Studio Sessions

Julian Lage - From guitar prodigy to guitar master

KNKX Public Radio | By Justin Steyer,

Published June 20, 2011 at 4:30 PM PDT

When Julian Lage was 8 years old, his skill as a guitarist was the subject of a documentary film, Jules at Eight. Before he entered his teens, he had already performed with Carlos Santana and jazz vibraphonist, Gary Burton.

He made his first jazz recording with Burton at age 15, and at age 22 he released his first CD as a band leader. Now, at the ripe old age of 24, he's just released his second CD, called Gladwell.

To celebrate and promote the new recording, Julian is traveling the country with his quintet, and stopped by the KPLU studios last week to treat us to three delightful pieces of music.

Along with his drummer, Tupac Mantilla, and bassist, Jorge Roeder, Julian began the set with his intriguing reworking of the Neil Hefti classic, Li’l Darlin (which Mantilla plays percussion on Roeder's bass for the second half of the tune):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3QfovGl4Qg

The trio also performed However, from their new CD, and finished up with an as-yet unrecorded composition called Welcoming Committee:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMgmuiV7PXE

Tags

Justin Steyer

Justin joined KNKX in 2009 as the station's first Multimedia Manager. In this role, Justin helped to produce multimedia content, and implement systems and procedures in efforts to transform KNKX from a traditional broadcast station into a multi-platform media organization.

See stories by Justin Steyer

Nick Morrison

Nick began working at KNKX as a program host in the late 1980’s and, with the exception of a relatively brief hiatus, has been with the station ever since. Along with his work as a Midday Jazz host, Nick worked for several years as KNKX’s Music Director. He is now the station’s Production Manager and also serves as a fill-in host on KNKX’s jazz and blues programs.

See stories by Nick Morrison

Nick Francis

A native of Los Angeles and graduate of UCLA, Francis began his radio career in 1983 at KLSK-FM, an eclectic-based jazz station in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Since then, he has programmed jazz radio at stations all around the country, including KKSF/San Francisco and WJZZ/Atlanta. During his seven years as Program Director at KYOT/Phoenix, he helped it become the first jazz station in America to achieve number-one status in the ratings. He joined the KNKX team in November 2005.

See stories by Nick Francis