BROADCASTING
BBC Radio 2 has more listeners than any station in Britain. Niles began broadcasting for the BBC writing and hosting the series Jazz Notes and Adventures in Jazz in 1996. Since then he has created, written, produced and hosted the following series of acclaimed radio programs:
1998- 2003 : New Jazz Standards – Nominated for the Sony Award in Broadcasting
One hour magazine series featuring recordings, in-depth interviews and live music (produced by Niles and recorded in his Nucool Studio, London) from contemporary jazz greats including Bob James, The Yellowjackets, Hiromi, Danilo Perez, Wayne Shorter, Mike Stern, Randy Brecker and Gary Burton. Outside broadcasts have included Michael Brecker at the Brecon Jazz Festival.
with Mike Stern
with Michael Brecker
with The Yellowjackets and Dave Love
“New Jazz Standards is a jazz landmark…maverick yet authoritative… Richard Niles shows it is perfectly possible to have a scholarly appreciation of what makes music sound good allied to a wicked sense of humour.”
Gillian Reynolds, The Daily Telegraph
2001 : The Arrangers – Nominated for the Sony Award in Broadcasting
Half hour documentaries on the work of many influential arrangers such as Nelson Riddle, Billy May, Esquviel, Robert Farnon, Neal Hefti and Quincy Jones.
with Maria Schnieder
2002 : Upfront with Richard Niles
Documentary series about the singers who made their names with big bandleaders such as Frank Sinatra & Tommy Dorsey, Mel Tormé & Artie Shaw…
with legendary producer Jerry Wexler
2003 : Richard Niles’ History of Pop Arranging
7 half-hour documentaries – the first in any media to explore the arrangers behind the greatest hits of the last 50 years featuring in-depth interviews with unsung heroes such as David Van DePitte (What’s Goin’ On), Arif Mardin (Atlantic Records, Chaka Khan), Charlie Callelo (Laura Nyro) – and Jimmie Haskell (Simon & Garfunkel) and the legendary producer Jerry Wexler.
with Jeremy Lubbock
with Jimmie Haskell
with Composer/Arranger Michael Gibbs
with H.B. Barnum
with Richard Carpenter
2003 : Manhattan – the most musical island on earth
Documentary series exploring Manhattan’s influence on music of the 20th Century – interviews with Arif Mardin, Al Kooper, Neil Sedaka, Debbie Harry, John Cale, The Beastie Boys…)
“…when you are talking musical pedagogy, Richard Niles is the daddy. His series on the great music arrangers was one of my faves and now the best informed man in pop takes us on a two-part aural stroll around Manhattan.”
Chris Campling – The Times
with producer/arranger Arif Mardin
2004 : Inside Improvisation
4 half-hour documentaries explaining improvisation to non-musicians and musicians alike. Improvisers including Pat Metheny, Eliane Elias, Marc Johnson, Gary Burton, Randy Brecker, Maria Schnieder, Paquito D’Rivera and Martin Taylor demonstrate their concepts and techniques on their instruments.
with Marc Johnson and Eliane Elias
with Level 42 singer & bassist Mark King
with Japanese virtuoso HIROMI and her band
“Niles is one of those people whose projects can be recommended without hesitation.” Eye Magazine – Radio Choice
“Niles pushes ear and imagination to encompass the workings of other people’s minds – a host of musician’s techniques.” Gillian Reynolds, The Daily Telegraph
“One of pop’s top arrangers… not only does (Niles) know what he’s talking about, he imparts his knowledge with clarity and certainty.” The Times
with actor and bass player Gary Sinise
2007 : Pat Metheny Bright Size Life Three 30-minute programs – a unique consideration of the significance of Metheny’s career in the form of in-depth interviews with Metheny and some of his closest collaborators including Gary Burton, Jack DeJohnette and Lyle Mays.
with Lyle Mays
What Is Melody? Three 30-minute programs with the participation of the Bee Gees, Nickleback, Greg Phillinganes, Bob James
2008 : Faith In An Elevator
Three 30-minute programs on composer arranger Percy Faith. Contributors include composer/arrangers John Altman & Nick Ingman with bassist Richard Jones from The Feeling. Current pop artists KT Tunstall, Amy McDonald, Richard Hawley and Colin McIntyre submit their songs to be arranged by Niles in the Faith style.
“One of pop’s top arrangers… not only does Niles know what he’s talking about, he imparts his knowledge with clarity and certainty.” The Times