Julian Lage Trio

Still in his mid-30s, Lage can already look back at a musical career that could easily fill an entire lifetime. Born in California in 1987, he began playing the guitar at the age of five, and was soon celebrated as a prodigy. Aged eight, he was the protagonist of the Oscar-nominated documentary film »Jules at Eight«, and he performed a duet with Carlos Santana. Before long, Lage was performing with the leading representatives of jazz, from Gary Burton, Jim Hall and Pat Metheny to Herbie Hancock, Fred Hersch and John Zorn, at whose Reflector Festival in the Elbphilharmonie in 2022 he appeared in various line-ups.

Over the years, Lage has continued to refine the interplay in his gently grooving trio with the bassist Jorge Roeder and the drummer Dave King. Their most recent albums include »Squint« (2021) and »View with a Room« (2022), the latter recorded with guest guitarist Bill Frisell. »Devouring it the first time, it’s a perfect contemporary jazz guitar album«, writes Die Zeit. »But then each time you listen you discover new layers. Modal jazz, of course, but also bebop, surf, reggae, western swing, very early pop.«