Jamil studied music at Leeds College of Music under the direction of Nikki Iles. He graduated in 1998 with a first class honours degree and awards for composition and performance. He obtained a post as a full time music lecturer at a further education college in Manchester, where he worked for three years before leaving to spend more time on his study of music.
Jamil has worked and recorded with many of the country’s best known jazz musicians, such as Tina May, Pete King, Don Weller, Geoff Simkins, Jim Mullen, Dave Green and many more.
However, his most enjoyable work has been with the ensembles he regularly works with:- The Joel Purnell Quartet, The Andrew Colman Quartet and the Pat McCarthy Quartet. These groups also feature Zoltan Dekany on bass and John Perry on drums. Working with these prolific musicians inspired Jamil to set up a (now highly acclaimed) ensemble of his own :- “The Jamil Sheriff Octet”. Jamil received a commission to compose a collection of pieces for the Octet which were recorded on its debut album, “Daydreams” in spring 2003.
In 2004 Hulljazz commissioned the 'Nightdreams' suite for the Octet with the help of a grant from the PRS Foundation For New Music.
Pictures taken at world premier - Goodfellowship Inn 6-October 2004