Nathan Haines shifts back to start
Jazz musician Nathan Haines has come back to his debut album with a new perspective, two years on from a life-changing cancer diagnosis, writes Tim Newman.
Nearly two years on from a life-changing cancer diagnosis, New Zealand jazz musician Nathan Haines is shifting back in time.
In August, Haines is kicking off a New Zealand tour commemorating the 25th anniversary of the release of his debut album Shift Left, with the first stop in Nelson on August 17.
Released in 1994 when Haines was just 22, Shift Left remains New Zealand’s number one selling jazz album.
The acclaimed saxophonist said he came back to the album with a changed perspective, following his struggle with throat cancer during the past two years.
The initial symptoms seemed innocuous, limited to just a feeling of having something stuck at the back of his throat.
After several doctor’s visits, an endoscopy revealed a large tumour in Haines’ throat.
‘‘It was very very quick for me, the initial diagnosis – as soon as they saw that it was instant.’’
Haines was admitted to hospital in December 2017 and underwent two operations.
The next few months were spent in and out of hospital, undergoing radiation treatment and recuperating.
‘‘I couldn’t do basic things like swallow water, I had to feed through a tube in my nose for about two months.
‘‘I worked pretty hard on my recovery, made a pretty amazing recovery – but have had to make a lot of changes in my life. I’m incredibly health and diet-focused now – it’s a different life for me.’’
For many months Haines was unable to perform as he continued to get his strength back following the treatment.
The only noticeable ongoing effect from the cancer is on Haines’ voice, which while much improved, remains weak, leaving him unsure if he will sing again. ‘‘I have sung on most of my albums, so I’m still coming to terms with that.’’
While he said there is nothing wrong with his vocal chords, the scar tissue created by removing the
tumour from his hypopharynx had the effect of ‘‘pulling the [vocal chords] apart’’.
‘‘I woke up about a month ago with my whole voice back. I called my surgeon, he said it was remarkable, but it only lasted about 40 minutes.
‘‘It does show me there’s something very small involved in getting me talking properly again – I’m really holding out hope that I will get my voice back.’’
Haines said staring death in the face was a harrowing, but lifeaffirming experience.
‘‘I definitely have a different perspective on life, I’m the same person but have discovered what’s important, and it’s certainly not my career.
‘‘My son had just turned three when I was diagnosed – he’s fourand-a-half now. That was a big part of my recovery, making sure I was around for him – really working hard on doing what I was told with regards to the recovery.’’
Haines said being able to then go back and revisit his debut album had been an amazing journey.
‘‘I hadn’t listened to the album in an incredibly long amount of time, so it was really cool going back and listening to it.
‘‘It’s sort of like time travel, because you go back into your mind and what influenced you to make those decisions.
‘‘I think the album stands up pretty well after 25 years, some things are of its time, but I do think there’s some great playing in there from everyone that’s on there.’’
By the time he made the album as a 22-year-old in 1994, Haines had already been playing professionally in Auckland for several years.
Music is a theme that runs through the Haines family, with father Kevin (bass) and brother Joel (guitar) top performers in their own right.
When he was 15 he joined the Jazz Committee along with his brother Joel, and was regularly playing at gigs every weekend.
After winning an AGC Young Achievers Award at 19, Haines got the opportunity to study and play in New York City, which he did for the next three years.
During the early 90s New York was one of the incubators of ‘Acid Jazz’, a cross-pollination of Jazz harmony and hip-hop which had its origins in London in the 80s.
When he returned to New Zealand, Haines started work on Shift Left.
‘‘For me the album was really about assimilating those sounds – so there’s a lot of that New York vibe and sound in it for me.’’
Now a music producer in his own right, Haines said his 22-yearold self was basically running on instinct.
‘‘I didn’t really know what I was doing, all I knew was what I liked.’’
‘‘There’s a lot to be said for just doing things when you’re young – that’s the attraction of music.’’
Haines said he never had a lot of time to reflect on the album after it was first released, moving to London immediately after, where he had stayed before returning to New Zealand with wife Jaimie Webster Haines in 2015.
