*Announcing* Gregory Uhlmann, Josh Johnson, Sam Wilkes - debut trio LP Uhlmann Johnson Wilkes out March 14th, 2025
*announcing*
IARC0095
Gregory Uhlmann, Josh Johnson, Sam Wilkes
UHLMANN JOHNSON WILKES
LP, CD, Cassette, DD out March 14th, 2025
Uhlmann Johnson Wilkes is the debut album from a new trio by LA based musicians Gregory Uhlmann, Josh Johnson, and Sam Wilkes.
With these 11 instrumental songs, the trio explore a spacious lyrical curiosity that could be described as a jazz-informed take on progressive electro-acoustic chamber music. It's redolent of the form-smashing ingenuity they've exhibited in past projects — from Music For Saxofone and Bass Guitar, Wilkes' beloved collaboration with Sam Gendel released by Leaving Records in 2018, to last year's Small Medium Large, the critically-acclaimed debut from Uhlmann and Johnson's group SML — that have become era-defining documents of Los Angeles's thriving new jazz scene.
(( photo by Roman Koval ))
Conceived during two live shows at ETA (recorded by Bryce Gonzales) and a session at Uhlmann’s house in Los Angeles, Uhlmann Johnson Wilkes's skeletal grooves and ghostly moods revel in a kind of minimal, post-modern swing. Even in its more metaphysical and contemplative moments, the album's compositional restraint feels daring and alluring, inviting close appreciation of Uhlmann’s fingerpicked electric guitar, the hybrid rhythm-lead of Wilkes’ bass chording, or the harmonic world-building of Johnson’s transmogrified alto saxophone.
The album's first single, "Frica," is transfixing — a choppy bass groove, chirping sax melodies, and tone sculptures that provide its narcotic, physics-defying climax. Incorporating staccato stutters and repetitions heard throughout the album, the track doubles down with a subtly disorienting post-production chop by Johnson, which accentuates the trio’s live trance by introducing a floating phrase cut-and-mix.
The fact that these concepts are employed intuitively, pre-edit, throughout Uhlmann Johnson Wilkes is precisely what makes the post-production shine. It can be difficult to discern what is a slip of the sampler and what is live, turn-on-a-dime action, and it’s exactly that mystery which draws us in.
The trio’s explorations are rooted in more than just musicality, though. The arc of the group’s story is one of friendship and mutual admiration. That instantaneous cualidad simpático is what makes this trio special. A friendship between high-level improvisers is translated into musical moments, and executed with such curious precision that the lines between supposed opposites — composition and improvisation, jazz and chamber music, ennui and contentment — are delightfully blurred.
Los Angeles Release Show
April 16th @ Barnsdall
The trio are set to celebrate the album release with a live performance at Barnsdall Gallery Theatre in Los Angeles on April 16th — more info here.
(( Photo by Roman Koval ))
...about...
Sam Wilkes
American bassist, producer, arranger, and composer based in Los Angeles. Wilkes’ music is steeped in genre fusion, collaboration, and tight rhythm section performance.
A frequent collaborator of Sam Gendel, Louis Cole/KNOWER, and Jacob Mann. Other collaborations throughout Wilkes' career include: Chaka Khan, Mk.gee, Jacob Collier, Rufus Wainwright, Maggie Rogers, & Dijon etc. Wilkes performs live primarily playing a Fender Precision bass while sitting down.
Gregory Uhlmann
Gregory Uhlmann is a guitarist, composer, and producer from Chicago living in Los Angeles. His musical palette embraces beautiful warble-y sounds, playful rhythms that overlap in surprising ways, and low fuzzy vibrations.
He is currently a member of SML, Duffy x Uhlmann, Uhlmann Johnson Wilkes, and a duo with Dustin Wong. Additionally, he has collaborated with Perfume Genius, Hand Habits, Fell Runner, Miya Follick, Anna Butterss, Jeremiah Chiu, Tasha, and many others.
Josh Johnson
Johnson is a saxophonist, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and Grammy Award-winning producer. He is a regular collaborator with some of contemporary music’s most innovative artists, including Meshell Ndegeocello, Jeff Parker, Makaya McCraven, Marquis Hill, Chicago Underground Quartet, and SML.
He can also be heard on wide-ranging records by artists such as Nate Mercereau, Harry Styles, Kiefer, Broken Bells, Leon Bridges, and Chris Cohen.
Deluxe Vinyl Package
Uhlmann Johnson Wilkes comes on a 140g vinyl LP in heavyweight reverse-board jacket, with IARC 2025 obi strip & poly-lined inner sleeve. Pressed at Pallas in Germany, with lacquers cut by Daniel K @ SST.
Available on limited edition "Concord Grape" color vinyl for $29 USD.
Also available on classic black vinyl for $24 USD.
The 𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥 ‘𝟮𝟱 𝗕𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗟𝗘 is now available !!
It's a new season of new releases and the Winter ‘25 Bundle collects all three of the new LPs announced this season (including Alabaster DePlume's A Blade Because A Blade Is Whole and Uhlmann Johnson Wilkes) and ships them to you as a single parcel.
Purchase gets you a bundle-exclusive discount of 10% off the LP prices as well as a discounted shipping cost.
The bundle will ship from our warehouses in the US, EU, and UK, but don’t wait too long, the quantity available in each warehouse is limited! Early purchase is recommended to ensure the lowest possible shipping, tax, and VAT costs.
All items will ship together in one package around March 7th, so you will receive one LP by its street date and the other two releases shortly ahead of their release dates. Bandcamp downloads will be sent via email for all the releases by, or on, the ship date. Thank you as always for your trust in our label’s output and for your support <𝟯
