Gig Preview: Nikki Iles at Grimsby Jazz, September 6th

We may have just stepped into August, but a jazz promoter's work is never done and venues across the North are spreading the word about their new Autumn programme of live events. Over in Grimsby, Gill Wilde is planning to kick off proceedings with a bang as she hosts the Nikki Iles Trio at the Old Clee Club on September 6th.

Nikki is a musician familiar and well loved by many, but just in case you need reminding...

Playing highlights in the last couple of years have included The Julian Arguelles Octet, The Kenny Wheeler Big Band, Tony Coe and Tina May, , ‘Renga’ with Rufus Reid . The Anglo / Canadian Quartet with Martin Speake,  Anthony Michelli and Duncan Hopkins., trio with Jeff Williams, The Stan Sulzmann Big Band, Joe Locke and Neil Pursey , Claire Martin and Dave Holland in the tribute to Kenny Wheeler at this years London Jazz Festival .  . This year  looks to be a very busy year. Following the success of her trio CD, Hush., recorded  in New York with Rufus Reid and Jeff Williams, she has recently recorded with Norma Winstone and Kenny Wheeler and the London Vocal Project, “Mirrors” on Edition and most recently has seen the release  of the long awaited Printmakers CD “Westerly “ on Basho records with Norma Winstone, Mark Lockheart, Mike Walker , Steve Watts and James Maddren  and “Stardust ‘ (Jellymould) with long–time friend , saxophonist, Stan Sulzmann.

She brings with her to Grimsby Dave Green on double bass and Geoff Simkins on alto saxophone. 

For more information on the rest of the programme and details on how to buy tickets, visit the Grimsby Jazz website.

Artists Announced for brand new Ambleside Festival, 31st August - 3rd September

Zeffirelli's will host an all star line up of internationally recognised jazz musicians during their first festival, in honour of the great pianist and composer John Taylor.

Derek Hook has run jazz at Zeffirelli's for a number of years and the well known composition Ambleside Days was the result of a commission offered to John Taylor by Zeffirelli's and Northern Arts.

Performers will include Dave Holland, Norma Winstone, Tim Garland, Gwilym Simcock, Mike Walker, Nikki Iles and Joe Locke amongst many others. This impressive roster displays the huge influence Taylor's contributions to the art-form had on musicians across the world.

For more information on the concerts, visit the Zeffirelli's website.

Nikki Iles and Stan Sulzmann at LCoM, December 2nd

Leeds College of Music is to host Nikki Iles and Stan Sulzmann in a special workshop on December 2nd.

The workshop will focus on duo playing and improvisation and who better to learn from than a pair of musicians whose musical friendship spans over 20 years and two duo albums?

Pianist Nikki Iles has a long connection to LCoM, first studying there as an undergraduate and later teaching piano. Recently, Nikki was asked to direct an all-star alumni big band to celebrate the college's 50th birthday.

This workshop is open to the public and tickets cost just £5. For more information and to book tickets, visit the LCoM website.

Norma Winstone at Dean Clough, September 15th

Vocalist and national jazz treasure Norma Winstone is to perform at the Dean Clough in Halifax on September 15th in a special 75th Birthday concert.

Joined by the Printmakers (Nikki Iles, Mike Walker, Mark Lockheart, Steve Watts and James Maddren), she will perform a range of material including music from the Printmaker's debut album, Westerly.

Tickets for the event cost £15/12 and can be booked through the Dean Clough website.

From Dean Clough's website...

Inevitably Norma cut her teeth on ‘standards’ but it was the way that she developed the improvisational use of her voice that marked her out as a performer. Early confederates included the likes of Mike Westbrook, Michael Garrick, John Surman, Kenny Wheeler and John Taylor. She was voted ‘top singer’ in a Melody Maker Jazz Poll as early as 1971 (her solo album of the period, ‘Edge of Time’, has been twice re-released as a CD).

In the late Seventies she joined forces with Kenny Wheeler and John Taylor in the trio, Azimuth, whose ECM releases became a byword for jazz excellence over the next 17 years. Far from being subsumed into a group ethos, though, Norma has always effortlessly retained her individual profile — her 1986 album ’Somewhere Called Home’, for instance, is generally hailed as a classic.

As someone renowned for her wordless singing technique, there is a certain irony in the fact that Norma has in recent years become credited as a fine lyricist. ‘Ladies in Mercedes’ (written for a Steve Swallow composition) is only the most prominent among a host of songs that have attracted cover versions alongside her own lauded performances.

By the millennium Norma was issuing regularly acclaimed CDs with peers such as Fred Hersch or Stan Tracey & Bobby Wellins — but in 2002 issued her first CD with pianist Glauco Venier and Sax/clarinet player Klaus Gesing. The latter ‘trio’ has become one of her most frequent incarnations, not least because of their compelling ECM release, ‘Distances’, in 2007.

