Jane Onojafe
925.931.4855
jonojafe@cityofpleasantonca.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JULIAN LAGE in Concert. Sunday, October 4, 2:00 p.m. As part of his Julian Lage Solo Project, Lage presents a rare solo concert at the intimate Firehouse in Pleasanton. The Grammy-nominated New York-based guitarist, composer, arranger was also the subject of the Academy Award nominated documentary ‘Jules at Eight,’ his age when he began performing beside renowned artists like Carlos Santana. Lage’s most recent album ‘Free Flying’ received a coveted 5 star review in Down Beat magazine. Reserved seating tickets $15.00 – $25.00, www.firehousearts.org, 925-931-4848, or at the center Box Office, 4444 Railroad Avenue, Pleasanton.
Press Release
Julian Lage in Solo Concert, Live @ Firehouse
Grammy Nominated New York Composer, Arranger, and Guitar Prodigy
Pleasanton, Calif. Gifted guitarist, composer, and arranger Julian Lage has collaborated and recorded with numerous other luminaries, including Jim Hall, Mark O’Connor, Nels Cline, Carlos Santana, Chris Eldridge, Scott Colley, Antonio Sanchez, Gary Burton, David Grisman, Eric Harland, Anthony Wilson, Martin Taylor, Joshua Bell, and Yoko Ono.
But the Firehouse Arts Center concert on October 4 at 2:00 p.m. is a rare solo appearance by Lage, presented as part of his Julian Lage Solo Project, which is his self-described exploration into the world of solo guitar work. Inspired by the orchestral approach to the guitar of the great Andres Segovia, as well as the shorter song forms of contemporary acoustic music, Lage says this current solo project “shines a light directly on the interaction between musical storytelling, spontaneous composition, and the singular voice of a vintage Martin guitar.”
“I always had a fantasy about doing a solo guitar project,” Lage explains, “especially one that highlighted various orchestrational aspects of guitar playing and guitar techniques…I discovered what a rare opportunity this was for me to recalibrate my senses to one instrument, and within that recalibration learn to savor the vast world of intimacy and nuance, both qualities so inherent to the guitar.”
As a child guitar prodigy, Julian was the subject of the 1997 Oscar-nominated documentary “Jules at 8,” his age when he began performing with renowned artists like Carlos Santana. He made his first recording, with David Grisman, at the age of 11, and then caught the notice of the world at large when he appeared alongside Gary Burton at the 2000 Grammy Awards.
Though still in his twenties, Lage has already enjoyed a remarkable, genre-crossing career. As the New York Times has put it, Julian is an artist whose roots are “tangled in jazz, folk, classical, and country music.” His album “Sounding Point” was nominated for a Best Contemporary Jazz album Grammy in 2010, and his most recent duo album, “Free Flying” with Fred Hersch, received a coveted 5 star review in Down Beat magazine.
Reserved seating tickets: $15.00 – $25.00, and can be purchased online at www.firehousearts.org, by calling 925-931-4848, and in person at the Box Office, 4444 Railroad Avenue, Pleasanton. Box Office hours are Wednesday – Friday 12:00 noon-6:00 p.m. and Saturdays 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., and two hours prior to the performance.
The Firehouse Arts Center is dedicated to inspiring passion through the arts. The center is comprised of the 227-seat Firehouse Theater, the 2000 square foot Harrington Gallery, classrooms and rehearsal space, the grand atrium lobby, and the famous interior glass bridge. With world-class performing and visual arts, exciting interactive programs for all ages, and a state-of-the-art venue which opened in 2010, we combine the sophistication of the culturally rich Bay Area arts landscape with the hospitality and intimacy of our own home town. The Firehouse Arts Center is located at 4444 Railroad Avenue in downtown Pleasanton. Media: Jane Onojafe, jonojafe@cityofpleasantonca.gov, or 925-931-4855
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