{"id":33258,"date":"2026-09-15T15:30:42","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T14:30:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/castthedice.org\/?p=33258"},"modified":"2026-09-15T15:30:42","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T14:30:42","slug":"josh-johnson-announces-new-album-animative-and-shares-lead-single-reece","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/castthedice.org\/?p=33258","title":{"rendered":"Josh Johnson announces new album, Animative<\/em>, and shares lead single ‘Reece’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo: Atiba Jefferson<\/p><\/div>\n

Chicago-raised, Los Angeles-based saxophonist, keyboardist, synthesist, producer and composer Josh Johnson<\/a> is one of the most daring and versatile figures in contemporary music, both through his own work and as a collaborator. He has been a big part of the sound of Jeff Parker\u2019s ETA IVtet, co-leads the all-star ensembles SML and the Openness Trio, and has collaborated extensively with Sam Wilkes and Gregory Uhlmann. As a producer, Johnson is also behind Meshell Ndegeocello\u2019s GRAMMY-winning 2023 album The Omnichord Real Book<\/em> and Flea\u2019s recent album Honora<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Now he is gearing up to release a new album, following 2024\u2019s Unusual Object<\/em> and 2020\u2019s Freedom Exercise<\/em>. Entitled Animative<\/em>, the new record marks his debut with International Anthem<\/a> and Nonesuch<\/a> and arrives on October 23rd, with the streaming release following on November 10th.\u00a0Across its ten tracks, Animative<\/em> finds Johnson continuing to explore the space between composition, improvisation and electronics, bringing together skeletal soul-jazz, post-bop, electronic minimalism and dreamy ambience. Produced by Johnson and Paul Bryan, the album features guest contributions from Meshell Ndegeocello, Macie Stewart, Marquis Hill and Ben Lumsdaine, among others. Animate<\/em> also sees Johnson grow his interest for technology and improvisation, often using his saxophone to control a sampler or drum machine and trigger changes in loops and effects. Despite the sophistication of the setup, Johnson uses technology merely as an instrument, without loosing feeling. \u201cI’m looking to make it feel more human,\u201d he explains, describing an approach that seeks to escape the trap of technical mastery and retain the physical and emotional qualities of performance.<\/p>\n

The title of the album is something his friends would never connect with him, considering his reserved nature. \u201cI said the name to a few people, and they were like, \u2018Animated is not how I would describe you,\u2019\u201d Johnson says. \u201cBut I’m really thinking about it from the perspective of causing animation, giving spirit, or connecting with spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ahead of the album\u2019s release, Johnson has shared the gorgeous and mesmerising \u2018Reece\u2019, offering a thrilling first taste of the album. Take a listen below.<\/p>\n