NEW Julian Lage

**James W** · 11-27-2025, 06:37 AM

Originally Posted by emanresu

The funny thing is - there is no jazz in Lage's playing whatsoever.
None at all.
Yet we get a post now and then here.

Whether something is or isn't jazz isn't something that carries a lot of weight for me. It's a moot question. I recall critics accusing Coltrane of 'anti-jazz' ...

Lage's new track is nice. Generally I find his music is a bit easy listening for my taste, generally I prefer more intense or intricate stuff but I don't dislike it. I like listening to him best live where he seems to take more chances and stretch out soloing-wise.

**RLetson** · 11-27-2025, 11:45 AM

To expand on "Oh?":

First thing I did on reading the "no jazz" post was to Google up some Lage videos, where I found performances of standards ("Stella" and "I'll Be Seeing You") in completely recognizable jazz idiom. Of course, Lage has very big ears--I first encountered him as an extremely fancy acoustic picker (look at his Chet/Merle-flavored "Day and Age")--and his long intro to "I'll Be Seeing You" is ruminative and filled with gestures that remind me of both Debussy and Satie and miscellaneous modernist stuff. Or something. Izzat jazz? Eventually, yes, unmistakeably, around the 3:00 mark when he finally states the melody and the bass and drums join. (Is "A Genuine Tong Funeral" jazz? That's where I keep it in my library.)

**wolflen** · 11-27-2025, 02:40 PM

[QUOTE=RLetson;1435982]To expand on "Oh?":

his long intro to "I'll Be Seeing You" is ruminative and filled with gestures that remind me of both Debussy and Satie and miscellaneous modernist stuff.

Indeed...the intro alone could be a master class in intervallic improvisation..that might have Joe Diorio approve..and even blush.

**Cunamara** · 11-27-2025, 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Yeah, those albums with Gary Burton were techno.

Yep. Gary Burton was techno, Larry Coryell was rock, Pat Metheny was really country, Mick Goodrick was punk, Steve Swallow was mariachi and Bob Moses was a polka drummer. None of those guys played jazz.

Wes Montgomery was the last jazz guitarist. The line ended with him.

**Guitar Historian** · 11-30-2025, 01:43 PM

The guitar he is using is a 1956 ES-225D that has had the TP and bridge upgraded. He also has a hum-canceling coil installed. I loaned him this guitar a couple months ago as he was looking for something with a bit different voice.

**Flat** · 11-30-2025, 08:47 PM

Thanks for the info, GH. Man, you sure take good care of your guitars! That thing is pristine. Cheers.

**Cunamara** · 12-01-2025, 12:41 AM

Once again... this place is amazing.

**woyvel** · 12-01-2025, 02:07 PM

If Lage isn't jazz, what do you call Bill Frisell? Oz Noy? Does it have to be a 70-year-old song to be jazz?

**Christian Miller** · 12-02-2025, 04:24 AM

Jazz today is a scene, not so much a specific style of music.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**Hep To The Jive** · 12-13-2025, 03:50 AM

This is more like it from Julian, not pedestrian.

**jazzloverfat** · 12-14-2025, 01:18 AM

now that's the tone I love to hear from his guitar!

oh, btw, for us less versed in the mUzaCal aRTz, this is what, death metal?

**Oscar67** · 12-16-2025, 03:17 AM

I’ve seen him play with his trio twice last year, once in spring and once around Christmas, and I’ve never been closer to the essence of music. Nobody taps into the divine like Julian does. It was a revelation. To have witnessed that was a blessing. Then there’s his persona. Julian is almost an anti-hero kind of figure, soft spoken, humble, who somehow derives great power and charisma from his authenticity and almost fragile appearance. That authenticity makes him go wherever his muse leads him. There no rules, no boundaries, only inspiration. Not everything he has ever released appeals to me, but that’s just personal preference and takes nothing away from Julian’s genius. I also appreciate his gear choices. Seeing him play, up close and personal, with that Nachocaster and a Deluxe, that was also a revelation. He sounded so pure and expressive and wonderful. I’ve been secretly eyeing Tele-style instruments since then and I doubt it’s a coincidence that one such guitar found me last week.

