic guitar - I love it. Not to mention his masterful technique. A really great guitar player!!
His playing is my favorite of any solo guitarist. He makes me yell out loud because of his licks sometimes. The way he uses dynamics too. If I sold my soul for his talent, I'd have ripped of Satan.
An amazing musician. We are blessed to have a musician of this man's caliber in this day and age. For many, he is an inspiration that helps us dream to new heights for our own musicianship. For others, he is the match that starts the bonfire of our tortured guitars.
Jules is a friend and collaborator since his pre-teens. Reading these comments, here's a thought. If you had two music judges with stopwatches pacing the race between musicality and guitar-icity, when Jules crossed the line it would be a dead heat.
Estoy obsesionado con este tio, de los muy pocos guitarristas de jazz que me puedo escuchar sus discos uno detrás de otro sin aburrirme. Se mantiene siempre fresco, siempre melódico, es una auténtico titán!
What a great musicianship! this is very rare in the field of electric guitar. Like Bill Frisell - but in a different way - Julian Lage uses "familiar" music styles to make a unique performance of his own, without the usual clichés, or with twisted rendering of it. Just fascinating from the first to the last note.
Creative, innovative, virtuoso and totally unique! So much more great stuff from this gentleman about to descend on the music world for a long, long time! And get this, he has the “Blues” deep inside too. 👍🏼🎼🎶🎵🎸
That happened to me. I woke up and I was hearing one of the acoustic duets with Chris Eldridge. The one were they are standing on the dock. I coudn't place it at first, then the penny dropped.
imho he is very good technically....not sure about musically....I currently would prefer to listen to gypsy jazz ala Antoine Boyer....maybe its just his choice of tunes....both remind me of a cross between Ted Green and Django
True pleasure, watching you play. The use of word "watch" is quite intentional. There is music you jsut listen to, but then there are pieces where the visuals elevate the piece even higher in your perception. Watching passionate people get lost in the sound of their own instrument is quite a sight.
What is the tune he starts messing with at 1:30 (the main riff is at 1:48)? Sounds like old man river but reminds me of an indie rock song I can’t quite place??? Arg.
Jonathan Vargas he has one '54 Tele and one Danocaster, however I'm not familiar with the white one (unless it's one of those and I'm just dumb). He's been using vintage tweed champs quite a bit lately so that would be my guess, but when he doesn't have his vintage Tele he's using all Ron Ellis pickups. He sometimes uses a Strymon Flint for Reverb too
dont know the tele. as for his other gear: he definitely is not using a fender tweed. Looks like a new Milkman amp which i believe is tonally kind of like a fender brownface( between tweed and blackface) amp but i dont think its the same circuit.For pedals he is running two JHS pedals and a Strymon. the first one in the chain looks like a JHS morning glory overdrive, the second(white one ) is almost definitely a JHS milkman delay and boost. the last pedal he's got there is a strymon flint.
Nachocaster. White Tele in the background is his '54 (body was refinished). Typically, he favors Fender Champs. Whatever he's plugged into here is considerably larger, which probably explains using the JHS Morning Glory (appears to be the only pedal engaged) for amp breakup.
