Richard Niles profile picture

Richard Niles

Producer,Composer Arranger Guitarist Songwriter

About Me

RICHARD NILES has been called "one of the most versatile men in modern music". His career spans pop, rock and jazz as a recording artist, composer for film, commercials and TV, producer, songwriter, arranger, guitarist, conductor and musical director. His credits include some of the worlds most successful pop artists in including Paul McCartney, Ray Charles, Tina Turner, Cher, Dusty Springfield, Grace Jones, James Brown, Michael McDonald, Pet Shop Boys, Westlife, Boyzone, Take That, Ronan Keating and Kylie Minogue.He has maintained a parallel career in jazz. A composition graduate of the Berklee College of Music, he studied with Gary Burton, Pat Metheny, Herb Pomeroy and Michael Gibbs. His professional credits include work with Pat Metheny, The Yellowjackets, Bob James, Michel Legrand, Ray Charles, Jane Monheit, Guy Barker, Chris Hunter, Silje Nergaard, Nnenna Frelon, Hiromi, Michael Ruff, Morrissey-Mullen, Jim Mullen (4 albums), Nils Landgren, Hamish Stuart, Janek Gwizdala, Nelson Rangell, Gwylim Simcock and Gary Husband.PERFORMER He has led his own groups performing in London, Paris, Tokyo, Los Angeles and New York since 1980 recording with Danny Gottlieb, Gary Husband. Nelson Rangell, Nigel Hitchcock, Chris Hunter, Steve Hamilton, Martin Shaw and Kid Creole. For many years he led his jazz orchestra Bandzilla, featured as the resident band on the Channel 4 series presented by Ruby Wax, Dont Miss Wax. He has also conducted the BBC Big Band on numerous occasions. Niles has released three CDs as a leader, Bandzilla Blue Movies (1990) Santa Rita (1998) and Club Deranged (1999).The Trio featuring Gary Husband (piano/keys) and Robert Rickenberg (double bass) plays emotive jazz standards.Richard Niles and Friends features Niles on guitar with Hannah Vasannth (keys), Gary O'Toole (drums), Robert Rickenberg (bass) and guest singers. The music is "a glorious mix of the unexpected" Daily Telegraph, performing both Niles originals and his unique arrangements of standards performed by his superb dynamic ensemble.QUOTES: "Richard Niles is one of the best composer/arrangers around and a truly exciting musical force." Pat Metheny "The eclectic music runs the gamut from harmonic density to eccentric groove, dreamy guitar and synth textures." Berklee Today "His prodigious talent as composer/arranger/performer have served him well in his multi-faceted pursuits." Michael Gibbs "Clever smooth jazz." Time Out, LondonBROADCASTER Niles has been a BBC broadcaster for many years. His critically acclaimed documentary series include NEW JAZZ STANDARDS, THE ARRANGERS, Richard Niles HISTORY OF POP ARRANGING, UPFRONT with Richard Niles, MANHATTAN The Most Musical Island On Earth and INSIDE IMPROVISATION. He has been twice nominated for the Sony Award in broadcasting. "Niles has changed the tenor of jazz broadcasting." Guardian "When you are talking musical pedagogy, Richard Niles is the daddy." The Times "Richard Niles is one of those people whose projects can be recommended without hesitation pushes the ear and imagination to encompass the workings of other peoples minds." The Sunday Telegraph "The American musician Richard Niles is one of those people from whom, to approximately quote Wodehouse, one would buy shares without a tremor." The Times His new series for 2007 are PAT METHENY - BRIGHT SIZE LIFE and WHAT IS MELODY?TEACHING Dr. Richard Niles received his PhD from Brunel University (January 2008), and teaches his own course Cultural Perspectives in Popular Music at the Academy of Contemporary Music. He is available for Clinics and Guest Lectures and also takes private students in Composition, Songwriting, Arranging and Improvisation. Contact: [email protected]

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 8/4/2006
Band Website: richardniles.com
Band Members: CURRENT PROJECTS: 1. “PAT METHENY – Bright Size Life” 3-part documentary written & produced by Richard Niles for BBC Radio2. Friend & colleague Niles interviews Pat Metheny about his concepts & methodology with contributions from Gary Burton, Lyle Mays & Jack DeJohnette. 2. “WHAT IS MELODY?” 3-part documentary written & produced by Richard Niles for BBC Radio2. Niles answers the question with the help of over 40 contributors including The Bee Gees, Nickleback, Gary Burton, Lyle Mays, Jeremy Lubbock, Martin Taylor, The Cheetah Girls, Bob James... 3. FAITH In An Elevator - Niles presents a 3-part documentary of composer/arranger Percy Faith, in conversation with hit pop arrangers John Altman and Nick Ingman "The Top Gear Of Arranging"). Joining them, Richard Jones, the bassist of brilliant contemporary band The Feeling, and Richard Hawley, Amy McDonald, KT Tunstall. Listen online: www.bbc.co.uk/radio2 4. “The SHULGIN SONGBOOK”: Alexander Shulgin has been one of the most successful pop/rock songwriters in Russia since the 1980s when he sold over 20million records with his band Cruise. Since then he has written over 50 1s in Russia for many artists. He is also the producer and judge of Russian TV shows Pop Idol and Star Academy. Shulgin has commissioned Niles to produce & arrange two albums. For the first Niles has arranged jazz versions of Shulgin’s songs with a band including drummer Gary Husband (John McLaughlin, Level 42), bassist Janek Gwizdala (Mike Stern, Aierto, Jem), keyboardist Richard Cottle (Seal, Alan Parsons, David Bowie) Snake Davis (M People, Ray Charles, Tom Jones) and Niles on guitar. Niles has also arranged tacks on the album featuring special guests Bob James, Bill Cobham, John Patitucci, Bob Mintzer and harmonica player Gregoire Maret (Pat Metheny). The second “songbook” album features the solo piano of Gary Husband. Multi instrumentalist Husband is currently on tour as a pianist for John McLaughlin and has also played piano for Billy Cobham. He has also worked with McLaughlin as a drummer and was the drummer in the successful British ‘jazz-funk’ band Level 42. Gary’s piano arrangements of Shulgin’s songs will include one duet with guitar virtuoso Martin Taylor.

