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Nathan Haines - Album Review: Notes

18 Aug 2024 // A review by Tim Gruar


The whakapapa of Nathan Haines' 11th studio effort, his first since 2014, stretches back over a decade and features a through-line narrative from his iconic London Jazz Café days to his darker moments battling throat cancer and brighter days as a new parent.

The signposts of Haines career are as easy to read as neon in the darkness. Given his personal journey, you can’t but help think of Notes as a life celebration of life, creativity and his incredible transformational 10-year journey, relocating back to Aotearoa from the UK, becoming a father, setting up his own studio with his wife, Jaimie, and the diagnosis, treatment and recovery of throat cancer which not only threatened his livelihood as a musician but his life, as well.

The album also honours his friend, the now departed UK producer Phil Asher, responsible for the key sounds of Haines’ two landmark releases Sound Travels and Squire For Hire and the early work on some of the tracks on this album. It was completed with the help of Marc Mac (4 Hero), Mark de Clive-Lowe, Jrive (Razor-N-Tape) and Fran Booker as a brilliant testament to resilience and courage.

Sadly, Asher never got to hear the final product. But his influence still appears loud and large on a number of tracks, especially in the opening numbers like the smooth cocktail grooves of Love You More and Night Moves, reminiscent of Haines’ earliest dalliances with hip hop and acid jazz. On the nocturnal grooves of Night Moves Ruby adds vocals as comforting as butter spread on warm crumpets.

That one contrasts the more ‘matter of fact’ Hip Hop delivery from UK rapper Eo (Edwin Onokhua) on Just Holdin’ On.

Then the mood moves into a moment of classic and lush 50’s orchestrations to open Journey To The Peak before spreading out to another funky solo from Haines’ trademark soprano sax, where you are transported back to Ronny Scott’s in Soho for another late night Martini.

A standout on this album is the return appearance of UK soul-diva Vanessa Freeman (Bugz In The Attic, 4 Hero, Kyoto Jazz Massive) on Brother of Mine who also appeared alongside Marlena Shaw and Kaidi Tatham on Squire For Hire. This Nu-Jazz number bubbles way, just under the boil with Freeman’s hot-chocolate smooth vocals providing nourishing comfort to your soul.

Sleek does what it says on the tin – shiny future electro-jazz with a small nod back to 70’s Stevie Wonder and Herbie Hancock.

And continuing in that mode La Coco ushers in lusher late-night Lounge with Come Into The Light. A slight shift left into the 60’s with Storm, featuring the smoother than silk self-harmonizing from Rachel Clark, Haines’ cooler-than-a-polar bear sax noodling and spine-tingling Rhodes from Joe Kaptein. This is also the album’s only cover, a reinterpreted version of the hit done by 80’s vocal group Rare Silk.

There are plenty of dance floor fillers in this collection, including Don’t Think, which features chanting vocals from Eo and a message to leave your baggage at the door and come join the party. Whether you’re in the club, the hairdressers or doing the Hoovering, it’s an invitation to get down and on it!

The afore mentioned Sleek is reprised in spirit by another briefer instrumental, Running Man, which is all keys and synths, no reeds in the mix. It’s a fine tune but I wonder why it was placed here because the more natural follow on to Don’t Think is what comes next. And Give Thanks is a brilliant festive banger.

No wonder, when you check the credits - Arjuna Oakes and Mark de Clive-Lowe give it the full techno-god treatment and the crowds will be jumpin’.

As an avid vinyl junky and musicologist, it’s no surprise that Haines would want to mine his collection for inspiration from some of the greats. On the single Belo Dia (‘Beautiful Day’ in Portuguese), co-written with guitarist Leon Stenning, is a likely homage to the joyous, carefree spirit of Brazilian culture. The inclusion of culca (Brazilian talking drum), analogue synths and piano (courtesy of the incredible Jonathan Crayford), Rachel Clark’s blissful BV’s, vintage mic and a real string section really takes you back to this music’s golden era.

Although now recovered, the cancer scars remain evident and you can hear clearly hear on Notes, the deeply autobiographical title track, which the closes this album and hopefully that black chapter, as well. “That day I met my maker. That day, I'll never forget. I looked in the mirror, wondering how to get back."

As with many going through medical crisis, it’s whanau that give strength and on this track they are there, too, with his brother Joel Haines on guitar and eight year old son Zoot providing a vocal line in the dying embers.

There’s also a spot of karma-culture with the amazing tabla performance provided by Manjit Singh. Appropriate for such a raw and highly personal piece, detailing Haines’ journey through his cancer and emergence on the other side with a new perspective on his life first time since recovering from throat cancer.

The final lines of Notes state "You never know until it’s gone", an admittance to be thankful.

The production on the disc is deservedly warm and lush, as it should be with every Nathan Hanes recording. His reputation for adopting analogue equipment and mixing techniques just adds to the layers of this story. But don’t settle for the sub-standards of streaming, you want the full sensory experience of the needle drop to really appreciate this album. And believe me, it’s worth every groove!

 

About Nathan Haines

Nathan Haines is one of NZ’s most prolific musical exports, fusing jazz and dance music traditions with a discography spanning over 30 years. Well-known as a saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer, Nathan Haines is a genre-bending musician with an instantly recognisable sound and approach.

To date, Haines’ acclaimed career has seen him release 10 albums and countless collaborations, highlighted by his classic albums Shift Left, Squire For Hire and Sound Travels. A multiple-time Jazz Album of the Year winner, Haines has spent his musical life at the forefront of both electronic and jazz music in NZ and beyond.

August 9, 2024 will see the release of Haines’ 11th studio album, Notes - his most personal album to date. His first album in over six years, the album features production from legendary UK producer Phil Asher, one of his final projects before his untimely passing in 2021. While still maintaining the jazz sound and influence he is renowned for, the album sees Haines embracing the electronic/house/disco scene with the album sitting on the jazz end of the electronic spectrum.

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Nathan Haines

Releases

Notes
Year: 2024
Type: Album
Shift Left Reissue
Year: 2019
Type: Album
5 A Day
Year: 2014
Type: Album
Vermillion Skies
Year: 2013
Type: Album
The Poet's Embrace
Year: 2012
Type: Album
Heaven And Earth
Year: 2010
Type: Album
Music For Cocktail Lovers
Year: 2008
Type: Album
Buy Online @ Mightyape
Right Now
Year: 2007
Type: Album
The Chillfunk Years
Year: 2006
Type: Album
Life Time
Year: 2005
Type: Album
Return Of The Squire For Hire
Year: 2004
Type: Album
Squire For Hire
Year: 2003
Type: Album
Sound Travels
Year: 2001
Type: Album
Buy Online @ Mightyape
Soundkilla Sessions 1
Year: 1996
Type: Album
Shift Left
Year: 1994
Type: Album
Buy Online @ Mightyape

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