Biography
Job title: Principal Lecturer: Jazz
Courses taught: BA (Hons) Music (Jazz)
Specialisms: composition, jazz trumpet
Richard has performed with many leading jazz musicians including: Vince Mendoza, John Taylor, Anthony Braxton, Peter Erskine, Edward Vesala, Kenny Wheeler and Bill Frisell.
Richard is currently a member of Tim Garland's Northern Underground Orchestra and The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra directed by Tommy Smith. The Miniature Brass Emporium is a nine piece brass ensemble featuring the rhythm section of the Richard Iles Group. The band features elements of funk, soul and contemporary jazz with a warm brass backdrop. The Miniature Brass Emporium has a versatile palette creating roaring ensembles and senstive and impressionist moods. The music is all composed by Richard Iles; so far Richard has composed a series of pieces for saxophonist Andy Schofield (premiered at mjf 2002) and an extended piece for guitarist Mike Walker. Richard is currently working on a new piece for saxophonist Iain Dixon.
"It was astonishing how good the music was... Iles is always eloquent and melodic - as a trumpet player he seems deep in the debt of Miles – and his arrangements are always free of clutter" - City Life.
The Richard Iles Group is a contemporary band playing original music and featuring some of the finest musicians in the north west. The band is featured on Richard Iles CD 'From Here To There' .The band has echoes of Miles Davis and Gil Evans, using mostly funk and soul references for extensive group improvisation.
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