Julian Lage covers "Emily" by Johnny Mandel, live from his home in Brooklyn, NY. Stream/buy the GRAMMY-nominated Julian Lage Trio album 'Love Hurts' here: smarturl.it/jul...
Ok, I’m gonna call it. Julian should make an album of these solo performances. I *love* the trio, but hearing Julian alone, playing something as challenging and beautiful as this so flawlessly, and with so much emotion, Gets me. Every. Time.
This is in the top 1% of quality youtube material that makes me feel grateful for this technology at our fingertips. Thank you Julian and to the forces that allowed you to share your gift with us.
@@kylereilly3259 If anyone is genuinely interested in this question, Julian provides some 'recommended reading' at the end of his 12 Observations About the Guitar excerpt here: imgur.com/a/D6n5Af5
Grant Green.. Wes.. Lenny Breau.. Joe Pass.. Martino.. Benson... and now we Julian who's already going into the books as one of the greatest Jazz guitarists that ever walked this earth. This is a true guitar hero.. A true source of inspiration, from now til forever
So beautiful. Great soulful rendition of a lovely song. Julian is in a class by himself. To be able to play at such a lofty technical level and still infuse so much feeling into each passage is truly a special gift.
I usually hate when people point out the amount of people who have disliked a video in the comments because after all music really is subjective, but I just can't wrap my head around who could even want or be be bothered to dislike this video. Like are we watching the same thing?
Jake Hoff i always find it funny that we as humans find it important to point out that we dont like what we are about to do or say 😂 like ‘no disrespect but...’
Wow: he's just amazing. Fast notes are for easily impressed people. Class, taste, real harmony theory, dexterity, expression and deep knowledge is another story compeletely.
@@lounge_singer_live that's how I see him since I made this comment, he's simply a guitar player with a lot of knowledge from several genres. He's incredible, amazing musician.
I’ve been playing for almost 20 years now and a few years back I became disinterested, uninspired and almost completely gave up playing. Around that time I discovered Julian and a few other guys (Ariel Posen, Ed Bickert etc) and they have given me a completely new love for the instrument. I’ll never be able to play like this but thanks Julian for all that you do
At the exact moment I was about to open the RealBook, the YT notification of this video arrived. Well: I closed the RealBook ... forever ...! Always a great pleasure listening to this man!
Dude. First of all, your musical mind is a treasure. Your choice of voicings, notes, what to play and what not to play. So well rounded, and your hands are so accurate, specially with all the chord picking. What a pleasure to see and hear bro!
The way those high strings ring on that guitar is sublime! Particularly the first string! Every once in a while one of my guitars will do that and I never know how or why. Not quite buzzy but more of a bloom
Please forgive me as I have just discovered you two days ago, and I have not watched any other player since. Now, I think that I must have been living under a rock since I had never heard of you. There is something about your playing that redefines logic and the definition of playing. You're an inspiration! Thank you for sharing your gift and empowering me to go do some playing of my own.
I think Bill Evans would have stopped and listened to that and really loved it. - There is adding to the 'physically possible things the guitar can do' and there is adding to the musical possibilities of moving people with the guitar. Thanks Julian. (The acoustic presence of that guitar was lovely from a guitar nerd perspective.)
Thank you! You realize we (your fans) would gleefully lap up a whole album of solo tracks like this and "We'll Meet Again" from the video on the Fender page. Hope you have a recorder spinning at home and THANK YOU.
Great touch! Impressive. This reminds me of Bill Evans on a guitar. The gold top with P90s like David Gilmour used to play makes me appreciate that jazz can be played on most anything, not just a hollow body.
What you said!!! The impression you got about Bill Evans is most perceptive. As for Dave Gilmour and P90 goldtops I've only recently been aware of his use of such an instrument, and I'm all ga-ga over them mostly due to Freddy King! Couldn't help but notice that's an honest-to-goodness 54 or 55 example, evidently the headstock shape gives that away. Touch, taste and tone, It's all here all right!