YOUNEE, from Seoul, Korea is ‘beyond category’ as a singer, songwriter and pianist. Her exquisitely vulnerable voice can also express raw power. An accomplished and virtuosic classical pianist, she plays rock as well as Rachmaninoff. She has performed piano concertos with symphony orchestras and jazz with Grammy-winning pianist Bob James. She is an award-winning singer/songwriter (US VH-1’s AC Song of the Year, and the Brit Awards composition prize) who has also written music for film and TV. She has released two albums in Korea as “Keys Piano” (2006 & 2007 – EMI & Manworldang) and performed extensively on Korean television.When BOB JAMES heard her music he invited her to perform with him in Seoul – his brilliant composition for piano ‘four hands’. Knowing Younee wanted to break free of the creative restrictions of the Korean music business, James suggested she contact American producer/composer/arranger RICHARD NILES.Younee and Niles began to write songs using Skype – Younee in her bedroom studio in Seoul and Niles in his studio in London. Niles’ lyrics bring a powerful message to Younee’s emotional melodies. His arrangements and production inspire Younee to express both her virtuosity and her passion. Together they have been able to integrate contrasting elements of popular music into a unified whole, balancing tradition with innovation - a dynamic and truly unique blend of genres. LISTEN to 6 of the tracks on this page and the other 6 on Younee’s page: http://www.myspace.com/keyspianomusic Younee is currently seeking management, publishing and distribution. CONTACT Richard Niles through this page.
Influences: INFLUENCES INCLUDE Harpo Marx, Wes Montgomery, Chick Corea, Nelson Riddle, Bill Evans, Gil Evans, Miles Davis, Don Sebesky, Shorty Rogers, Maria Schnieder, Neal Hefti, Pat Metheny, Ravel, Weather Report, Michael Gibbs, Les Dawson, Debussy, Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Joe Venuti, Tony Romano, Nick Romano, Claus Ogerman, Kieth Jarrett, Jim Hall, Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond, Randy Brecker, Gary Husband, Nigel Hitchcock, Dave Grusin, Dori Caymmi, Bob James, Ivan Lins, Janek Gwizdala, Harvey Mason, all Stan Kentons arrangers, Herb Pomeroy, Ken Dodd, Frank Sinatra, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Singers Unlimited, Cat Stevens, Itiberi, Silverchair, Cole Porter, Stevie Wonder, Jimi Hendrix, The Who, The Hi-Los, David Crosby, Jack Nitzsche, Ray Charles, Marcus Miller, Jaco Pastorius, The Yellowjackets, Booker T & The MGs, Woody Allen, Tower of Power, Steely Dan, Wayne Shorter, The Monkees, The Beach Boys, Take 6, James Brown, Pee Wee Ellis, Fred Wesley, Burt Bacharach, Hal David, Kid Creole, James Jamerson, David Van De Pitte, Paul Riser, Milton Nascimento, A.C. Jobim, The Beatles, Paul McCartney, George Martin, Sammy Lowe, Arif Mardin, Richard Carpenter, Jeremy Lubbock, Groucho Marx
Sounds Like:
Record Label: Richard Niles PhD (Brunel University)
Type of Label: None

My Blog

What Is Melody - BBC Radio2

What Is Melody - BBC Radio2Friday 7pm Aug 10th, 17th, 24thWe've heard melodies every day of our lives from our first lullaby to last night's movie. But how do you define exactly what a 'melody' is? ...
Posted by Richard Niles on Sat, 04 Aug 2007 01:38:00 PST

PAT METHENY -

Pat Metheny - Bright Size LifeBBC Radio 2Thursday 2nd, 9th, 16th August23:03-23:30My new radio series is essential listening for anyone interested in the creative process. In a series of in-depth int...
Posted by Richard Niles on Thu, 02 Aug 2007 10:23:00 PST

Uncle Richard's First Blog

Thanks for spacing out with me. The first tune on the page is an Overture I wrote for The Pet Shop Boys tour of 1991. Its an 85 piece orchestra written, arranged, conducted by your bearded buddy, rec...
Posted by Richard Niles on Wed, 06 Sep 2006 03:51:00 PST