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Nikki Iles

Over the last few years Bedfordshire born Nikki Iles has progressed into the front rank of British jazz musicians. From a musical family, she first became aware of jazz through her father's record collection, and began playing the harmonica and clarinet at her primary school. At eleven she won a Junior Exhibitioner's Scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music, studying piano and clarinet, and was soon a member of the Bedfordshire Youth Jazz Orchestra. It was at this time that the piano took over as Nikki's principal instrument.

During this period her involvement with jazz was deepening, prompting the decision to study at The Leeds College of Music between 1981-84 and eventually she settled in Yorkshire before finally moving back to London in September 1998.

The first platform for her own composing was the group Emanon, led by trumpeter Richard Iles, which also included the guitarist Mike Walker and saxophonist Iain Dixon. The meeting of these kindred spirits at this time was extremely significant for all of them. In addition to Emanon, they were all members of the Creative Jazz Orchestra, working with Vince Mendoza, Anthony Braxton, Mike Gibbs, Kenny Wheeler and Mark Anthony Turnage. Nikki also began playing with several London based bands including the Steve Arguelles group, Mick Hutton's Straight Face, Stan Sulzmann's Quartet and Tina May. Throughout this time up north Nikki also maintained an important musical relationship with the bass-player Steve Berry which beginning as a trio with Sheffield drummer, Pete Fairclough.

Despite having to travel to London more and more, Nikki could still be found serving a lengthy apprenticeship in the North of England with particular support from Wakefield Jazz Club's Alec Sykes. He continued booking her to play with the likes of Dick Morrisey, Jim Mullen, Pete King, Iain Ballamy, Scott Hamilton, Art Farmer and Teddy Edwards. This was an invaluable experience and helped forge many friendships and musical connections that she could re-kindle later.

In 1996, Nikki won the John Dankworth Special Award at the BT British Jazz Awards and that same year recorded a duo CD, Treasure Trove, with Stan Sulzmann. A year later, she recorded a duo CD with Tina May, Change of Sky, and a CD with Martin Speake, The Tan Tien. These CDs were the beginning of three important ongoing musical relationships.

Following a serious car accident late one night after a gig, Nikki decided that it was time to make the move to London. Fortunately, a senior lecturership at Middlesex University became available and this eased the move. Composition still remained a major part of her musical life, and she had commissions from the Creative Jazz Orchestra for the "Printmakers Suite" (1994), celebrating the role of women in jazz, several from New Perspectives, in particular "In All My Holy Mountain" with poet Roger Garfitt (1998 - 2001), a piece for the London Sinfonietta Ellington Celebrations (1999), and Tim Garland’s Northern Underground Band (2006) - see commissions page.

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Album Review

Jim Rattigan: When

Read "When" reviewed by Chris May


Composer-arrangers as diverse as Gil Evans and Charles Mingus have employed the French horn, but it remains something of a niche instrument in jazz. Why? The same question applies to the almost complete absence of trombones in West African jazz and Afrobeat, and their ubiquity in Brazilian samba. The first convincing explanation in the Comments box below will win a night out with Sidney Powell or Rudy Giuliani. The second such explanation will win two nights. Anyway, Britain's Jim Rattigan ...

14
Album Review

Georgia Mancio: Live At ReVoice!

Read "Live At ReVoice!" reviewed by Bruce Lindsay


The name at the top of the cover of Live At ReVoice! is that of Georgia Mancio, the London-based vocalist who appears on every one of the 12 tracks. A quick glance lower down the cover adds a dozen more names--a list of Mancio's accompanists that reads like a veritable “Who's Who" of the UK jazz scene. A baker's dozen of talented performers, twelve beautifully performed songs, captured with exceptional sound quality. Mancio has organised the ReVoice! festival ...

70
Album Review

Nikki Iles: Hush

Read "Hush" reviewed by Bruce Lindsay


The transatlantic band that created Hush--British pianist Nikki Iles, and American bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Jeff Williams--had never played together as a trio before their single rehearsal session on the night prior to recording at Dave Bennett's New Jersey studio in September 2010. That the album sounds like the product of years of collaboration is a testament to the trio's skills, and to these three musicians' mutual understanding, for Hush is a beautiful and affecting record.The overall ...

173
Interview

Nikki Iles: Meditation and Collaboration

Read "Nikki Iles: Meditation and Collaboration" reviewed by Bruce Lindsay


Pianist and composer Nikki Iles describes herself as one of the “not- so-young-anymore generation" of British jazz musicians--a fair comment, in chronological terms, from a musician born in the mid-'60s. But more importantly, she's a musician of experience, expertise and talent, viewed with great respect by players across the world. Iles' self-description does seem to be typical of her modest and slightly self- deprecating approach, though: she's not one for ego trips or grandiose claims. In fact, she is more ...

200
Album Review

Nikki Iles Quintet: Veils

Read "Veils" reviewed by John Kelman


The vibrancy of the British jazz scene is something that for the most part continues to elude listeners on the North American side of the Atlantic. While some artists, including trumpeter Kenny Wheeler and pianist John Taylor, are receiving their proper due--Taylor, though, only in recent times--others, including saxophonists Martin Speake , Stan Sulzmann and Iain Ballamy, still await the broader recognition they so duly deserve. Add to that list pianist Nikki Iles, who, along with some fine collaborations with ...

167
Album Review

Nikki Iles/Duncan Hopkins/Anthony Michelli: Everything I Love

Read "Everything I Love" reviewed by Jerry D'Souza


The musicians who have influenced pianist Nikki Iles come in varying temperament. They include Bill Evans, John Taylor and John Abercrombie. There can be no gripe with that focus, particularly when the music on this recording is presented in evidence.

This piano trio works well. Iles has toured with Duncan Hopkins and Anthony Michelli--the two have developed a fine working relationship setting up the rhythm for other musicians--and the closeness they have established is manifested right through. This ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

When

Three Worlds
2020

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Live At ReVoice!

Roomspin Records
2015

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Hush

Basho Records
2012

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Everything I Love

Basho Records
2004

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Veils

Symbol Records
2004

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