In Print  Home  Directories  Reviews  Get In Touch  Forums  Links  Gig Guide  

Nathan Haines: Life Time

It's hard to imagine that this album is by the same guy who created the impressive 'Squire for Hire' with its street smarts and edgy cleverness. This is from another world, the sinewy drumbeat has given way to the soft creamy smoothness of strings and woodwind. Thankfully, master of jazz meets the NZSO has resulted in collaboration rather than carnage. Recorded over a couple of days in the Michael Fowler Centre and the Aotea Centre by Oceania last December, the Haines family crew (Nathan on tenor and soprano sax, flute and vocals; Joel Haines guitars; Kevin Haines on bass - along with drummer Ron Samson and Kevin Field on piano and Fender Rhodes) played in the midst of the NZSO conducted by Hamish McKeich. They performed a mixture of standards and original compositions, mainly arranged by Alan Broadbent and while the concerts weren't particularly satisfying, this recording largely is. The feel is definitely laid back, late night lounge music with an NZSO twist. At times I felt a hankering for some good old Nathan Haines' groove but then that's not what this album is about and if you can get your head around that then you are bound to enjoy it.

Related Information