Charlie Haden Private Collection NaimCD108 and NaimLP110

Originally released as two individual Naim titles in 1994, Charlie Haden’s Private Collection Vol 1 & 2 were limited to 2,200 copies each and sold through Naim’s UK Hi-Fi retailers. Re-released in celebration of Haden’s 70th birthday, the release also marks Naim repertoire spanning 20 years of Haden’s career, with material that has never been available for the mass market

The material, fused together in this superb double digipack, designed by Singaporean artist Yuki Chong, now appears re-mastered courtesy of life-long friend Ken Christianson, who produced the original True Stereo recordings of both concerts.

Long regarded as one of the worlds’ greatest living bass players Haden first made a name for himself in the late fifties with the forward-thinking, and at the time revolutionary, quartet alongside Ornette Coleman and then in the sixties as part of the aforementioned Keith Jarrett’s trio and American Quartet. In the seventies Haden formed the Liberation Music Orchestra, a spirited politically minded free-jazz band that concentrated much of their ideas on the Spanish Civil War. Throughout the eighties and nineties Haden has worked with all manner of musicians both in the jazz world and beyond achieving massive critical acclaim both for his collaboration with guitarist Pat Metheney (“Beyond The Missouri Sky”) and with his own band he formed in the late eighties, Quartet West.

Charlie Haden and Antonio Forcione Heartplay NaimCD098 and NaimLP101

Naim is so pleased to have had the opportunity once again to work with the legendary bass player Charlie Haden. Famed for his ground breaking work with Ornette Coleman in the 60s, Charlie has played and recorded with nearly every musical luminary you can think of.

It's no less of a pleasure to have recorded the outstanding guitarist Antonio Forcione, also no stranger to The Naim Label. Antonio brings his immense talent to the recording, contributing a thrilling performance.

Heartplay is a subtle and sublime collaboration. Charlie and Antonio play a combination of compositions by each other, and a beautifully sparkling track called Child's Play by Fred Hersch.

Charlie's bass sounds beautifully deep and rounded, an incredibly satisfying and symbiotic partner with Antonio's guitar. These elegant and eloquent duets are totally atmospheric and an absolute joy to listen to.

The album was recorded by Ken Christianson in Naim's very own tried, tested and spectacularly proved "True Stereo" method, where the musicians play live and are recorded direct to a two track reel to reel tape recorder. The result is a unprocessed analogue recording, in which the sound of the instruments is allowed to shine without any hindrance from the procedure.

Charlie Haden and John Taylor Nightfall NaimCD077 also available on 180gm Virgin Vinyl - NaimLP078

The Naim Label has once again achieved the significant coup of recording with one of the world's best known and most respected double bassists in the world, Charlie Haden. Continuing our tradition of pairing this legend of free-jazz double-bass with whoever he wishes to play with, the great British jazz pianist John Taylor was this time top of Charlie's list.

As equally respected as Charlie, John is probably best known for his work with the ECM label, having founded his trio Azimuth in the late 70s with Norma Winstone and Kenny Wheeler. John is currently a member of Kenny Wheeler's quartet and large ensemble, and performs in duo and quartet settings with John Surman.

Nightfall is an album of musical beauty; an uplifting combination of John's dancing fingers and Charlie's trademark resounding bass and finger slaps. The tracks are all by Charlie or John, with the exception of "My Love and I" a love song from "Apache" and a composition from Williams Walton's orchestral suite for Laurence Olivier's Henry V, "Touch Her Soft Lips"

Along with previous recordings we have done with Charlie "None But The Lonely Heart" (Naim CD022) and "The Capitol Sessions" (Naim CD025,) "Nightfall" promises to be a wonderful album of the same calibre.

Nightfall is a celebration of the musical simplicity that comes from recording the double-bass and piano live to a two track stereo tape recorder. Every tone and phrase is there, from John's improvisation through plucking the piano strings on "Chairman Mao" to Charlie's beautiful yet eerie bowing on "Song For The Whales"

Mike Melvoin, Charlie Haden, Bill Henderson The Capitol Sessions NaimCD025

Who played Hammond organ on Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys, piano on Stand By Me by John Lennon, ABC by The Jackson 5, I Am A Woman by Helen Reddy, and synths on We Are The World by Michael Jackson? The answer to these questions and many more is Mike Melvoin, who The Naim Label has now teamed up with Charlie Haden for The Capitol Sessions, the fourth album featuring Charlie to be released by Naim.

Charlie was very keen to record an album with Mike, with whom he had not played since the pianist's move from New York to Los Angeles in 1962. "I was totally thrilled when Charlie asked me to do a record with him," enthuses Mike. The intensity of feeling and enjoyment involved in this record is obvious through listening. As Mike says, jazz is what he is, whereas pop is what he does.

There are three vocal tracks by Bill Henderson on the album. Bill and Mike are also old friends, having appeared as a duo many times. Bill features on Charlie's most recent Quartet West album.

The disc was recorded live at Capitol Studios in Los Angeles by Ken Christianson.

Charlie Haden & Chris Anderson None but the Lonely Heart NaimCD022 also available on 180gm Virgin Vinyl - NaimLP079

Great news! Charlie Haden is back in the catalogue with an UNLIMITED edition disc! Recorded in the superb acoustic of New York's Cami Hall, this disc sees one of the world's finest acoustic bass players collaborating with an internationally renowned pianist he has long admired, Chris Anderson (the man who taught Herbie Hancock to play piano).

As Charlie says in the liner notes: "Chris is risking his life with every chord, that's how much it means to him. He has such a reverence for beauty, he plays like an angel."