Sweet Lord, that was beautiful! I am slack-jawed at the flawless performance. The sheer amount of talent, dedication, and work over a lifetime that culminates in the creation of a piece of such sensitivity, nuance, and texture. Thank you.
Dude it's not like I cannot get what he is playing it's just that his synapses are fucking miles ahead of 99% of the people in this comment section. I could play an entire lifetime but my brain has clear limits.
All commenters saying that this tune was written by Bill Evans are hereby forgiven by the higher power. There's a phenomenon in play here, namely that when Bill Evans took a tune and did his magic on it, the resulting version was highly likely to become THE definitive version. Therefore, that Evans version stands out in the minds of many jazz fans as the original version, and Bill played it so well it's easy to conclude that he wrote it. Remember what Bill said: Don't practice 24 tunes for an hour each. Practice one tune for 24 hours. This Julian Lage version of Emily is one of my favorite guitar pieces. He has done a fantastic interpretation. I also must be forgiven for saying that I hear a lot of the harmonic movement of Bill Evans in Julian's version. How could a sensitive guitarist NOT be influenced by the way Bill Evans played it. Julian also incorporates and uses a wonderful skill here, another one that Bill Evans was a master of. He is able to make the melody note SING, using dynamics to highlight the melody note while the harmony moves effortlessly behind it. Heaven.
This is so beautiful ❤️ For someone like me, stuck with my little pentatonic blues scales for 30 yrs, this sounds like HEAVEN! The guitar can be such a great instrument when in the right hands. Thank you Julian! 🙏
It doesn't remind me of Frisell's warbly Americana style. I saw Lage and Frisell on dual duelling Telecasters at Healdsburg Jazz Festival and they were great together!
Is it really a ‘53? I think those pickups might be later. Definitely not P90s, I think the are the Seth Lover designed ‘staple’ pickup that came out just a few years before the PAF humbuckers. I think they were only made around ‘55 - ‘57...
p90s aren't kidding. its nothing like the humbucker. but then again you can put a potato in julian's hands and he'll make music that we'll never be able to play out of it.
@@jimmyw2802 I agree that p90s are no joke but heres a link of an example of a great jazz tone from a les paul with humbuckers: ruclips.net/video/TO9gFR7Pz_o/видео.html
There's not even ONE thumb down. This performance is absolutely unmatched, undisputed, unquestionable. Non plus ultra. PERIOD. Thanks life that we´re all contemporary to this.
Best guitar player of all time, and an incredibly humble man. That's something that sets him apart from all the boastful crowd of mainstream musicians.
Your chord melody arrangement is fantastic, chord facility and dexterity reminds me of Joe Pass. Also your oral/verbal gestures are reminiscent of Glen Gould. Thanks.
that's how a higher state of consciousness sounds like through what he loves... it's all about perception, about opening our minds and hearts in our own unique ways... getting out of fear and poor little me... the universe is within.. here is lovely fact:) thank you Julian:) that's was beautiful... though i could barely hear it, i love how you sang it whilst playing it:)
I spoke to him after a show in NY once and he said something similar actually! He said, "the music comes through us and gestured up as if to say it comes from above and we are but vessels it channels into.
Beautiful! Precision without being mechanical. Subtle virtuosity. Pure artistry! And for the 4 who disliked this, may I recommend a session with Dr. Phil?
Hitting those notes in the right sequence is mechanical and can be learnt with enough time but to play it with feeling and flow is where the skill lies, Julian does it beautifully here and every other time. Thank you always for the music, especially at this time when it is most needed.
![This improvisation left me speechless... [Julian Lage]](/img/1.gif)
Lord help us all he's stuck inside practicing... How much better is he gonna get? ;)
Justin Schmidt Lol. I wish that would have the same effect on me.
Can you improve perfection?
😂😂😂
Haha legit almost made me spit out my drink
Wondering why you/we should be getting worried about a musician getting better at his profession...
My guitar doesn't do that
I demand a refund!
I know. I’ve bought countless guitars and I can’t find the one that sounds like that?
