Hilary Seabrook - writer, podcaster, musician

Vocalist Cliff Beach released You Showed Me The Way earlier this year, paying tribute to the great American songbook, inspired by Ella Fitzgerald. He joins me here to chat about the album and beautiful original track - The Gift of the Blues - which features a stunning baritone sax line. Thanks to Cliff for allowing me to play extracts from You Showed Me The Way alongside our conversation. Thank you for listening to Harmonious World. Please rate, review and share: click on the link and subscribe to support the show. Don't forget the Quincy Jones quote that sums up why I do this: "Imagine what a harmonious world it would be if every single person, both young and old, shared a little of what he is good at doing." Support the Show. Thanks for listening to Harmonious World. You can support the show by becoming a subscriber .

Now we're approaching the end of s eason 16 and the fourth anniversary of  Harmonious World , it is definitely time to reflect on how far this podcast has come since its inception during the Covid-19 pandemic . It was great to spend time with Alina Bzezhinska A new logo and planning for the live episode in front of an audience to start my fifth year of podcasting and season 17: this feels like a step change in Harmonious World's existence. Season 16 guests were: Mark Wade Chris Newstead - from Watford Jazz Festival Tobie Medland  - from London Gypsy Jazz Festival Iva Ljubicic Alina Bzezhinska - for International Jazz Day Darius Brubeck Clark Tracey Theodore Koumartzis Bill Laurance Lois Deloatch John Korbel Avishai Darash Nicole Brancato Cliff Beach

 

This episode of Harmonious World is my second chat with pianist and composer Nicole Brancato and this one was in a (noisy) coffee shop in central London. It was great to chat with Nicole in person and find out more about the music she makes. Alongside the conversation, you can hear extracts from High Voltage Wires, the single released late in 2023 by Nicole and violinist Teagan Faran as part of their ' Persephone and the Phoenix ' project. It was such a pleasure to chat with Nicole, thanks to an introduction from our mutual friend, composer William Susman .

The latest episode of Harmonious World features a conversation with pianist and composer Avishai Darash to discuss his latest album - Between Hope and Despair . Avishai and I chat about all things musical and even touch on physics and frequencies. Thank you to Avishai for allowing me to share tasters of tracks from Between Hope and Despair alongside our conversation. Thank you for listening to Harmonious World. Please rate, review and share: click on the link and subscribe to support the show. Don't forget the Quincy Jones quote that sums up why I do this: "Imagine what a harmonious world it would be if every single person, both young and old, shared a little of what he is good at doing."

During s eason 15 of  Harmonious World , I conducted even more live chats with some extraordinary, international musicians. Chatting with the fabulous Jeff Atmajian was a joy! After the huge moment of interviewing Christian McBride, I realised that live, in person interviews were definitely the way forward when I could. I continued to interview using Zoom where it just wasn't possible to meet up with people, but there are some great live interviews in this season. Season 15 guests were: Lucy-Anne Daniels David Lopato Jeff Atmajian Joey Alexander Jim Clayton Mark Lockheart Burkard Schliessmann Didier Recloux David Bixler China Moses - for International Women's Day Dan Jennings  - the 200th episode! Gustavo Cortinas Vasilo Xenopolous and Paul Edis Tim Boniface

S eason 14 of  Harmonious World  was a giant. I chatted with some incredible musicians - including the phenomenon that is Christian McBride. Such an interesting chat with bassist Christian McBride As we approached the end of 2023, I was delighted to interview bassist Christian McBride in person on his trip to London, as well as British sax legend Soweto Kinch and a huge selection of international guests. Season 14 guests were: Matthew Whitaker Gadi Stern from Shalosh Trio - just days after the atrocities in Israel, I spoke to Gadi online from Jerusalem Joseph Bertolozzi Quynh Nguyen Paramorph Collective Bill Harrison David Deacon Christian McBride Soweto Kinch Benet McLean Malleus Trio Drew Zaremba

The third anniversary  of  Harmonious World  coincided with the start of season 13 and I was really beginning to see the development of the podcast beyond a project to help us through the Covid-19 pandemic . The summer of 2023 was a particularly hot one in the UK.  continued to have interviews wth amazing guests in the UK and around the world. Season 13 guests were: Sam Day Harmet Michele Tozzetti Tom Guarna Scott Dunn Elina Duni Tania Giannouli Sara Shiloh Rae Freddie Bryant Chris Allard Mette Juul Sherri Chung Joshua Espinoza

