Julian Lage - Scenes From Above - Import CD

Credits:

Julian Lage

Description:

Julian Large New quartet including John Medeski releases its first new album in two years! This is the first new album in two years since the Grammy-nominated "Speak To Me". This fifth album from Blue Note features Joe Henry, a singer/songwriter who has worked with many legendary artists and is a driving force behind the Americana boom, as producer. All songs were written by Julian and recorded with a new quartet, John Medeski (org,p), Jorge Roeder (b), and Kenny Waldsen (ds,perc). While continuing in the roots-music vein of their previous album, "Speak to Me," elements of straight-ahead jazz and free jazz can be heard here and there. In particular, Medeski's organ and piano sound-making greatly set the direction of this album, and succeeds in enhancing the lyrical melodies of "Opal," "Night Shade," and "Something More," all of which are unique to Julien. At the end of 2024, Julien created many songs under the condition of writing one song in 20 minutes, which he called a "writing sprint. The song "Storyville," which came out of this process, was the inspiration for this work.After narrowing down the list of potential songs for the recording to about 50, Julian shared the demos with producer Joe Henry and had a detailed discussion about what the band should emphasize this time and how to add color and movement to it before recording. The band entered the studio with Medeski, Lauder, and Worthen, who had performed together at SF JAZZ in San Francisco earlier this year, and the recording took place in just two days. The melodies of the songs have a nostalgic resonance, as if reflecting Julian's deep consideration of so-called folk music, such as blues, calypso, and the Romanian and Hungarian melodies introduced by Bartok at the time. Julien said of this work, "One of my goals in composing music is to have something to talk about when we get together. It was not about trying to create something around myself as the leader, but rather to create music in a way that all of us in the band are equal. This is a work that is connected to the musical growth and development of each of us and our relationship with each other, and there was never any sense that anyone was expecting anything from us. Joe Henry, who produced the follow-up to "Speak To Me," said, "We never intended to make 'Speak To Me II.That album has its own personality, and we don't have to stick to it," he commented. John Medeski, who occupies an important place on the album on organ and piano, added, "Julian really thinks deeply about things and has a strong will. He respects the concept and direction of the piece, but he also respects the free moments. It's a very beautiful combination. Personnel〉 Julian Lage(g) John Medeski(key) Jorge Roeder(b) Kenny Wollesen(ds)

Tracklisting:


1. Opal
2. Red Elm
3. Talking Drum
4. Havens
5. Night Shade
6. Solid Air
7. Ocala
8. Storyville
9. Something More