Filene Concert Series to continue with Julian Lage Group

Skidmore College's Filene Concert Series presents Julian Lage (guitar), Dan Blake (saxophone), Aristides Rivas (cello), Jorge Roeder (bass), and Tupac Mantilla (drums) at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2_,in the Arthur Zankel Music Center.

The Julian Lage Group's two albums, Sounding Point and Gladwell, demonstrate Lage's musical tastes and talents, which vary from American folk and bluegrass to Latin, world, chamber music, string-band tradition, and modern jazz. The mixture of group members' talents along with Lage's original and improvised electric and acoustic guitar melodies create a unique sound and approach to classical compositions.

Embracing unorthodox orchestration and forms, the band seeks to explore the music that lives in the space between jazz improvisation, classical composition, and music from around the world. After the Grammy-nominated 2009 debut of Sounding Point, guitarist Lage and his group ventured into another album, Gladwell. Lage describes their efforts in this project: "We began playing with the idea of creating a story we could use as a guiding light in our writing process…The result was the development of an imaginary and forgotten town known as Gladwell…As a metaphor, Gladwellpresented us with a clear architecture to compose songs that evoke feelings of people and places we hold dear."

Various publications, such as The Chicago Tribute, Acoustic Guitar magazine, and the WOUB have declared Gladwell one of the best releases of 2011. Other newspapers and magazines— including Downbeat magazine, Boston Globe, New York Times, and the Boston Phoenix—have raved about the recording. The Boston Globe noted, "With its constantly shifting moods, transparent textures, and unexpected references, Gladwell rewards repeated listening; it's a destination that sounds like nothing else on the map."

Admission for the Nov. 2, 8 p.m. Julian Lage Group performance is $8 general admission, $5 seniors and Skidmore faculty/staff/retirees/alumni, and free for students and children. For advance reservations, click here or call the Zankel box office (518) 580-5321 for more information. The Zankel Music Center is wheelchair accessible and offers listening devices for the hearing impaired. For more information, please visit click here.