1. Beautious Beast 2. Crocodile Tears
Sheffield born A. S Byatt and her short stories were the inspiration for the first two pieces - both from her book Elementals. They form part of a commission from Sheffield Jazz to celebrate the arrival of their new piano.

3. Little One
For my daughter who had a tough start on life.

4. High Lands
This is part of a suite called "In All My Holy Mountain" written for an ensemble called "New Perspectives" and poet Roger Garfitt. It was a celebration of the the life and work of the Shropshire writer Mary Webb.

5. So To Speake
This is for my good friend the saxophonist Martin Speake - and was written especially for the first of several tours with Martin and the fine Canadian musicians Anthony Michelli and Duncan Hopkins. We had such a good time!!

6. Fly's Dilemma
Dedicated to the drummer Tim Giles.

7. Secret Place
Written originally with the saxophonist Iain Dixon's beautiful sound in mind.

8. Silver and Gold
Stan reliably informs me that the idea for this piece started on a session he shared with Iain Dixon - he was struck by the contrasting colours of their saxophones!

9. Westerly
Written as the opening of "In All My Holy Mountain" to depict Mary Webb's birth place of rural Shropshire. More recently, Norma Winstone has written a lyric which sheds a different light on the piece. Westerly has moved closer to the Wild West !!.

10. Veils
This piece was part of "The Printmakers Suite " - a commission from the Creative Jazz Orchestra to celebrate women in jazz - this one is for the pianist Geri Allen.

All compositions written by Nikki Iles,copyright PRS/MCPS except Silver and Gold by Stan Sulzmann

Thanks To :
Stan, Mick, Mike and Anthony for their wonderful playing, their support and their consistant creativity. Thanks particularly to Stan for having had faith in me early on and for being such an inspiration to me from the moment I met him. Thanks also to Ant and Nick at Symbol records for gently prodding me into all of this.

Finally, a special thanks to Pete for his constant love and encouragement - I couldn't have done it without you.