‘‘I made that record at a very different time in my life. It was my first album, I’d spent three years in New York City at that point, and I really had my sights set on London. As soon as I’d finished that album I was like ‘I’ve made it – see ya I’m out of here’.
Along with the anniversary tour the original album has been remastered, with three new remixes from P-Money, Frank Booker and Julien Dyne.
Haines said it was exciting to have almost all of the band members from the original album back for the tour as well.
The band includes Nathan’s brother Joel Haines on guitar, keyboardist Kevin Field, New York based bassist Richard Hammond, drummer Mickey Ututaonga, Puerto-Rican born percussionist Miguel Fuentes, and guest Hammond organ player Alan Brown.
‘‘People will see a bunch of guys who love being together and performing together. It’s pretty humbling leading this ship – not a day goes by where I don’t think I’m the luckiest guy alive.’’
The past four years have presented their challenges to Haines, re-adjusting to life in New Zealand, becoming a father for the first time, and fighting for his life.
‘‘I’ve been on a pretty lifechanging journey. [I’ve learned] life’s not about taking, it’s about giving, and that’s really informed my music. When I’m on the stage now, I feel like I’ve got something to talk about. I’m just blowing air into an instrument, but there’s some stories in that air.’’
Nathan Haines is performing with the original Shift Left band on August 17 at the Trafalgar Centre, Nelson. Tickets are available at Ticket Direct.
The second show will be at The Civic in Auckland on August 24.
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40 41 Consumers (5) Prickly animal (8)
Extol (6)
Pursue (5) Nimble-witted (5,2,3,6) Foyer (5) Self-image (3) Meadow flowers (7) With very keen eyesight (5-4)
Changed direction (6) Cause to feel selfconscious (9)
False (6)
Arrival (6)
Boxed confectionery (10) The present (3) Gregarious (6) Vertical spar (4)
Kind (3)
Finished (4)
Genus including daffodils, jonquils (9)
Cut expenditure (9) Small and delicately built (5) 42 47 51 55
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62 63 66 67 69 72 73 75 77 80 81 82 83 84 85 Fidgety (8)
Curved sickle shape (8) Neck warmer (5) Light conversation for social occasions (5,4) Return journey (5,4) Mountains (4)
As well (3) Undiluted (4) University's buildings and grounds (6) Menagerie (3) Overdue arrivals (10) Body organ (6) Lecture (6) Plateau (9)
Bypass (6) Vigorous (9) Voracious fish (7) Mineral spring (3) Passenger ship (5) Growing old (7,2,2,5) Ambition (5) Comrade (6)
Spells away from work (8) Said further (5) 2 3 5 6
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25 27 28 30 32 34 36 Easily nauseated (9) Boulders (5) Consumes (4) Country in West Indies (7)
Despair (12) Pottery coating (5) Nip in the bud (7) Friend in war (4) Overpower (6) Doomed (5) Down-payment (7) Deadly poison (7) Capsize (11) Columnist (6) Speed up (7) Passage selected from a larger work (7) Imprudent (6) Shifty (7)
Prefer (6)
Set of garments (4) Small boat (5) Illegal removal (5) Employer (4) 38 42 43 44 45 46 48 49 50 51 52 53
54 57 64 65 66 68 70 71 72 74 76 78 79 Compete (3)
Gum (5) Breakwater (3,4) Calm spell (4) Dung-beetle (6) Fabric tucks (5) Eager anticipation (11) Alleged (7) Snooze (3) Captain (7) Icebound (6) Undistinguished in quality or nature (3-2-3-4) Superstar (4) Decayed (6)
Stud farm product (9) Fabric (7) Disease (anag)(7) Coped (7) Spanned (7)
One in a foot race (6) Lifeboat crane (5) Gag (5)
In the lead (5)
Soft white cheese (4) Jealousy (4)
‘‘I didn’t really know what I was doing, all I knew was what I liked. There’s a lot to be said for just doing things when you’re young – that’s the attraction of music.’’