Photo credit: Shervin Lainez
Julian Lage has announced the Sept. 16 release of a new album, View With A Room. The LP marks the artist’s second for Blue Note Records, after 2021’s Squint. Today, Lage has marked the occasion by debuting the lead single off the forthcoming album “Auditorium” and announcing a complimentary fall tour slated to begin on Sept. 13 at Pittsburgh’s Oak Theater.
“In so many ways, I’ve wanted to make this record for years,” offered Lang. “It comes from a line of musical inquiry: can you have lush orchestration combined with an organic sense of improvisation and the agility of a small ensemble?” In short, yes. From effortless chord progressions and masterful musicianship, Lage and his band–Jorge Roeder and Dave King–and six-string icon Bill Frisell deliver instrumental splendor on “Auditorium.”
Lage commented on the album’s historical influence, “There’s a certain lineage that grows out of early pioneers like Jimmy Bryant and George Barnes and Charlie Christian, where there’s this almost electric volatility to the sound. It’s both beautiful and kind of sharp; it’s subdued and warm, but also kind of gritty.” He concluded, “In thinking about the orchestration for this album, I wanted to foster the point of that arrow.”
View With A Room was produced by Lage’s wife and musical partner, Margaret Glaspy, who uses her experience as a singer/songwriter to highlight the LP’s storytelling aspect and unique use of lyricism. In addition, Lage’s longtime collaborator and pal, Armand Hirsch, added post-production elements that intensify the emotional intent of each song on the forthcoming album.
Furthermore, Lage has shared dates for a 24-stop coast-to-coast fall tour supporting View With A Room. The run will begin in Pittsburgh before a Midwest jaunt, which will be followed by a handful of West Coast tour stops. From there, the unit will criss-cross from one side of the country to the next before a tour finisher on Dec. 14 at The Jefferson in Charlottesville, Va.
Stream “Auditorium” now. Pre-order Lage’s View With A Room here.
Tickets for Lage’s forthcoming tour go on sale Friday, June 24. To purchase tickets, visit JulianLang.com.
Watch the official music video for “Auditorium” below.
Julian Lage Room With A View Fall Tour Dates:
Sept. 13 – Oaks Theater – Pittsburgh
Sept. 14 – Holland Theater – Bellefontaine, Ohio
Sept. 16 – High Noon –Madison, Wis.
Sept. 17 – Dakota – Minneapolis
Sept. 20 – Neumos – Seattle
Sept. 21 – Aladdin Theater – Portland, Ore.
Sept. 23 – Monterey Jazz Festival – Monterey, Calif.
Sept. 25 – Trione Vineyards and Winery –Geyserville, Calif.
Sept. 27 – Cellar Door – Visalia, Calif.
Sept. 28 – Belly Up Tavern – Solana Beach, Calif.
Sept. 29 – Musical Instrument Museum – Phoenix, Ariz.
Oct. 1 – Boulder Theater – Boulder, Colo.
Oct. 14 – Walt Disney Concert Hall – Los Angeles*
Nov. 30 – Sixth & I – Washington, D.C.
Dec. 1 – World Cafe Live (Downstairs) – Philadelphia
Dec. 3 – Paradise Rock Club – Boston
Dec. 4 – The Kate – Old Saybrook, Conn.
Dec. 6 – Thirty One West – Newark, Ohio
Dec. 7 –Thalia Hall – Chicago
Dec. 8 – Origins Jazz – Children’s Theater – Lexington, Ky.
Dec. 9 – Grey Eagle – Asheville, N.C.
Dec. 10 – Center Stage – Atlanta
Dec.11 – Brooklyn Bowl – Brooklyn, N.Y.
Dec. 14 – The Jefferson – Charlottesville, Va.
* With The Bad Plus