Maybe its a fake guitar
that’s strange mine does for one note only
I always dig how he plays such complex stuff but never shows off its always perfectly tasteful and in its place
Harrison Paek Yes
I couldn't even notice string buzz, to clean its insanity
Its true mastery!
Perfect blend. It really is amazing
that's the purest proof a performer can render regarding FEELING
It’s like bill Evans on guitar... this is amazing
I honestly didn't know this song, but of course it reminded me of the Love theme from Spartacus as played by Evans.
I was just thinking the exact same thing when I came across this comment...the voicings just ooze unctuous rightness
Emily was written by Evans
I had the same thought the other day! There's something about the way these guys play
@@moussafedior2001 music by Johnny Mandel 1964.
Julian, You need to make an album of solo jazz guitar. I can listen to this all day.
Have you listened to World's Fair? I've been obsessed with it lately, it's just so good
@@Isntthisalreadytaken I've been listening to that album for a full year non-stop now. Possibly the most beautiful guitarre album of all time imo
Yes please!
There're a couple of solo arrangements on "Gladwell" too
I agree! Julian's solo playing is outstanding!
The happiness I have when I hear Julian play.
You only need to watch him to see that it's pure Joy for him. :). (and for us!)
Ok, I’m gonna call it.
Julian should make an album of these solo performances.
I *love* the trio, but hearing Julian alone, playing something as challenging and beautiful as this so flawlessly, and with so much emotion,
Gets me.
Every.
Time.
He already did, it's called World's Fair, although it's all acoustic.
@@stefantimko8980 Yeah, have it and love it. But there’s something about the solo electric performances that really resonates with me too. :-)
@@Detective-Inspector
Yes, wonderful. :-)
Tim Lerch “opened the door” to Ted Greene for me.
I agree
A real improvisator. That's essence of jazz...
Never plays same thing twice.
It does NOT get better than this folks. He makes the really complex look so effortless
Doesn't get better than Julian on a Goldtop w/ p90's...just brilliant.
Julian is an absolute treasure.
He played this last night in Boston. Didn't think I'd be so lucky to hear it live from him.
solo or trio?
This is in the top 1% of quality youtube material that makes me feel grateful for this technology at our fingertips. Thank you Julian and to the forces that allowed you to share your gift with us.
And this is an exemple of the 1% of quality RUclips comments👍
Well said! 🙏😊
One of the most beautiful tunes ever written, and played with such mastery and feeling. Julian - please make us an album of ballads like this.
Casey van Wensem he definitely should!
Oh that would be a damn treat
A lot of guys are too studied and robotic when they play but Julian has such a natural and musical quality. It's pure and refreshing.
He has more fun, too!
if we only have more of things like this, the world would be a better place
He makes me want whatever guitar he plays as if I will ever play like him
Same here. I believe he could make anything sound good.
His technical ability is not the focus, it simply gives him the freedom to showcase the song in the way he choses.
Julian has the best diction I've ever heard in a guitar player, it's mesmerising.
I saw that VILLA-LOBOS in your bookshelf! Didn't expect any less! Amazing work!
I thought I was hearing joe pass beautiful
Cheers
Same here XD! What else is in there :D
@@kylereilly3259 If anyone is genuinely interested in this question, Julian provides some 'recommended reading' at the end of his 12 Observations About the Guitar excerpt here: imgur.com/a/D6n5Af5
@@TheBassD Thanks for that!
@@TheBassD Thank you for sharing this!
1 like is not enough.... the dynamics, and chord choices, the ridiculous stretches, the beautiful arrangement, jazz/classical/blues? AWESOME!
Grant Green.. Wes.. Lenny Breau.. Joe Pass.. Martino.. Benson... and now we Julian who's already going into the books as one of the greatest Jazz guitarists that ever walked this earth. This is a true guitar hero.. A true source of inspiration, from now til forever
Ted greene, gabor szabo
Julian Lage and Pasquale Grasso are hands down the 2 best guitarists playing today.
