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Julian Lage: Squint

By Chris May
June 9, 2021
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Before discussing guitarist

Julian Lage

guitar, electric

" data-original-title="" title="">Julian Lage's album, some food for thought... A credible argument could be put forward to say that the jazz piano trio reached its pinnacle of perfection with

Bill Evans

piano
1929 - 1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Evans' Village Vanguard performances of June 1961, with the trio of bassist

Scott LaFaro

bass
1936 - 1961

" data-original-title="" title="">Scott LaFaro and drummer

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Motian, and that trios led by guitars, another chordal instrument, have long since replaced piano led trios at the evolutionary edge of the music.

Still thinking aloud, as it were, the acoustic piano might also be said to be increasingly anachronistic across jazz, its place taken in many young bands by an electric keyboard, or a guitar, or by no chordal instrument at all. On the other hand, the explanation for that could simply be cyclical. In any event, no denigration of acoustic pianists is intended. It is indisputable, however, that jazz guitar trios continue to push the boundaries of the music—or, as in the case of Lage's Blue Note debut, Squint, bring a fresh spin to the lyric territory in which Bill Evans excelled.

All but two of the eleven tracks on Squint are Lage originals and they range from blues rock to exquisitely beautiful ballads. Predictably, Blue Note is pushing the first strand, which, enjoyable as it is, forms the smaller proportion of the album. The only YouTube clip available at the time of writing is "Boo's Blues," and the album's first single is "Saint Rose." Both tunes are radio-friendly drive-time chuggers. Among the ballads, a highlight is undoubtedly the cover of Johnny Mandel's "Emily," but Lage's "Day And Age" and "Quiet Like A Flower" are every bit as gorgeous. The guitarist's playing on all three tracks is as harmonically elevated as Bill Evans was on, say, "My Foolish Heart" and "Waltz For Debby" at the Vanguard (or indeed on the versions of "My Funny Valentine" and "Romain" he recorded in a duo with guitarist

Jim Hall

guitar
1930 - 2013

" data-original-title="" title="">Jim Hall in 1962 for the United Artists album Undercurrent).

Lage excels throughout Squint as both an improviser and a composer, and he is well served by bassist

Jorge Roeder

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Jorge Roeder and drummer

Dave King

drums
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave King, both of whom had toured with him for two years before the pandemic delayed the completion of recording. From every angle, and from start to finish, the album is a delight.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Etude; Boo��s Blues; Squint; Saint Rose; Emily; Familiar Flower; Day and Age; Quiet Like a Fuse; Short Form; Twilight Surfer; Call of the Canyon.

Personnel

Julian Lage

guitar, electric

Jorge Roeder

bass, acoustic

Dave King

drums

Album information

Title: Squint | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Blue Note Records

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Julian Lage Concerts

Oct 4 Sat

Julian Lage

Maryland Hall For The Creative Arts
Annapolis, MD

Oct 5 Sun

Julian Lage

Ridgefield Playhouse
Ridgefield, CT

Oct 18 Sat

Julian Lage

Sanders Theatre
Cambridge, MA

Nov 3 Mon

Julian Lage

Elbphilharmonie Kulturcafé
Hamburg, Germany

Nov 4 Tue

Julian Lage

The Helix
Dublin, Ireland

Nov 9 Sun

Julian Lage

Het Concertgebouw
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Jan 31 Sat

Julian Lage

Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts
Brookfield, WI

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