Aubrey Johnson - The Lively Air (2026)

Vocalist and composer Aubrey Johnson presents her second album, The Lively Air, marking her return to composing after several years focused primarily on recording and interpreting other artists’ music (notably, Lyle Mays, Billy Childs, Alex Sipiagin, Sara Serpa, and more). Leading her six-piece ensemble featuring violinist Tomoko Omura, bassist Matt Aronoff, drummer Jay Sawyer, multi-reedist Alex LoRe, and pianist Chris McCarthy, Johnson creates exquisitely crafted arrangements characterized by lush, shifting textures and extended melodic lines where every instrument is calibrated around her voice. Through a Chamber Music America-supported mentorship with pianist Billy Childs and an artist residency at MacDowell, Johnson honed her unique approach to writing long-form pieces that take listeners on emotional and dramatic journeys. The album features Johnson’s original compositions alongside arrangements of works by Joni Mitchell, Kurt Elling, late uncle and legendary keyboardist Lyle Mays, a collaborative piece with her brother Gentry Johnson, and a newly-commissioned piece from Omura. Co-produced by bassist Steve Rodby, who worked extensively with Mays in the Pat Metheny Group, and mixed and mastered by Rich Breen, the recording continues Johnson’s family legacy while establishing her own sonic space. Known throughout the scene as the vocalist to call for the most daunting and intricate projects, Johnson brings her crystalline sound, dazzling vocal agility, and sophisticated compositional vision to The Lively Air, a brilliant companion to her critically acclaimed 2020 debut Unraveled.

Aubrey Johnson, voice
Tomoko Omura, violin (1-5, 7-10)
Alex LoRe, bass clarinet (2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10) alto sax (1, 4) flute (5, 9) tenor sax (8)
Chris McCarthy, piano (1-5, 7-10), Rhodes (2, 5)
Matt Aronoff, bass
Jay Sawyer, drums (1-5, 7-10)