Chris Eldridge and
John Zorn. Some projects have been better than others, especially as his instrumental skills grew faster than his writing abilities. But he truly got better with every album, and they’ve all led up to
Squint, his leader debut for the revered Blue Note label.
Lage has always claimed as many influences from rock, blues, folk and country as from jazz, and as he’s gotten older, he’s folded them into his music with increasing subtlety. This is no blowing session, where he shows off every style he can play. Instead Lage uses just the right bits of his experiences to serve each song. Witness the effortless swing of “Boo’s Blues,” which nods to the genre in the title without being an overt 12-bar showcase, or the vibrant post bop of “Familiar Flowers,” which draws from the same eclectic well as John Abercrombie without copying the late master. “Quiet Like a Fuse” displays a sure touch on soulful balladry, while a cover of