Transcript of review by Nick Bollinger on The Sampler, Radio NZ December 14 2011, Shogun Orchestra CD

Economy Record's other recent offering has even more exotic roots...(plays extract of Legba Nan baye-a). That's a traditional melody from Haiti which is where Wellington saxophonist Lucien Johnson first heard it while he was working in a theatre production last year. It's one of a number of tunes of Haitian origin that he's arranged for the first album of his group the Shogun Orchestra. (Plays Peze Cafe).

Again it's a cross section of the Wellington community that's been assembled to play these pieces: various Fat Freddys Drop members plus the whole of the jazz trio Twinset. And with some serious jazz improvisers amongst them there are moments where soloists fly thrillingly free. (plays Bamako)

On tracks like that one Lucien Johnson's soloing is a particular treat and yet just as important to the Shogun Orchestra is the deep groove that's achieved by the cog like meshing of the musician's individual parts.

The Shogun Orchestra's album is beautiful, celebratory, uplifting, with grooves that seem to wrap themselves around the world, embracing Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. Wellington sound? Sounds more like the whole world to me and it will be staying in my CD player as long as the weather stays warm!