NDR Bigband / Ian Thomas / Nikki Iles

As the NDR Bigband’s composer in residence, Nikki Iles takes the liberty of reflecting on the fully-styled life we lead in the industrialised world and on the striving for perfection. »If we carry on pursuing this path,« says the experienced big band leader, »we’ll be in danger of losing our connection to reality. After all, it is the deviations from perfection that make us human.«

Like so many people, Nikki Iles found herself torn out of the usual hustle and bustle of her life as a musician and bandleader by the side effects of the pandemic, and she used the period of peace and seclusion to think about what’s really important to her in life and in her music. »I have always been fascinated by improvisation, by the way the so-called mistakes that happen when we take a risk often prove to be the most instructive parts of our stories.«

The NDR Bigband is made up of soloists, artists whose musical identity revolves around being prepared to take risks. Nikki Iles has written a programme for them that prompts them time after time to go beyond their individual boundaries and break new ground. And Iles enjoyed working on this project too – the composer and arranger has »A Love of Imperfect Things« herself, celebrating the varied weave of life and her own fondness for imperfection.