Five out of five music legends recommend Julian Lage.

Phenomenal San Francisco jazz guitar prodigy Julian Lage plays the Iron Horse in Northampton on Sunday, November 1^st at 7PM.

Gary Burton: "We had to do various takes on different tunes, and it struck me how none of his solos were alike. He was constantly inventive but without a need to show off. His way of proving himself is not by being flashy, but by discovering the meaning in the music."

Herbie Hancock: "Julian, you play with heart, mind, and soul. Where’d you find all this so early in life?"

Béla Fleck: “I really enjoy watching Julian develop as a musician…. He is one of the special ones!”

David Grisman: "I was amazed by the depth of his playing, he’s a real improviser who just goes with the flow. He’s not about anything other than making a beautiful musical statement.”

Martin Taylor: “My favorite guitar player!”

Julian Lage looks at his future from the front rank of performers of his generation – a composer, arranger and guitarist, who delights and inspires musicians and fans alike. Lage's virtuosity is only part of what makes him such a formidable artist; he also possesses broad musical wisdom, sophistication and wit. Educated at an early age in Western classical music at the San Francisco Conservatory Julian also pursued jazz studies at Sonoma State University, where he developed improvisational skill in parallel with his classical musical education. He also attended Ali Akbar College of Music where he studied Indian music. Currently he is studying classical composition at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Julian began playing guitar at 5 years old, in the blues tradition, but soon discovered jazz. At 12, Julian played on the nationally televised Grammy Awards telecast where Gary Burton spotted him. Burton asked Julian to join him on some performances and their collaboration developed. Julian toured with the Gary Burton GENERATIONS quintet contributing a number of original compositions to the quintet's repertoire. He also recorded with Burton on his GENERATIONS album and again in 2005 with NEXT GENERATION. Some of the festivals he performed with Burton's quintet are: the San Francisco Jazz Festival, the Monterey Jazz Festival and the Newport Jazz Festival, as well as several tours to Europe and Japan.

Julian has performed with Herbie Hancock, David Grisman, Bela Fleck, Charles Lloyd, Mark O'Connor, Lee Konitz, Martin Taylor, Billy Higgins, Jane Monheit, Billy Hart, Chris Thile, and Christian McBride, among many others.

JULIAN LAGE "Sounding Point" Emarcy

JULIAN LAGE was just 20 when he recorded "Sounding Point," his first album under his own name. The guitar prodigy played with Carlos Santana at age 8, recorded with David Grisman at 10, and toured with Gary Burton at 15. But he delayed making his own recording until now, and that patience is obvious in music that is astonishingly understated for a youngster with such obvious talent and ambition. Lage can play fast, difficult passages when the need arises, but he's interested in other things. On three tracks, Lage joins banjoist Béla Fleck and mandolinist Chris Thile. The trio's jaunty, string-band version of indie rocker Elliott Smith's "Alameda" is a welcome indication that Lage is willing to think outside the same old jazz box.

Discography:

Gary Burton "Generations", Gary Burton "Next Generation", Nnenna Freelon "Blueprint of a Lady: Sketches of Billie Holiday" (GRAMMY Nominated), Taylor Eigsti "Lucky To Be Me" (GRAMMY Nominated), Taylor Eigsti "Let it Come To You", David Grisman "Dawg Duo's"

Tickets are $15 in advance and available at Northampton Box Office, 413-586-8686, online at IHEG.com