Nikki Iles, pianist, educator, bandleader is a pivotal figure in British jazz. Her jazz orchestra has just begun a tour in Scarborough, where they played the festival on Saturday. The remaining dates and the full personnel are listed below.

On Nikki Iles’ website, the current tour by her Jazz Orchestra is described thus:

“Award-winning pianist and composer, Nikki Iles takes her 20-piece Jazz Orchestra on a national tour marking a new chapter in a long and distinguished career in British Jazz, gathering together commissions from over the years, new orchestrations of her own small band tunes and new compositions, all played by the remarkable band she has assembled. The depth and range of the exhilarating writing and arranging suggest it will be less like a debut, but more like seasoned hand and a distinctive voice, with the music bought to vivid life by a top drawer band.”

Reeds/ wind: Andy Schofield, Paul Jones, Julian Siegel, Tori Freestone, Karen Sharp, Gareth Lockrane

Trumpets: Henry Lowther, Tom Walsh, Ryan Quigley, Nick Smart

Trombones: Gordon Campbell, Oli Martin, Harry Maund, Richard Henry

Nikki Iles Piano / conductor / accordion

Mike Walker (all dates except London) or John Parricelli  (guitar)

Steve Watts (bass)

Ian Thomas (drums)

DATES:

7 Oct Leeds 7 Arts (31a Harrogate Rd, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 3PD 

8 Oct Crookes Social Club, Sheffield – Mulehouse rd, Sheffield, S10 1TD

9 Oct The Sage , Gateshead

21  Nov EFG London Jazz Fest, Pizza Express Dean Street 1pm-3.30

6 March 2022 Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club

LINKS: Nikki Iles website

The Nikki Iles Jazz Series at Oxford University Press