Julian Lage Reflects on His Unforgettable Jam with Derek Trucks
Julian Lage felt as if he were in a dream when he shared the stage with the iconic slide guitarist Derek Trucks, needing to watch footage of their performance to believe it truly happened.
Emerging as a prodigy, Lage made waves in the music scene before he even turned 13, culminating in a Grammy appearance at the tender age of 12. A decade later, he clinched the Grammy for best Contemporary Jazz Album with his debut release.
At 38, Lage’s career has been nothing short of extraordinary, but collaborating with Trucks stands out as a pinnacle moment.
How It All Came Together
“It was our mutual friend Mike Elizondo, an astonishing bassist and producer, who introduced us,” Lage shared with Guitar World. “He produced the latest Tedeschi Trucks album, and they’ve been friends for years. When Mike was in New York for the album launch, he texted me, ‘Can you make it hear on Friday?’”
Without hesitation, Lage agreed to join the band, which Trucks co-leads alongside his wife, Susan Tedeschi, for a special performance.
“Like everyone else, I think Derek is simply the best,” Lage expressed. “He’s such a remarkable talent.”
A Meeting of Musical minds
Trucks, who was also a child prodigy, had shared stages with legends like Buddy Guy at just nine years old, making their collaboration a meeting of kindred spirits.though, the experience was fleeting.
“It was over before I realized it,” Lage recalled. ”I arrived, plugged in, and just like that, it was done. I went home and watched the video, relieved to know it wasn’t just a dream. I had an amazing time.”
On March 20, 2026, Lage stepped onto the revered stage of the Beacon Theater, wielding a white Fender Telecaster. Trucks, as always, was armed with his Gibson SG, leading a sprawling rendition of Keep on Growing that lasted nearly 15 minutes.
Musical Chemistry on Stage
Lage’s joy was palpable as he complemented Trucks’ gritty blues riffs with his own sparkling charm, seamlessly weaving his jazz influences into the performance.
“It’s a celebration of the guitar,” Lage noted about the performance.”It’s such a welcoming instrument. When you’re playing with like-minded musicians,genre boundaries fade away.”
Simultaneously occurring, Trucks has been experiencing his own surreal moments, having taken Jerry Garcia’s $11 million Tiger guitar on stage shortly after it was recognized as the second most expensive guitar in the world.
Stay tuned for Lage’s complete interview with Guitar World, which will be available online soon.
