Julian Lage – Converse to Me
(Blue Word 1434491. Album evaluate by John Bungey)

It’s good to see the California-born guitarist’s upward profession trajectory mirrored within the ever bigger London areas he’s invited to fill. From the Pizza Categorical and Jazz Cafe in 2018, Lage has progressed by the Union Chapel and Cadogan Corridor to an upcoming date on the Barbican. It’s a corridor often reserved just for the Methenys and McLaughlins of the jazz guitar career.

After all a number of the viewers heading for EC2 on April 21 might not consider Julian Lage as a jazz musician in any respect – particularly newcomers who’ve solely heard this fourth Blue Word album. Within the spirit of occasional collaborator Invoice Frisell, Lage appears to reject all stylistic boundaries: 13 concise tracks right here absorb blues, nation and Americana of each stripe.

Converse to Me opens with the sun-bleached and Spanish-tinged acoustic guitar of “Hymnal” earlier than a swerve right into a stomping rock-blues, “Northern Shuffle”, which Lage proceeds to subvert with playful jazz licks. It’s again to acoustic guitar for “Omission”, the loveliest piece right here, with an open-road, wind-in-the-hair really feel that recollects early Metheny. Then, on the countrified lament “Serenade”, you’re half anticipating Willie Nelson, or related wizened growler, to pipe up.

There’s extra Spanish-tinged artistry on the solo “Myself Round You”, all virtuoso cartwheels and curlicues. On “South Mountain”, lush acoustic guitar chords sound over light noiseplay from percussion and woodwind, including a dose of unusual. All through the album, core duo or trio performances are joined by, say, sax, vibes or organ, commenting on proceedings. In Joe Henry’s manufacturing these additional textures not often muscle to the foreground however subtly spice the flavours.

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For individuals who know Lage solely by energetic dwell reveals with bassist Jorge Roeder and drummer Dave King, the title monitor will really feel extra acquainted. Over an insistent pulse, Lage solos in a collection of lightning runs, uneven chords and the form of wailing excessive notes that few axemen can execute with out an anguished gurn.

And so the album wends its means by gypsy jazz, bebop and one thing langourous that would soundtrack a moody French new wave flick (As It Had been). Selections are shocking, by no means jarring, earlier than the pay-off, Nothing Occurs Right here, a fairly little tune that’s simply the hip facet of hokey.

OK, Converse to Me is maybe not good – the acoustic forays of tracks 4 and 5 do sluggish the stream. And for those who’ve come to listen to Dave King (the Unhealthy Plus co-founder) batter skins as exuberantly as he’s wont, then the drummer is on a decent leash right here. Nonetheless, partly because of Henry’s manufacturing and the settings he creates for the guitarist to discover, the album is Lage’s most spectacular but.

And, by the way, Converse to Me comes amid a clutch of tremendous releases on Blue Word Data – from Joel Ross, Charles Lloyd and extra. Lage and his venerable label are on a roll.

LINK: Purchase “Converse To Me” / Launch date is 1 March 2024

BAND: Julian Lage (guitars), Jorge Roeder (bass), Dave King (drums), Kris Davis (piano), Levon Henry (sax), Patrick Warren (keyboards)