The Eighth Note is 8 quick Questions with Wellington Musicians. A chance for us to catch up with people & see what they’re up to, or introduce you to a new musician/band and their music. Up next is Lucien Johnson, who has just released new LP ‘Ancient Relics’.
Who are you? Tell us a bit about your music:
I’m a saxophonist, I grew up here and have lived in Wellington most of my life except for six years living in Paris [Where he formed a free jazz trio with Alan Silva and Makoto Sato & released Stinging Nettles on the Improvised Beings label] and a year in New York. I mostly make contemporary jazz, astral jazz, although in the past I’ve played in a lot of other contexts – playing reggae with the Black Seeds and Lord Echo for many years, soul/funk with the Eggs and related bands, recorded on several albums by the Phoenix Foundation, Hollie Smith loads more… Although I was really into the avant-garde when I was younger my music is pretty reflective these days. There’s so much music out there and so much going on in everybody’s lives, I feel like the best thing I can offer is moment or two of peace and contemplation.
Where is the best place people can follow you & find your music?
My Website will lead you to my Spotify, Bandcamp, YouTube & Instagram pages.
What were the 3 most influential albums to you growing up?
John Coltrane – My Favourite Things – I listened to this on repeat for an entire long haul flight not so long ago to try an hypnotise myself out of the pain of my physical situation (I’m 6 foot 5!).
Sun Ra – Space is the Place.
Miles Davis – Ascenseur pour l’échafaud : original soundtrack.
Which other Wellington musician (s) would you most like to work with?
It’s hard because outside of the rock scene I feel like I’ve probably worked with everyone at some stage! It’s been a great joy of my life to play with some of my contemporaries for more than two decades now: Joe Lindsay, Toby Laing, Mike Fab, Jonathan Crayford, Riki Gooch, Lisa Tomlins, Tom Callwood, Will Ricketts and many more. I hope we’re still all playing together in another 20-30 years! Two singers that I’ve only played a little bit with who I think are amazing are Kirsten Te Rito and Deva Mahal. And I’d love to do something with an orchestra sometime à la Ornette Coleman’s Naked Lunch soundtrack.
When/where was the new album recorded? Are there any overall themes within the songs/album?
My new album Ancient Relics was recorded at Dr Lee Prebble’s studio The Surgery in Newtown with a great crew: Jonathan, Tom, Natalia Mann on harp, Julien Dyne, percussion, Cory Champion on drums. The music sits in the realm of Pharoah Sanders, Alice Coltrane type astral jazz. I wanted the album to have two distinct sides – one which reflected something very ancient, almost an Egyptian sense, whereas the second represented something modern, pointing towards the futuristic.
Is there a particular single/track that you feel captures the essence of the album?
I think the last track ‘Satellites’ is very joyous and upbeat and a whole lot of fun.
Is there a physical copy available? If not which digital platforms is it available on?
‘Ancient Relics’ is available on vinyl from Bandcamp or local record shops [Flying Out] as well as all the digital things of course. [Spotify].
