Once he signed to Blue Note, guitarist Julian Lage hit not only a groove, but a sustained high as an instrumentalist and a composer. That doesn’t mean he’s repeated himself. While Lage certainly has a distinctive sound to both his writing and playing, he knows how to mix things up as he goes on. For Scenes From Above, his fifth Blue Note disk, Lage assembles a new band, composing material specifically for this combo of players.
Stalwart bassist Jorge Roeder remains, but veteran drummer Kenny Wollensen comprises the rest of the rhythm section. As a harmonic foil, Lage brings in keyboardist John Medeski, whose Hammond organ provides all sorts of new colors for the band to play with. “Havens,” for example, rides a frisky, almost Latinesque groove, with the leader performing a chunky acoustic guitar part that manufactures the groove. Medeski, meanwhile, doubles the melody, while also laying down a greasy bed on which the players can lie. Melodic but vaguely off, “Solid Air” adds a psychedelic swirl and jangly guitar to its atmospheric balladry. “Storyville” lets more spontaneous action happen than is usually Lage’s wont, with free jazz drumming, bass solos, and some fancy keyboard work from Medeski. “Red Elm” pulls in some jazz tradition, but filters them through a soul jazz organ arrangement that flips the keyboard and guitar responsibilities. “Ocala” and “Night Shade” ups that soul quotient, with bluesy guitar licks, warm, creamy organ, and a relaxed, late night vibe that goes down like a cup of hot chocolate after a stressful work week.
Unsurprisingly, given Lage’s prior track record, the tunes catch fire and hold up nicely all the way through. That the bandleader tailors them to his current group is a bonus, making Scenes From Above another highlight of the guitarist’s continuing upward swing.
