Christian McBride, Julian Lage

Julian Lage and Christian McBride share the stage at Théâtre Maisonneuve in Montréal on July 5, 2026. In a stripped-back guitar–bass setup, the spotlight is on touch, time and conversation, with plenty of room for melodies to breathe and grooves to take shape.

Raised in Santa Rosa and trained early in jazz and improvisation, Julian Lage stepped into the spotlight alongside vibraphonist Gary Burton before carving out his own path. His projects fold folk, bluegrass, country and chamber colors into a clear, modern jazz language. From Sounding Point through Arclight and Modern Lore to his Blue Note releases Squint and View With a Room, he favors crisp tone, agile phrasing and an ear for song form, whether in trio, duo or solo.

Born in Philadelphia, Christian McBride anchors the acoustic jazz tradition while drawing on hard bop, modern swing, funk and soul. After early turns with Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson and Joshua Redman, he led groups from the straight-ahead Inside Straight to the leaner, piano-less New Jawn, and a big band marked by tight writing and deep pocket. His hallmark lines are both grounded and melodic, shaping the pulse as much as the harmony.

Together, their duo leans on interaction: walking lines and counterpoint, spacious melodies and tight time, roots inflections rubbing against urban swing. It’s an intimate format built for dialogue, where each chorus can tilt from close-up lyricism to a more driving flow without losing clarity or intent.