SML is a five-piece band from Los Angeles that is reinventing jazz. Bassist Anna Butterss, synthesist Jeremiah Chiu, saxophonist Josh Johnson, percussionist Booker Stardrum, and guitarist Gregory Uhlmann blend live jazz with electronic effects with digital sampling, creating a sound that completely blurs the line between acoustic and synthetic, according to New Amsterdam Jazz. Their shows are immersive experiences where groove takes center stage. No flashy solos, just hypnotic repetition that pulls you deeper and deeper into the music. Pitchfork described their approach as potentially a new chapter in jazz – or perhaps something that transcends that genre altogether. Since their debut album Small Medium Large, they’ve performed at leading festivals worldwide, and with their newest release How You Been (2025), they sound sharper and bolder than ever.