Julian is the way the truth and the light..
Zero pointless blurry runs punctuating the liquid beauty of the music.
NUMINOUS
Yes! No pointless runs. Everything he plays has grounding and musical logic. He doesn't "solo"--he improvises full compositions.
So beautiful. Great soulful rendition of a lovely song. Julian is in a class by himself. To be able to play at such a lofty technical level and still infuse so much feeling into each passage is truly a special gift.
Timothy Lerch you are fantastic too. Your feeling and taste are amazing. Would love to listen a Lage/Lerch duet!!!
I’ve just listened to your recent recording of this tune Tim, and you too are in a class by yourself. Both renditions are beautiful and inspiring.
true, i wish i can clone him
Your playing talks to the heart man.
I usually hate when people point out the amount of people who have disliked a video in the comments because after all music really is subjective, but I just can't wrap my head around who could even want or be be bothered to dislike this video. Like are we watching the same thing?
Jake Hoff i always find it funny that we as humans find it important to point out that we dont like what we are about to do or say 😂 like ‘no disrespect but...’
@@Digitalpapii Yeah thats true. Just wanted to point out that not much here to find dislikable.
Jealousy!
Once a month I’m back here to listen probably the best tone I’ve ever listened on a guitar
Ever since I heard Julian Lage's version of Autumn Leaves I'm a believer. This man is a gift to the guitar community from God.
What a joy it must be to play like that.
Wow: he's just amazing. Fast notes are for easily impressed people. Class, taste, real harmony theory, dexterity, expression and deep knowledge is another story compeletely.
This is the most beautiful thing I have ever heard.
masterful, best guitarist to ever grace the face of the earth
Pasquale Grasso is another modern great
pasquale is great but he shows off a lot, julian doesn't need to @@sandyforrestmusic
That tone is magic
The one jazzer that's not afraid of open C chord triad. At the same time one of the best. That is what confidence is.
It comes from being as much a guitar player as a jazz musician
@@lounge_singer_live that's how I see him since I made this comment, he's simply a guitar player with a lot of knowledge from several genres. He's incredible, amazing musician.
so happy to watch this for free. we are spoiled
thank you!!
one of the best guitarists today ladies and gentlemen! simply beautiful!
Roger True. Not a competition just is true.
Johnny Mandel is a name I had forgotten. You did him proud.
Perfect arrangement, on a beautiful les paul as well, love the p90 sound. Absolute mastery
Emily. I hear it in the melody. So happy to have discovered this guitarist.
I’ve been playing for almost 20 years now and a few years back I became disinterested, uninspired and almost completely gave up playing. Around that time I discovered Julian and a few other guys (Ariel Posen, Ed Bickert etc) and they have given me a completely new love for the instrument. I’ll never be able to play like this but thanks Julian for all that you do
lol what?
Ariel Posen lives in my city! We're pretty proud of him, coming out of sleepy little Winnipeg.
@@keithklassen5320 and so you should be! The guys incredible
Brilliant….absolutely brilliant.
Can talk about how MIND BLOWING the lick at 0:54 is!?!?
Every time I hear Julian Lage play the guitar my jaw drops to the ground. What a beautiful sound.
anyone else wanna hear this guy sing? happiest talking voice ive ever heard.
Julian is out of this world.
At the exact moment I was about to open the RealBook, the YT notification of this video arrived. Well: I closed the RealBook ... forever ...!
Always a great pleasure listening to this man!
Keep on the road friend!
This guy is just brilliant...
I enjoy watching him continually affirm every line by nodding his head.
You are a gift Julian!
Dude. First of all, your musical mind is a treasure. Your choice of voicings, notes, what to play and what not to play. So well rounded, and your hands are so accurate, specially with all the chord picking. What a pleasure to see and hear bro!
this is perfection
That plant is going to grow into a full grown tree now.
My poor plant only hears one blues scale all day long :( well, maybe a few main chords too.
