NATE MERCEREAU | JOSH JOHNSON | CARLOS NINO Openness Trio (2025 UK/EU 5-track Blue Note LP pressed on black vinyl. Openness Trio is the debut album by a unique collective comprised of guitarist and producer Nate Mercereau,saxophonist Josh Johnson, and percussionist Carlos Niño. Free-thinking creators who bring a depth of experience from wide-ranging collaborations with the likes of André 3000, Meshell Ndegeocello, Kamasi Washington, Shabaka, Jeff Parker, Makaya McCraven, and many more, the trio presents a profound musical offering born of deep communication, immersive emoting, exploration, discovery, and trust. The album is five recordings from five different sessions all around Los Angeles and Ventura county - outdoors in the hills of Ojai with a view of the Topatopa Mountains, an intimate living room setting in Elysian Park, in an Oak Tree Cathedral at the Churchill Orchard in Ojai, a Garden of Electronics in the courtyard of an Echo Park home, and a recording session under a pepper tree at Elsewhere in Topanga Canyon. Recommended)