**darkwaters** · 12-17-2025, 11:21 AM

Love the tune. Love the guitar. Love his gentle playing style, which I’m attempting.

And….. love that music room. Would love to have one like it!

Magical.

**GuyBoden** · 12-17-2025, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by Hep To The Jive

This is more like it from Julian, not pedestrian.

Reminds me of this Medeski, Martin and Wood classic.

**Stefan Eff** · 12-24-2025, 02:57 PM

I like those brandnew tunes A LOT more than his last album. And aren‘t we meanwhile beyond any pigeonholing? I simply call any handmade music ‚music‘…

Concerning this beautiful guitar- Julian makes any guitar sound like a Telly ;-)

**tfaux** · 01-09-2026, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by Guitar Historian

The guitar he is using is a 1956 ES-225D that has had the TP and bridge upgraded. He also has a hum-canceling coil installed. I loaned him this guitar a couple months ago as he was looking for something with a bit different voice.

Wow, how cool.
What is the hum-canceling coil? A different pickup or something added to the original '56 P90s?
I have a 1959 225TD that sounds heavenly but is noisy as %^&*. A noise-canceling coil sounds good to me.

**mikeSF** · 01-13-2026, 05:59 PM

his playing tho!

**Jazz4Four** · 01-19-2026, 01:15 AM

Originally Posted by woyvel

If Lage isn't jazz, what do you call Bill Frisell? Oz Noy? Does it have to be a 70-year-old song to be jazz?

Yes. And as I've been previously informed by the listening police around here, it HAS to be related to Charlie Parker.

**Rodney Gene** · 01-19-2026, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by tfaux

Wow, how cool.
What is the hum-canceling coil? A different pickup or something added to the original '56 P90s?
I have a 1959 225TD that sounds heavenly but is noisy as %^&*. A noise-canceling coil sounds good to me.

A dummy coil. Old technology, but useful. Gotta find room for it in the instrument in question. Results, both tonally and hum-cancelling, will vary.

Originally Posted by GuyBoden

Reminds me of this Medeski, Martin and Wood classic.

Scofield is the BB King of Acid Jazz for me when he pairs with MM&W. Every single note says something worth hearing.

**twtunes** · 01-19-2026, 02:42 PM

I'm a fan of stacked-single-coil pickups, and wonder why no one makes them for P-90 or Jazzmaster replacement. A wider coil has a more diffuse field response, somewhat darker and deeper than the skinny Strat type.

I toyed with "moving-coil" design, in which the strings are the "coil", connected to output. Only a magnet under the strings is used. Very weak, very low impedance signal, and a challenge to get strings well connected and balanced. But educational about the effect of field shape. Little neodynium magnets under the strings sounded nasty, harsh, bright, clipping. Holding the large ceramic magnet of a loudspeaker near the strings yielded a very fat, dark tone.

**Rodney Gene** · 01-19-2026, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by twtunes

I'm a fan of stacked-single-coil pickups, and wonder why no one makes them for P-90 or Jazzmaster replacement.

Duncan stacked P90s have been around for 25 years, but there are others...and the while not technically stacked, there are many hum-cancelling Jazzmasters sets from several manufactures.

**twtunes** · 01-19-2026, 05:53 PM

This is why I read this forum. Thanks for the info, and on the wiring stuff.

**jmbmusic** · 01-21-2026, 07:01 AM

Originally Posted by Guitar Historian

The guitar he is using is a 1956 ES-225D that has had the TP and bridge upgraded. He also has a hum-canceling coil installed. I loaned him this guitar a couple months ago as he was looking for something with a bit different voice.

That's awesome! Is he taking it on this upcoming tour or switching back to the tele? Drop me a line if you are ever thinking of selling

**tfaux** · 01-23-2026, 11:47 PM

[QUOTE=Rodney Gene;1444936]A dummy coil. Old technology, but useful. Gotta find room for it in the instrument in question. Results, both tonally and hum-cancelling, will vary.

Thanks!