Award winning British pianist, composer and conductor Nikki Iles – fresh from working with the HR and NDR Radio big bands in Germany – brings her music to the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra alongside her long time musical partner, the formidably creative guitarist, Mike Walker.
This music marks a new chapter in Nikki Iles’ long and distinguished career in British Jazz, gathering together her commissions from over the years, new orchestrations and new compositions commissioned by UMO.
Pieces are inspired, for example, by pianist Geri Allen, UK socialist MP Red Ellen (1891–1947) and the huge skies across the landscapes of the Fens in eastern England....
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Award winning British pianist, composer and conductor Nikki Iles – fresh from working with the HR and NDR Radio big bands in Germany – brings her music to the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra alongside her long time musical partner, the formidably creative guitarist, Mike Walker.
This music marks a new chapter in Nikki Iles’ long and distinguished career in British Jazz, gathering together her commissions from over the years, new orchestrations and new compositions commissioned by UMO.
Pieces are inspired, for example, by pianist Geri Allen, UK socialist MP Red Ellen (1891–1947) and the huge skies across the landscapes of the Fens in eastern England.
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 creative voice, with the music bought to vivid life by the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra.
Tiketti, Lippu.fi, glivelab.fi & G Livelab -app Standard 33 € Retirees, students, unemployed, servicemen 25 €
Duration 2 h with intermission. Doors open at 6 pm.
“A formidable UK jazz presence” ….“Iles is one of the most refreshing figures to have emerged in the UK scene in recent times, with a liquid sound and supple, obliquely resolved phrasing as animproviser.” The Guardian, John Fordham
“Nikki Iles is a pianist of extraordinary imagination who thrives on fugitive melodies.” The Observer, Dave Gelly
“Mike Walker is one of the most powerful jazz guitarists in Europe, with a surreal intelligence… it’s soaringly confident, idiosyncratic contemporary music and in Walker there is absolutely no doubt that we are in the presence of a musician of the highest international level.” The Guardian, John Fordham
Nikki Iles (b. 1963), BEM, award-winning pianist, composer, bandleader and educator, is a pivotal figure in British jazz. She leads her Nikki Iles Jazz Orchestra and was a founder member of the innovative Creative Jazz Orchestra in the 90’s. She has been working with greats like Mike Gibbs, Vince Mendoza, Kenny Wheeler and more. 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, she is Professor of Jazz Piano at the Royal Academy of Music and Middlesex University. She was awarded the BEM for services to music in 2022. nikkiiles.co.uk
Mike Walker (b. 1962) is a British jazz guitarist, composer and educator who has played with names like Kenny Wheeler, Mike Gibbs, Pat Metheny, George Russell, Dave Holland and Anthony Braxton to name a few, breaking genre boundaries. He has released several albums under his own name and with his band The Impossible Gentlemen. His collaboration with Nikki Iles has continued for decades. www.mikejswalker.com
Palkittu brittiläinen pianisti, säveltäjä ja yhtyeenjohtaja Nikki Iles ja hänen aisaparinsa, niin ikään brittiläinen jazzkitaristi Mike Walker saapuvat UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestran vieraiksi G Livelabin konserttiin 8. syyskuuta. Konsertti kokoaa yhteen Ilesin tuotantoa hänen pitkältä ja ansioituneelta uraltaan, ja luvassa on myös täysin uusi tilaussävellys UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestralle ja kitaralle.
Erityisesti isoille jazzkokoonpanoille säveltävä Nikki Iles tunnetaan arvostettuna säveltäjänä, sovittajana ja orkestroijana. Hänen ainutlaatuinen kirjoitustyylinsä on saanut vaikutteita Geri Allenin ja Kenny Wheelerin kaltaisilta säveltäjiltä. Inspiraarion lähteenä on ollut myös brittiläinen feministipoliitikko Red Ellen (1891–1947) sekä Ilesin kotimaisemat Itä-Englannissa.
Tiketti, Lippu.fi, glivelab.fi ja G Livelab -app Normaalihinta 33 € Eläkeläiset, opiskelijat, työttömät, varushenkilöt 25 €
Konsertin kesto n. 2 h, sis. väliajan. Ovet auki klo 18.
“A formidable UK jazz presence” ….“Iles is one of the most refreshing figures to have emerged in the UK scene in recent times, with a liquid sound and supple, obliquely resolved phrasing as animproviser.” The Guardian, John Fordham
”Nikki Iles is a pianist of extraordinary imagination who thrives on fugitive melodies.” The Observer, Dave Gelly
“Mike Walker is one of the most powerful jazz guitarists in Europe, with a surreal intelligence… it’s soaringly confident, idiosyncratic contemporary music and in Walker there is absolutely no doubt that we are in the presence of a musician of the highest international level.” The Guardian, John Fordham
Nikki Iles (s. 1963) on palkittu pianisti, säveltäjä, yhtyeenjohtaja ja pedagogi, ja brittiläisen jazzin keskeinen tekijä. Hän johtaa omaa Nikki Iles Jazz Orchestraansa, oli The Creative Jazz Orchestran perustajajäsen ja on työskennellyt pitkän uransa aikana mm. Mike Gibbsin, Vince Mendozan ja Kenny Wheelerin kanssa. Iles on keskittynyt viime vuosina erityisesti säveltämiseen ja johtamiseen, ja hänen tilaussävellyksiään ovat soittaneet mm. The London Sinfonietta, The London Philharmonicin Renga ja The National Youth Jazz Orchestra. Hän toimii jazzpianon professorina Royal Academy of Musicissa ja Middlesexin yliopistossa. Kuningatar Elisabet II myönsi Nikki Ilesille ritarin arvonimen (B.E.M.) tammikuussa 2022 hänen työstään musiikin hyväksi. nikkiiles.co.uk
Mike Walker (s. 1962) on brittiläinen jazzkitaristi, säveltäjä ja kouluttaja, joka on soittanut Kenny Wheelerin, Mike Gibbsin, Pat Methenyn, George Russellin, Dave Hollandin ja Anthony Braxtonin sekä monien muiden yhtyeissä ja levyillä, genrejä kaihtamatta. Hän on julkaissut useita albumeja myös omalla nimellään ja The Impossible Gentlemen -yhtyeellään. Walkerin yhteistyö Nikki Ilesin kanssa on jatkunut jo vuosikymmenien ajan. www.mikejswalker.com
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