I've been a fan of NATHAN HAINES for many years now. Ever since I first auditioned for my college 'Stage Band'. Having come from a classically trained background, playing the simplest of jazz standards was a mission and getting my head around them 'jazz chords' was a nightmare. Dissonance, improvisation, polyrhythms and irregular timings... I was waaaaay out of my league and felt I gave chaotic performances despite my director's best efforts (sorry Mr. Edmunson for my earlier attempts). I was about to give up until a friend of mine introduced me to Nathan Haines' 'SOUND TRAVELS' album which was released in 2000.

It was a special blend of jazz.

From thereon, I was inspired to listen to some of the greats - John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Thelonious, Wes Montgomery, Ernest Ranglin, Ronnie Jordan, Dave Brubeck, Chick Corea - and found a love for not only jazz, but all it encompassed, not to mention jazz funk, jazz fusion, acid jazz etc... and thank goodness my performances made a turn-around for the better!

When I heard that Nathan Haines was putting out a new album, I was excited to hear his latest offering 'HEAVEN AND EARTH'.

What I found again, was a special blend of jazz so uniquely 'Nathan Haines'. Rich; bold; smooth; sometimes dark and sometimes light. But overall, a spiritual experience.

Meet the man behind the music.

(WARNING: Certain language may offend sensitive readers. I'm mainly implying to the use of the word '...f!@#ing...' so if you're the sensitive type, close your eyes when you get to that part.)

COUP DE MAIN: Describe yourself in 3 words.

NATHAN HAINES: I’d rather not (that’s 3 words).

CDM: Fair call. When I say JOHN COLTRANE, you say…

NATHAN: I may start crying.

CDM: What is one you can’t live without?

NATHAN: My fiancee Jaimie Webster.

CDM: What’s your favourite dish to make in the kitchen?

NATHAN: My mum’s half Chinese, so probably her steamed stuffed capsicum with pork, shiitake and salted shrimp.

CDM: What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

NATHAN: “Go Home, straighten up and learn your charts!” Marlena Shaw to me before the first time we played together in London.

CDM: The ‘Haines’ name is synonymous with jazz. Your father is a veteran of the New Zealand music industry and a gifted bass player,  and your brother is a very talented guitarist/composer (he blew me away with ‘Seniah Leoj’).  Both have played a huge part in the making of your albums today. What’s it like working so closely with your family?

NATHAN: Joel has been a huge part of this album and also of the live band. We love it. He taught me a lot of studio stuff. Dad’s not in the latest line-up so we do private gigs and things like that but of course it’s great and he gave me an appreciation of music.

CDM: How does it feel being able to share your successes with them?

NATHAN: I’m not sure what success you mean, but playing with Joel on this last tour was fucking awesome!

CDM: 'HEAVEN AND EARTH' is your seventh and latest album. For ANY musician to have a seventh album is a big feat! What do you think is the secret to your longevity?

NATHAN: Perseverance, not listening to some journo’s (not you obviously) and the belief that anything is possible. I also strive to never repeat myself and to keep learning and applying knowledge.

CDM: What’s the philosophy behind this album?

NATHAN: Heaven and Earth comes from Taoist writings and is about the universe and our relationship with it and how it actually gives us everything we need. There’s also a lot of Persian poet Rumi in this album as he has had a huge effect on my life in the last few years. It’s also about writing with vocalists Vanessa Freeman and Kevin Mark Trail for their tracks and producing them so they feel comfortable – same with the band. I just wanted people to hear what we sound like live.

CDM: Your opening track “Introducing…” is definitely an interesting way to kick off the album. What made you decide to begin the album with this track?

NATHAN: It was a joke! It’s hilarious. It’s my mate from Hong Kong introducing me in Cantonese, and the Ehru or Chinese violin is played by an old man I saw walking up the road near the studio and convinced him to come and play.

CDM:  I know you play quite a few instruments but have you always had an interest in traditional Chinese instruments such as the ‘ERHU’?

NATHAN: My grandfather and great grandfather were from the old Canton (now Guangzhou) so I grew up with a lot of Chinese influence. I also love Japanese and Indian classical music (who wouldn’t!) so I took up the bansuri flute several years ago.

CDM: Which song on the album are you most proud of and why?

NATHAN: That’s not for me to say – the album was made for the listener.

CDM: “It’s Alright” features the amazing Vanessa Freeman and it’s not the first time she’s been on one of your albums either. When you’re working with such established musicians like her on your albums, do you have to give them much direction? Or do you just let them do their own thing?

NATHAN: Myself and Vanessa have a very long relationship and we have played all around the world. I had a demo of the song a few years ago, and she did a very very quick vocal.  So then, when we got together in London last year (after I had re-recorded it here) we worked together. But I wanted to keep that vibing original version and not overproduce it. When you see Vanessa live then you can understand where she’s coming from.

CDM: Kevin Mark Trail (best known for his appearance on THE STREETS’ 'Let’s Push Things Forward' single with Mike Skinner) lends his talents on 'Pathway'. How did you manage to get him on your album?

NATHAN: We had many mutual friends in London and he was here in Jan and Feb so I invited him to a gig and he got up and instantly I knew I wanted to record with him. I had a track and I MP3’d it to him then we got together 3 days later. All I came up with was the title but he just took it and ran with it, then we worked on the lyrics and there you go. The song!

CDM: You sing on the title track 'Heaven and Earth'… can we expect more of you singing in the future?!

NATHAN: Yeah I reckon - god willing. It’s hard when you are surrounded by such great singers but on this last tour we did 'Heaven and Earth' every night and I summoned enough courage somehow! Vanessa and Kevin were on BV's [backing vocals] which helped.

CDM: How do your songs come to life? Does it evolve from a jam session, perhaps playing around or is there some sort of formula?

NATHAN: There’s never any formula, but we don’t have the luxury of jamming around as a band, so I spend a lot of time alone in my studio, or I work with my mate Chris Cox who throws me a bone in the form of a beat with no music on it. That works for me very well as I like writing to drums.

CDM: You’ve been able to work alongside some high calibre musicians both locally and internationally, such as Marlena Shaw; Rich Medina; Damon Albarn; Billy Cobham; Jamiroquai; Mark de Clive-Lowe and Grammy Award winning arranger Alan Broadbent. The list goes on. Who has been the most memorable?

NATHAN: All of them! But Marlena has and still is a huge influence on my life. She showed me a lot of things.

CDM: Who would you now most like to collaborate with and why?

NATHAN: Claus Ogerman the great arranger would be nice. And I have talked with Marlena about producing her next album which is exciting to say the least.

CDM: Is it true you like to play chess when you’re working on an album?

NATHAN: Haha! Yes, but that was before I started producing or working on computer. But yes sometimes anything take you mind off listening to when you are mixing to prompt your ‘other’ ear is good.

CDM: Your first solo album ‘SHIFT LEFT’ went gold when it came out in 1994 becoming NZ’s highest selling jazz record. It remained a record until your 2003 album ‘SQUIRE FOR HIRE’ surpassed it. Is there pressure for ‘HEAVEN AND EARTH’ to do just as well?

NATHAN: That’s not for me to speculate on and I don’t. I have my own personal standards.

CDM: And finally, do you believe in Heaven?

NATHAN: I believe in Heaven and Earth and humanity and in the achievements we can all make and are capable of.

Nathan Haines ‘HEAVEN AND EARTH’ in stores NOW.