But how come,?Robert Plant is listening to hard Rock
@@Cheguebuddha hahahaha😀😁😁😂😂🤣🤣
Just outstanding!!!
I guess Les Paul would be proud to see his model being so beautifully handled.
This man is amazing
I love this performance. I just keep playing it. This has really inspired me. I will get beyond doodling and play and create songs.
Saw him at lake George ny jazz fest. Blown away. Unique, original, list goes on.
The way those high strings ring on that guitar is sublime! Particularly the first string! Every once in a while one of my guitars will do that and I never know how or why. Not quite buzzy but more of a bloom
This is heaven!!!
Please forgive me as I have just discovered you two days ago, and I have not watched any other player since. Now, I think that I must have been living under a rock since I had never heard of you. There is something about your playing that redefines logic and the definition of playing.
You're an inspiration!
Thank you for sharing your gift and empowering me to go do some playing of my own.
Joy. How good and kind you are Mr. Lage. And that P90'd hunk of mahogany is up to the job! Thank you!
I think Bill Evans would have stopped and listened to that and really loved it. - There is adding to the 'physically possible things the guitar can do' and there is adding to the musical possibilities of moving people with the guitar. Thanks Julian. (The acoustic presence of that guitar was lovely from a guitar nerd perspective.)
Man we definitely need a solo album by him! Please, Julian!
Thank you! You realize we (your fans) would gleefully lap up a whole album of solo tracks like this and "We'll Meet Again" from the video on the Fender page. Hope you have a recorder spinning at home and THANK YOU.
Huge applause here!
Great touch! Impressive. This reminds me of Bill Evans on a guitar. The gold top with P90s like David Gilmour used to play makes me appreciate that jazz can be played on most anything, not just a hollow body.
What you said!!! The impression you got about Bill Evans is most perceptive. As for Dave Gilmour and P90 goldtops I've only recently been aware of his use of such an instrument, and I'm all ga-ga over them mostly due to Freddy King! Couldn't help but notice that's an honest-to-goodness 54 or 55 example, evidently the headstock shape gives that away. Touch, taste and tone, It's all here all right!
he is a huge fan of bill evans !
Beautifully played.
Absolutely brilliant.
Just about brings tears to my eyes. Such a beautiful melody, and so sublimely played.
The man's a genius!
Sweet Lord, that was beautiful! I am slack-jawed at the flawless performance. The sheer amount of talent, dedication, and work over a lifetime that culminates in the creation of a piece of such sensitivity, nuance, and texture. Thank you.
i can't even begin to understand what could possibly go on in his mind, what a gift and what virtuosity
Let's not get carried away
He’s probably just flowing
Dude it's not like I cannot get what he is playing it's just that his synapses are fucking miles ahead of 99% of the people in this comment section. I could play an entire lifetime but my brain has clear limits.
This literally can cure depression...
All commenters saying that this tune was written by Bill Evans are hereby forgiven by the higher power. There's a phenomenon in play here, namely that when Bill Evans took a tune and did his magic on it, the resulting version was highly likely to become THE definitive version. Therefore, that Evans version stands out in the minds of many jazz fans as the original version, and Bill played it so well it's easy to conclude that he wrote it. Remember what Bill said: Don't practice 24 tunes for an hour each. Practice one tune for 24 hours. This Julian Lage version of Emily is one of my favorite guitar pieces. He has done a fantastic interpretation. I also must be forgiven for saying that I hear a lot of the harmonic movement of Bill Evans in Julian's version. How could a sensitive guitarist NOT be influenced by the way Bill Evans played it. Julian also incorporates and uses a wonderful skill here, another one that Bill Evans was a master of. He is able to make the melody note SING, using dynamics to highlight the melody note while the harmony moves effortlessly behind it. Heaven.
This is so beautiful ❤️ For someone like me, stuck with my little pentatonic blues scales for 30 yrs, this sounds like HEAVEN! The guitar can be such a great instrument when in the right hands. Thank you Julian! 🙏
Love how you let the improv lines grow from the chords and melodies. Someone mentioned Bill Evans. Good comparison. But it’s you. Love this
Extraordinary sounding guitar, goldtop les pauls with p90s are something else. Fantastic playing, reminds me of Bill Frisell a bit.