And of course, Norma’s other frequent ‘group appearance’ has been with The Printmakers who are, unquestionably, the equal of any jazz band you could put together from a UK stable. While mention should be made of Norma’s MBE (2007) and her 2015 success as Jazz Vocalist of the Year in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards — it’s the music that really matters. This Spring the Printmakers released what is — almost bizarrely — their ‘debut’ album ‘Westerly’. No doubt we’ll get a taste of it in tonight’s performance; because birthday celebration or no, it’s hard to imagine Norma being anything other than contemporary…

Gig Preview: Printmakers in York (January 27th)

The Printmakers have become one of the UK's most beloved groups. The band's line-up features some of the country's most creative musicians - Mike Walker, Mark Lockheart, Norma Winstone, Steve Watts and James Maddren. In May 2015, they received their debut album, Westerly, to critical acclaim and on January 27th they are to perform at The Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall in York.

‘Wonderful playing from some of Britain’s best jazz artists, not to mention a deeply creative, almost orchestral approach to the collective sound that totally serves the music, or more accurately, serves the song.’ Jazzwise Magazine

Tickets for the event cost £16/14/5 and audiences are advised to book soon as it's sure to be a full house. For full information visit the York University website and the website of bandleader Nikki Iles.

Video: LCoM50 Legacy Big Band

As part of Leeds College of Music's 50th anniversary celebrations, Nikki Iles recently curated an all star Alumni Big Band to perform a special one-off gig at the college. The audience included a number of invited guests - past tutors and students as well as the legendary Peter Ind, the man who set up the very first jazz curriculum 50 years ago. Unity House made this short film documenting the event with clips from the gig itself as well as interviews with Nikki Iles and Jamil Sheriff.

LCoM Celebrates 50th Birthday with Nikki Iles & All Star Alumni Big Band

Leeds College of Music is celebrating its 50th Birthday and to launch their LCoM50 events, they have invited pianist Nikki Iles to curate a big band of LCoM jazz alumni.

Iles graduated from LCoM in 1984 and subsequently returned as a lecturer. She will be composing and arranging material especially for the performance which features alumni from the early days of the college to some of the most recent graduating years.

The concert takes place on Sunday October 11th at 7.30pm at the Venue and tickets are available for £15. Those interested in attending are advised to book early as this band is sure to pull a crowd!

See LCoM website for more details on the LCoM50 events.

Personnel -

Saxes - Andy Schofield, Paul Jones, Tori Freestone, Riley Stone-Lonergan
Trumpets - Steve Titchener, Kim Macari, John Thikell
Trombone - Rick Taylor, Kevin Holborough, Chris Fower
Rhythm Section - Nikki Iles, Alex Munk, Caroline Boaden, Robin Mullarkey, Matt Sim

Richmond Jazz Festival

The Richmond Jazz Festival takes place between 11th and 13th of September and features both established acts and up-and-coming talent from the UK.

The festival states their mission is to 'advance and promote, by all available means and widest interpretation, the appreciation, practice, study and knowledge of the art of Jazz and other improvised music.'

Visit the Richmond Jazz Festival website for more information.

Continuum Trio/Square One Double Bill (Friday, 7.30pm)

Continuum Trio are from Leeds College of Music and are focused on all three voices having equal spotlight in the group. Expect strong melodies, lush harmony and grooves reminiscent of John Scofield. (Will Sensicle-guitar, Will Stockbridge-bass guitar, Peter Udall-drums)

Square One hail from Glasgow and are co-led by guitarist Joe Williamson and Pete Johnstone. Their music draws influence not only from jazz but also from folk and rock. Pianist Pete Johnstone won Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year and the group have made a name for themselves UK-wide so expect great things! (Joe Williamson-guitar, Pete Johnstone-piano, Dave Bowden-bass, Stephen Henderson-drums.)

Norma Winstone and Nikki Iles Duo (Saturday, 7.30pm)

This duo features two of the UK's most respected and celebrated figures in Jazz. Norma Winstone is widely considered to be at the forefront of jazz and has performed in many seminal groups including Azimuth, Kenny Wheeler's Music for Large and Small Ensembles and Nikki Iles' group, The Printmakers. Nikki herself has an international reputation both as a performer and as an educator and has a packed schedule of international engagements. This performance is sure to be one to remember.

Richmond Jam (Sunday, 7.30pm)

Richmond Jam presents its annual exuberant feast of original music and jazz standards. Richmond Jam is an ensemble of improvising musicians aged 12 – 19 from Richmond and the Dales. It arose out of a two-day workshop for young musicians held as part of the 2009 Richmond Jazz Festival. Consequently, since 2010, workshops have been held fortnightly at the Youth Centre on the Richmond School campus. The primary aim of this unique, ongoing programme of workshops and concerts, is to help young musicians, through individual and group improvisation, to gain the knowledge, skills, experience and confidence to create and perform their own music.

Wakefield Jazz Celebrates 28th Birthday

Wakefield Jazz has now been hosting live jazz for 28 years and to celebrate their birthday Nikki Iles is bringing her group Printmakers to perform.

Wakefield Jazz patron Nikki Iles appears as part of her 50th birthday tour (a continuation of her actual birthday celebrations which took place in 2013!), playing material from their new recording Westerly. The award-winning group also features Norma Winstone, Mike Walker, Mark Lockeart, Steve Watts and James Maddren.

Iles is one of the most refreshing and promising figures to have emerged in the UK in recent times,with a liquid sound and supple,obliquely resolved phrasing as an improviser... The Guardian

Also performing that night will be the Next Generation Big Band, a LCoM project led by tutor Matt Anderson.

Wakefield Jazz Website
Nikki Iles Website