Nathan Haines new album 'right now'

Nathan Haines returns to the forefront of jazz and electronica with the stunning new album "Right Now" due for release on December 3.

Recorded and produced between London and Auckland over the last year, "Right Now" features the stellar talents of British rapper Ty, soul legend and Squire for Hire vocalist Marlena Shaw on the title track, and Nathan's long term UK collaborators Vanessa Freeman (vocals) and Mike Patto (co-production and keyboards).

Co-producer and beat maker Chris Cox, vocalists Tama Waipara and Vanessa Freeman plus guitarist Joel Haines have all written and contributed to Nathan's 6th solo album.

Local musicians Dixon Nacey, Jnr Turua, percussion legend Miguel Fuentes, keyboardist Kevin Field and many others ensure the soundscape on this album is full of surprises.

"This has been a very organic and different way of making an album. There was no record company for a start, so I was free to work with friends and concentrate solely on the music.

"We all have small studios at home now, so by the time we went to London to mixdown in July, we had a vast array of sounds and performances to play around with."

Executive produced by the mighty Mike Patto (Reel People) and mixed by Mike and Felix Hopkins at Fluidity Studios London, "Right Now" is a classic blend of 80's synth style funk, soul and dancefloor jazz, with Nathan's trademark flute, sax and vocal work in perhaps his most personal setting yet.

"Spending more time in New Zealand has been pivotal to my life and my music. After 10 years in London I felt I needed a change, and working with the people involved in this record has been intensely satisfying and enjoyable".

Nathan recently spent 3 months in the European summer touring with Marlena Shaw, including opening for the Beastie Boys at the famed Isle of Wight Festival in August and a three night stint at London's Ronnie Scotts jazz club.

Nathan's band featuring Tama Waipara, Mike Patto and Vanessa Freeman took to London's Jazz Cafe stage for an emotional re-union in June, where the capacity crowd were treated to live versions of the album.

"Although it's been four years since the gold selling and much loved album "Squire for Hire", Nathan has been busy musically collaborating with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra with an album of originals and jazz standards "Life Time" released in 2005, and with the UK artists Jamiroquai and Reel People.

"Everybody on "Right Now" has put their heart and soul into it, and even when it came to album mixdowns, it was very much a group thing."

"In between recording and writing at home to recording and mixing in London with my friends, I think this album reflects where we are all at, and goes some way to achieving the sort of music we want to make and play". 

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