It doesn't remind me of Frisell's warbly Americana style. I saw Lage and Frisell on dual duelling Telecasters at Healdsburg Jazz Festival and they were great together!
He could play a harley benton copy of this guitar and sound the same...
Gorgeous playing and fabulous Les Paul 1953 Original, a true jazz solid body.
Is it really a ‘53? I think those pickups might be later. Definitely not P90s, I think the are the Seth Lover designed ‘staple’ pickup that came out just a few years before the PAF humbuckers. I think they were only made around ‘55 - ‘57...
Wait, Les Pauls can sound like this? Julian’s touch is deadly.
p90s aren't kidding. its nothing like the humbucker. but then again you can put a potato in julian's hands and he'll make music that we'll never be able to play out of it.
@@jimmyw2802 I agree that p90s are no joke but heres a link of an example of a great jazz tone from a les paul with humbuckers:
ruclips.net/video/TO9gFR7Pz_o/видео.html
@@JohnSmith-in1tt Jack Pearson is one of the greatest players I've heard, so underrated. Good taste!
This guitar was originally built w P90s
Have you ever heard a guy named... Les Paul?
There's not even ONE thumb down. This performance is absolutely unmatched, undisputed, unquestionable. Non plus ultra. PERIOD. Thanks life that we´re all contemporary to this.
Qué lindo que exista esto, especialmente en momentos como éste
Gracias Juliancito!
Best guitar player of all time, and an incredibly humble man. That's something that sets him apart from all the boastful crowd of mainstream musicians.
Beautiful... extraordinary ideas....and incredible tecnical skills. Thank you:)
Absolutely beautiful thank you Julian
Such beautiful playing and arrangement Julian! Very inspiring :)))
woah! its andy timmons and i'm the only guy who found his comment? why did god chose me? i will contemplate this the rest of my life.
You bring peace to this planet
*It sounds so cool and professional! This is a pleasure for the ears!*
Incredible. Thank you Julian!
Your chord melody arrangement is fantastic, chord facility and dexterity reminds me of Joe Pass. Also your oral/verbal gestures are reminiscent of Glen Gould. Thanks.
Julian is my kind of guitarist. What a beautiful rendition. And what a sweet tone he's getting out of his Les Paul. Encore!
that's how a higher state of consciousness sounds like through what he loves... it's all about perception, about opening our minds and hearts in our own unique ways... getting out of fear and poor little me... the universe is within.. here is lovely fact:) thank you Julian:) that's was beautiful... though i could barely hear it, i love how you sang it whilst playing it:)
I spoke to him after a show in NY once and he said something similar actually! He said, "the music comes through us and gestured up as if to say it comes from above and we are but vessels it channels into.
How can someone could possibly dislike that graceful version?
That is truly amazing. Now please make a duet album with Margaret! We need one😀
This. Katonah, please.
Yes please!!
Jamie Barnhill what’s the name of the album?
Beautiful! Precision without being mechanical. Subtle virtuosity. Pure artistry! And for the 4 who disliked this, may I recommend a session with Dr. Phil?
u know it's about to be good when he throws in lil "ahh" adlibs
Hitting those notes in the right sequence is mechanical and can be learnt with enough time but to play it with feeling and flow is where the skill lies, Julian does it beautifully here and every other time. Thank you always for the music, especially at this time when it is most needed.
Finally a good jazz guitarist
Clicked to see the '54 (?) goldtop and had to stay for the beautiful playing. wonderful job.
THIS is why I prefer Les Pauls with P90s. Such a crisp, articulate yet warm sound. Not muddy or too much boomy bass.
This is a truly perfect jazz guitar sound...
Yep. The chambered P90 Les Pauls ["Studio" models] are like baby semi-hollows. Perfect for jazz and old-skool clean mid-century hillbilly rock/r+b.