One of the breakout jazz acts of 2024 was LA’s SML ( Small Medium Large). Two thirds of this new trio – saxophonist Josh Johnson and guitarist Gregory Uhlmann – are SML-ers and along with bass player Sam Wilkes they’ve produced a set that continues their cliche shattering form. Eleven instrumentals of “progressive electro-acoustic chamber music” that grew out of live shows and household jams. The album in their words has a kind of “post-modern swing with skeletal grooves and ghostly moods”.
Josh Johnson’s solo set at the Winter Jazz Festival was one of the highlights of the week and the body of work emerging from this adventurous west coast scene is shaping up to help define this jazz era.
This is our album of the week for the week commencing 24th March 2025