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NATHAN HAINES - Right Now

Multi-instrumentalist and producer Nathan Haines continues to explore the boundaries of soul, jazz and dance music with his latest release "Right Now."

New Zealand’s most well known and respected jazz musician, Nathan has already achieved Gold status with two of his previous albums in New Zealand.

Executive Produced by Mike Patto (Reel People), co-produced and co-written with dj Chris Cox and featuring the stellar vocal talents of US soul legend Marlena Shaw, Vanessa Freeman, British rapper Ty and Tama Waipara, "Right Now" is Nathan's 6th solo album, and the first to be released on his own Haven Music label.

After a three year stint studying and performing in New York in the early 90's, Nathan returned to New Zealand to record the classic “Shift Left” album in 1994, the country’s  biggest ever selling jazz album, which was also released in Europe on the prestigious Verve label.

Moving to London in 1995 saw Nathan team up with drum and bass producers A-Sides, Goldie and Marc Mac (4 Hero) with several releases on labels Metalheadz and Reinforced. He later ran the succesful weekly club night "bemsha!" at the Notting Hill Arts Club for over four years, and fused live music with dj's including Giles Peterson, Phil Asher, Paul Trouble Anderson and Chilli funk founders Lofty and Dr Bob Jones.

Nathan then recorded the album “Sound Travels”, which saw his trademark sound go out to the world via the London label Chillifunk. Produced by restless soul founder Phil Asher, tracks from the album were also released on Francois Kervorkian’s New York label Wave, and the song “Earth is the Place” became a New York classic and licensed to over 40 compilations worldwide.

The core of the musicians on this album included Mike Patto, Simon Colam, bassist Level Neville, drummer Daniel Crosby and singers Vanessa Freeman, Shelley Nelson and Marcus Begg, all of whom became regular band partners for Haines.

The band became a regular on the international jazz circuit with performances at the North Sea Jazz Festival,  the Tokyo Blue Note, London’s Jazz Cafe and Ronnie Scott clubs, and the famed Southport Weekender.

The critically acclaimed follow-up to “Sound Travels”  was the aptly named “Squire for Hire”, featuring the legendary soul singer Marlena Shaw on the title track, plus production once again from West London operative Phil Asher, and a guest appearance from Damon Albarn (Blur) singing a cover of Steely Dan’s FM. New York based Poet  Rich Medina lent his inimitable style to a few tracks, and Nathan took to the mic for a vocal performance of his jazz ballad "Oblivion", complete with a string section. Mike Patto co-wrote many of the tunes on this album, and remains one of Nathan's closest musical partners.

Recently Nathan recorded an album of originals and jazz standards with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra with arrangements from Grammy award winning pianist and arranger Alan Broadbent. Showcasing Nathan’s understanding and maturity of the jazz tradition saw this album received with high praise in the UK, where the BBC described Nathan’s lyrical talent as “a revelation”.

Nathan has become an in demand collaborator and session man for luminaries such as the New York based Masters at Work, 4 Hero, Reel People and UK pop act Jamiroquai.

NATHAN HAINES - Right Now is available through Haven Music/Instinctive Travels and distributed by Creative Vibes

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