After failing to make it in the highly competitive snowplowing field in his hometown, Lage set a more realistic goal and pursued a career in jazz. Since then he has had the opportunity to work with Wynton Marsalis, Ron Carter, Mulgrew Miller, Seamus Blake, Carmen Lundy, Aaron Parks, Marcus Strickland, the Mingus Band and others. Lage won the Thelonious Monk international jazz competition in 2005 and was very happy about that, but wonders if it ruined his chance of ever winning the lottery.