Julian Lage (guitar); Jorge Roeder (double bass); Joey Baron (drums)
Julian Lage in North Shields? Julian Lage in North Shields, sold out? What's going
on? Since the demise of the jazz nights at the Saville Exchange (now the
Exchange 1856), jazz concerts on Howard Street have been sporadic, at best.
However, of late, direct from Ronnie Scott's, Donny McCaslin appeared at the
refurbished venue and now one of the world's finest guitarists arrives in town
to play to a full house. What's going on?
At £34.00 a pop, tickets weren't cheap, yet every single seat was occupied in time for a half past eight start (many of the seats were occupied by guitarists). Stage times posted at the door stated: 75 to 90 minutes, no interval. At half past eight on the dot, without ceremony, Julian Lage, Jorge Roeder and Joey Baron walked out onto the stage to huge applause.
The blues, Americana, frequently swinging like the clappers, astonishing musicianship, the interplay on another level, this was dizzying stuff. Three numbers in, Lage addressed his audience. Casual, relaxed, our guitar hero introduced bassist Jorge Roeder (sublime throughout) and master drummer Joey Baron.
Lage plays a Telecaster. In a jazz context, the instrument invariably produces a readily identifiable sound, a stinging sound, if you will. In the hands of Lage it took on a markedly different sound - floating like a butterfly, rarely stinging like a bee. The technical facility of all three musicians was something to behold: Lage's Telecaster seemingly an extension of his body, Roeder's wonderful time feel, Baron's masterful command of his drum kit, hands and brushes rarely rising above a whisper.
The sound balance was quite exceptional, the audience listened intently - if a pin did drop, no one was aware of it falling. Ninety minutes later, Julian Lage said farewell, the trio going out on the title track of his 2024 Blue Note release Speak to Me. The full house demanded more, the Julian Lage Trio obliged, then off we went into the night. A gig to live long in the memory. Russell
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