Best track around, heard since the weekend? Nothing anywhere as good as Julian Lage's 'Saint Rose' and the Love Hurts band from upcoming abum Squint (Blue Note). Bluesy, lots of pitch bends, a country/Americana tinge, effective drumming from Dave King of The Bad Plus and Jorge Roeder on bass vital in the infrastructure.
Former child prodigy Lage has become one of the biggest modern-mainstream freebop guitar stars on the US scene in recent years, his appeal even pre-Pandemic fanning out globally. ''Ages'' until this record is out, given that it's to be June, recorded in a Nashville studio last summer guitarist Armand Hirsch and singer-songwriter Margaret Glaspy are co-producers. Album tunes are mainly Lage's.
Ancient jazzerati, Johnny Smith heads and young jazzhead wanabees alike however may well flock to hear the Lage trio take on the classic 'Emily' and on Billy Hill's jaunty 'Call of the Canyon' as first ports of call. The original 'Saint Rose' regardless stands tall.
Tags: