Sincerest congratulations to Nikki Iles, awarded the BEM “for services to music” in the 2022 New Years Honours List.
The official short biography on Nikki’s website serves as a reminder of the range, scale of her activity:
“Nikki Iles, jazz pianist and composer, was a founder member of the innovative Creative Jazz Orchestra – working with Anthony Braxton, Mike Gibbs, Vince Mendoza and Mark-Anthony Turnage. Her busy freelance career has found her playing with Peter Erskine (CJO), Kenny Wheeler, Art Farmer, Julian Arguelles, Stan Sulzmann, Norma Winstone, Dave Holland, Tina May, Tony Coe, Joe Locke and Rufus Reid.
Although well known as a pianist, composition remains a major part of her musical life with commissions including The London Sinfonietta, The London Philharmonic’s Renga and The National Youth Jazz Orchestra.
With a parallel career as a widely respected teacher, Nikki is Professor of Jazz Piano at the Royal Academy of Music and Middlesex University as well as giving masterclasses around the world.
She has been a driving force behind the Jazz syllabus at the ABRSM and continues to publish with Oxford University Press.”
And in 2021 there have also been…among many other things…
- A residency with the Frankfurt Radio Big Band – on VIDEO
- …and with the NDR Big Band (as reported by Percy Pursglove)
- an Ivors Academy award
- a Nikki Iles Jazz Orchestra tour (continuing) which we PREVIEWED and REVIEWED
3 responses
Nikki not only plays inspiring music she also builds up the jazz ‘community’ wherever she goes !
I assume that BEM stands for Best Ever Musician.