Jazz piano players are of a crowded and expected to be deeply defined by the genre set. Theirs is an often unforgiving, high expectational, high demand and demanding place. When brought in as part of a rhythm section their foundation grounding and understanding is an assumed given. As soloists, they’d best be on their marks or the ‘ever ready to say something’ jazz audience will pounce. It is the nuances and sensitivity of the true keyboard artists that truly define them and those who so honor the instrument rise to the topmost. Those who as easily are able to live in both expectations are the jewels.
Nikki Iles is one of those jewels; her artistry is respected globally. The factor that has her with those who hover above is imagination. Interpretation, creation, and then presentation of music or any art form is fueled by imagination. Imagination is a spirited factor in every moment of an Iles performance.