Taylor Eigsti and Julian Lage
 Taylor Eigsti, piano April 8, 2009 |
 Julian Lage, guitar |
TAYLOR EIGSTI – pianist, composer, and bandleader – with his recent CD Let It Come to You took another giant stride forward as a significant new voice in the jazz world, and, at 23, is among a select few of his generation to be establishing themselves as the jazz stars of the future. In the wake of his previous CD, Lucky to Be Me, he was on the covers of both Jazziz and Keyboard Magazine and was recognized in the DownBeat Critics Poll for two years running. He was profiled in his own BETJ television special. Featuring such top-tiered players as Christian McBride, Lewis Nash, James Genus, and Billy Kilson, Lucky to Be Me, Eigsti’s second CD for the Concord Records Label and his sixth release overall, garnered two Grammy nominations: one for Best Instrumental Composition for his song Argument and the other for Best Instrumental Jazz Solo Performance on Freedom Jazz Dance. The 2006 CD spent 23 weeks on the National Jazz Radio Airplay charts, peaking at No. 7. It ended the year in the top 15 most-played jazz albums on radio.
Growing up in Menlo Park, California, Eigsti was early labeled a child prodigy. He began his stage career at age 8 opening for his friend and piano mentor, David Benoit, and at 12 he shared the stage with Diane Schuur and also opened for Diana Krall and Al Jarreau . He had the opportunity to record and/or perform with jazz stars including Dave Brubeck, Bobby Hutcherson, James Moody, Ernestine Anderson, Kevin Mahogany, Patti Austin and Red Hollaway, among others, which established him nationally and internationally. Eigsti has been featured on Marian McPartland´s NPR Piano Jazz series twice.
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 inWestern 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. He is currently studying classical composition at Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Julian began playing guitar in the blues tradition when he was five years old, but soon discovered jazz. At 12, he 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’s Generations quintet contributing a number of original compositions to the group‘s repertory. He also recorded with Burton on his Generations album and again in 2005 with Next Generation. With Burton’s quintet, he performed at numerous festivals including the San Francisco, Monterey, and Newport jazz festivals, and he made several tours to Europe and Japan with the ensemble.
In 2005, Julian appeared on two Grammy nominated albums. The first was recorded with long time musical collaborator Taylor Eigsti on Eigsti’s nominated album Lucky To Be Me. The two toured Brazil together in 2005 and collaborated in composing a suite for chamber orchestra performed at Stanford University in 2007. The second Grammy-nominated album was Nnenna Freelon’s 2005 release Blueprint Of A Lady. Julian has also performed with Herbie Hancock, David Grisman, Bela Fleck, Charles Lloyd, Mark O’Connor, Lee Konitz, Martin Taylor, Billy Higgins, Jane Monheit, Billy Hart, and Christian McBride, among many others.
