Nikki Anne Iles BEM (née Burnham; born 16 May 1963) is a British jazz composer, pianist and educator.
Iles was born in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, on 16 May 1963.[1] 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[1] from 1974 to 1981.[2] She became a member of the Bedfordshire Youth Jazz Orchestra.[1] She went on to the Leeds College of Music (1981–1984).[1]
After graduating from the Leeds College of Music, she decided to settle in Yorkshire.[2] After marrying trumpeter Richard Iles, she changed her surname from Burnham.[2] She joined his band Emanon, with which she played some of her compositions.[1] Iles also began playing with several London-based bands, such as those led by Steve Argüelles, Mick Hutton and Stan Sulzmann.[1]
Iles won the 1996 John Dankworth Special Award at the BT Jazz Festival.[1] Following a serious car crash after a gig, Iles opted to settle in London.[1]
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.[1]
Iles was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to music.[3]
In 2025 Iles was announced as the new principal conductor of Hamburg's NDR Bigband.[4]
| Year recorded | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997? | The Tan Tien | FMR | with Martin Speake |
| 1997? | Change of Sky | 33Jazz | Duo, co-led with Tina May (vocals)[5] |
| 1998? | Snap | RFM | As Foolish Hearts (Iles, Steve Berry, Paul Clarvis, and Anthony Kerr) |
| 2002 | Veils | Symbol | Quintet, with Stan Sulzmann (soprano sax, tenor sax), Mike Outram (guitar), Mike Hutton (bass), Anthony Michelli (drums)[6] |
| 2002 | Everything I Love | Basho | Trio, with Duncan Hopkins (bass), Anthony Michelli (drums)[6] |
| 2012 | Hush | Basho | Trio, with Rufus Reid (bass), Jeff Williams (drums)[7] |
| 2015? | Westerly | Basho | As The Printmakers; with Mike Walker (electric guitar), Mark Lockheart (saxes), Steve Watts (bass), James Maddren (drums), Norma Winstone (vocals)[8][9] |
With Anthony Braxton
With Mike Gibbs
With Ingrid Laubrock
With Tina May
With Sylvan Richardson
With Geoff Simkins
With Martin Speake
With Stan Sulzmann
With Dick Walter/Jazz Craft Ensemble
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
