Nikki Iles

• Name — Nikki Iles • Birth Name — Nikki Anne Burnham • Birthplace — Dunstable, Bedfordshire, UK • Born — 16 May 1963 • Instrument — Piano • Genre — Jazz • Occupation — Musician, composer, educator • Years Active — Mid-1980s–present • Label — 33Jazz, Basho • Associated Acts — Tina May • Website — https: www.nikkiiles.co.uk/ • Illustration — Aarhus (Denmark 2022) Photo Hreinn Gudlaugsson

Iles was born in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, on 16 May 1963. She started her musical education at primary school, where she learnt to play the harmonica and the clarinet, and at eleven years old she won a junior exhibition at the Royal Academy of Music, where she studied clarinet and piano from 1974 to 1981. She became a member of the Bedfordshire Youth Jazz Orchestra. She went on to the Leeds College of Music (1981–1984).

After graduating from the Leeds College of Music, she decided to settle in Yorkshire. After marrying trumpeter Richard Iles, she changed her surname from Burnham. She joined his band Emanon, with which she played some of her compositions. Iles also began playing with several London-based bands, such as those led by Steve Argüelles, Mick Hutton and Stan Sulzmann. Iles won the 1996 John Dankworth Special Award at the BT Jazz Festival. Following a serious car crash after a gig, Iles opted to settle in London. Iles was a senior lecturer at Middlesex University, and has taught at the University of York, Leeds College of Music, the Guildhall School of Music, and in Bulgaria, Holland, France, and Finland. In 2021 Iles was awarded the Ivor Novello Jazz Composition Award for her work 'The Caged Bird'. Iles was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to music. In 2025 Iles was announced as the new principal conductor of Hamburg's NDR Bigband.

• Year recorded — Title — Label — Notes • 2023 — Face to Face — Edition Records — With:de:NDR Bigband • 2015 — Westerly — Basho — As The Printmakers; with Mike Walker (electric guitar), Mark Lockheart (saxes), Steve Watts (bass), James Maddren (drums), Norma Winstone (vocals) • 2012 — Hush — Basho — Trio, with Rufus Reid (bass), Jeff Williams (drums) • 2002 — Everything I Love — Basho — Trio, with Duncan Hopkins (bass), Anthony Michelli (drums) • 2002 — Veils — Symbol — Quintet, with Stan Sulzmann (soprano sax, tenor sax), Mike Outram (guitar), Mike Hutton (bass), Anthony Michelli (drums) • 1998? — Snap — RFM — As Foolish Hearts (Iles, Steve Berry, Paul Clarvis, and Anthony Kerr) • 1997? — Change of Sky — 33Jazz — Duo, co-led with Tina May (vocals) • 1997 — The Tan Tien — FMR — with Martin Speake

With Anthony Braxton • Composition No. 175 / Composition No. 126: Trillium Dialogues M (Leo, 1994) With Mike Gibbs • By the Way (Ah Um, 1993) With Ingrid Laubrock • Some Times (Candid, 1998) With Tina May • One Fine Day (33Jazz, 1999) • I'll Take Romance (Linn, 2002) • More Than You Know (33Jazz, 2004) • A Wing and a Prayer (33Jazz, 2005–06) With Sylvan Richardson • Pyrotechnics (Blue Note, 1992) With Geoff Simkins • Don't Ask (Symbol, 1999) With Martin Speake • Secret (Basho, 2000) With Stan Sulzmann • Treasure Trove (ASC, 1995) With Dick Walter/Jazz Craft Ensemble • Secret Moves (ASC, 1999)

The following is established of the heading itself.

The following works and productions are recorded by name or by count. The register further records that nikki Iles is recorded with the occupation composer. Institutional cataloguing adds that nikki Iles is recorded with the occupation pianist. Recorded with the occupation music educator. Institutional cataloguing adds that nikki Iles is recorded with the occupation jazz musician. It is also recorded that nikki Iles is recorded with the occupation woman conductor. The record continues: nikki Iles is recorded as a citizen of United Kingdom. Recorded with the gender female. Institutional cataloguing adds that nikki Iles was born on 16 May 1963. Institutional cataloguing adds that nikki Iles is classed in the genre jazz.