CURATED BY
JOSH JOHNSON
Josh Johnson is a saxophonist, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and Grammy Award-winning producer whose singular tone and fearless musicianship have made him one of today’s most sought-after collaborators. He has worked with a remarkable spectrum of artists including Jeff Parker, Makaya McCraven, Meshell Ndegeocello, Brandee Younger, and Joel Ross, as well as pop and rock figures ranging from Harry Styles to the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
A longtime member of Jeff Parker’s acclaimed ensembles, Johnson’s sound is central to landmark recordings like The New Breed, Suite for Max Brown, and the ETA IVtet albums that garnered Pitchfork’s “Best New Music” honors. His own projects include the quintet SML (whose 2024 debut Small Medium Large earned wide praise), Uhlmann Johnson Wilkes, and Openness Trio. His solo albums Freedom Exercise (2020) and Unusual Object (2024) showcase his distinct compositional voice, balancing futurist textures with daring melodicism. Johnson also served as musical director for Leon Bridges from 2018–2022, arranging and conducting performances with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
At Big Ears 2026, Johnson not only performs across several ensembles—SML, Uhlmann Johnson Wilkes, Openness Trio, Marquis Hill Blacktet, and more—but also curates an exciting lineup of artists, reflecting his expansive vision for contemporary music. His role at the festival embodies his wide-ranging artistry: a musician equally at home in the jazz avant-garde, the world’s great concert halls, and the experimental fringes where new sounds are made.
CURATED BY JOSH JOHNSON
Cleo Reed
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Deantoni Parks: Technoself
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Marquis Hill Blacktet
Featuring Josh Johnson, Emmanuel Michel, Junius Paul, Johnathan Pinson, and Gerald Clayton
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Qur’an Shaheed
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Twin Talk
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