Composer and saxophonist Josh Johnson anounces his 10-track third solo album Animative on October 23, through International Anthem and Nonesuch Records ahead of a November 10, 2026 streaming premiere. The release campaign opens with lead single "Reece," a horn-driven track featuring synth layers and loops. Preceding this record was Johnson's 2024 solo release Unusual Object on Northern Spy Records.
Production pairs Johnson with producer Paul Bryan. Guest contributions arrive from singer Meshell Ndegeocello, violinist Macie Stewart, trumpeter Marquis Hill, and drummer Ben Lumsdaine. Johnson previously produced Ndegeocello's 2023 LP The Omnichord Real Book, which earned the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Jazz Album.
Collaborative work has shaped Johnson's output across the jazz and experimental underground, including co-founding the quintet SML and playing in guitarist Jeff Parker's ETA IVtet. Recent recording credits encompass joint records with guitarist Gregory Uhlmann and bassist Sam Wilkes, alongside appearances in the Openness Trio with guitarist Nate Mercereau and percussionist Carlos Niño. In March 2026, Johnson produced bassist Flea's debut solo album Honora, also released through Nonesuch Records.
Live dates place Johnson at the front of a stage trio featuring bassist Anna Butterss and Lumsdaine. The ensemble plays release concerts in Los Angeles on October 27, 2026, Minneapolis on November 3, 2026, and Brooklyn on December 10, 2026. Further performances will follow across subsequent tour legs.
