Julian Lage

What is a mistake? Do mistakes even exist? I pondered this before speaking with jazz guitarist Julian Lage for the podcast series Sixty Scales and the Truth. Two days before the conversation, a remarkable moment occurred on stage at the beautiful venue De Roma in Antwerp: together with bandmates Jorge Roeder (double bass) and Dave King (drums), guitarist Lage had already been on a roll for about three-quarters of an hour. Occasionally, Lage would take a mini-pause. He would briefly take his hands off his instrument and seem to sense which note should follow once he touched his Telecaster again. At this particular moment, Lage decided to make a large arm swing that was supposed to result in a loud, sharp, high note. But Lage missed. It doesn't happen to him often. The crackling sound of half-muted strings filled the hall. It didn't faze Lage. On the contrary: Roeder and King laughed, as did Lage himself, who seemed to embrace the miss and casually turn it to his advantage. Typically one of those moments where, precisely through imperfection, perfection is approached in the guitarist's playing.Anyone who has ever seen Lage play knows how special he is. He has an incredible amount of theoretical knowledge but plays completely by feel. "It's about communicating, about the moment," Lage said in our conversation. In this, a missed note can say more than something that is played perfectly.Speaking with Lage was a joy. The American spoke openly about how he overcame obstacles and thus allowed his true voice to emerge. Julian discusses the significance of authenticity in his guitar playing, highlighting his unique voice and the balance between being reserved offstage and taking risks onstage. He emphasizes the holistic nature of music and the importance of expressing one's true self. Julian shares insights on communication through music, the role of vulnerability, and the nuances of stage performance.