SML’s Josh Johnson Readies New Album Animative

Josh Johnson, the SML co-founder and member of Jeff Parker’s ETA IVtet, has announced Animative, the follow-up to his 2024 LP Unusual Object. Making his debut on International Anthem/Nonesuch, the composer, saxophonist, and synthesist will release the album physically on October 23 before a November 10 streaming release.

Guests include Meshell Ndegeocello—whose 2023 album The Omnichord Real Book Johnson produced—Macie Stewart, Marquis Hill, and Ben Lumsdaine. Listen to a single, “Reece,” below.

Johnson will lead a trio with Anna Butterss and Lumsdaine for album release shows in Los Angeles (October 27), Minneapolis (November 3), and Brooklyn (December 10) this fall and winter, with more performances to come.

Animative, produced by Johnson and Paul Bryan, follows a spree of releases and freewheeling endeavors including multiple records with SML, another with Gregory Uhlmann and Sam Wilkes, more with the Openness Trio (alongside Nate Mercereau and Carlos Niño), and production on Flea’s recent album Honora.

Animative: 01 Idiofone 02 Reece 03 Jazz Chord Possession 04 Aughts Hymnal 05 Mill 06 It Can Be Everywhere 07 Strays 08 High Step 09 Close 10 Upstairs 2021.

Photo by Atiba JeffersonCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyJosh Johnson, the SML co-founder and member of Jeff Parker’s ETA IVtet, has announced Animative, the follow-up to his 2024 LP Unusual Object.