Once more, s eason 12 of  Harmonious World  began wth a guest who is set to repeat his apperance in 2024. I was delighted to chat with producer Dermot Rogers for the first episode of season 12, about work he's doing with re-releasing the work of guitarist Louis Stewart. Season 12 guests were: Dermot Rogers Ofra Harnoy and Mike Herriott Tristan Banks Stanley Silverman Adina Luumu Yolanda Kondonassis Kevin Toney Beatings are in the Body Pete Johnston Tom Ollendorff Nic Gerpe Steve Banks

S eason 11 of  Harmonious World   came at the start of 2023 with the realisation that I had begun to create a podcast to be proud of, with regular listeners and even supporters who kept the costs down . January 2023 was the point at which I started to have to make choices about who to interview, and I began to review albums more seriously, here on my blog. Season 11 guests were: Matthew Detrick Acantha Lang Timo Vollbrecht Amanda Lee Falkenberg Nanette McGuinness Rachel Barton Pine Nadia Shpachenko Derek Bermel Andrew Burashko Vivenne Aerts Seven Hills Muneer Nasser Karlos Rodriguez of Catalyst Quartet

Just as in previous weeks, season 10  of  Harmonious World  brought the first interviews with several guests who would go on to make a repeat appearance. It's sogood to chart some of the musical progression of these artists. The autumn of 2022 really felt like a return to normality and I was getting into the swing of fixing interviews and scheduling in the episodes. Season 10 guests were: Ben Raznick Trio Xolo Jeff Beal Vito Gregoli Timothy Fallon Peter Boyer (number one) Marina Arsenijevic (another first visit for a repeat guest in 2024) Peter Kogan Peter Janson Billy Pod Allard and Stanley Dizzy and Fay Garrett Keast (number two) Yuri Liberzon (also number two)

S eason nine of  Harmonious World  brought conversations with a huge range of musicians around the world, and this really became more than a lockdown project. Summer 2022 began with a delightful solo trip to Paris, partly for my 'real' work as a writer with my biggest client based in the city. It continued with chats with a wealth of brilliant musicians. Season nine guests were: Emma Smith Inbal Segev Danae Xanthe Vlasse (and look out for a forthcoming episode with Danae in 2024) Aleksi Glick (with another interview booked in shortly) Kit Downes Matt Haimowitz Mathias Heise Nicolas Horvath Extended Trio Gavin Holligan Gareth Williams Pei-wen Liao and William Goldstein Darren Litzie Ross Lorraine

During s eason eight of  Harmonious World , I began chatting with musicians who were releasing music and developing projects that had evolved during the Covid-19 pandemic . Spring 2022 was a time of regular Covid testing and mask wearing, but a sense that things were getting back to normal. I was delighted to interview London pianist, composer and bandleader Alex Webb for the first time. Season eight guests were: Gisele Ben-Dor Sheila Simmenes NOW Ensemble Jennifer Kloetzel Simeon Davis Jasmin Lacasse Roy Alex Webb Simone Gubbiotti John Bullard Nick Finzer

By the time we reached the start of 2022, s eason seven of  Harmonious World   was ready, with some great artists lined up. Season seven guests were: Paul Edis Kira Velella JoAnn Falletta Tara Minton Opus Two Pete Malinverni Donna De Lory Craig Urquhart Malcolm Singer (my first real 'in person' conversation) Viktor Haraszti

S eason six of  Harmonious World   began with a wider range of guests and what would become the most listened-to episode, featuring pianist RIOPY. Autumn of 2021 brought music recorded immediately before the March 2020 lockdown and some written and recorded in those awful months. Season six guests were: Marc Johnson Lisa Swerdlow Hideko Udegawa RIOPY Mattthew Detrick Matthew Puckett Jon Gordon Craig Taborn Ami Oprenova John Finbury Binnie Klein Jane Ira Bloom and Allison Miller Christmas Special Garrett Keast

Come and join me in conversation with guitarist Rob Luft for a special episode that will be filmed in front of a live audience. Find more information and buy tickets here . Harmonious World was created in June 2020 by writer and musician Hilary Seabrook. In each of the 200+ episodes since, Hilary has spoken to musicians about what they are good at, sharing it with people in 91 countries around the world. The podcast was inspired by a quote from the stellar musician Quincy Jones: "Imagine what a harmonious world it could be if every single person, both young and old, shared a little of what he is good at doing." Hilary says: "I've recorded episodes with Rob before and it's fantastic that he can be my first guest in front of a live audience here in Hitchin. Rob is a truly international musician and he'll be bringing his guitar along. The evening will be a great opportunity for people to see how a podcast episode is recorded and hear Rob's story alongside so...

By the time we reached s eason five of  Harmonious World , it was becoming a habit. Now into the summer of 2021, we were beginning to see life after lockdowns, and musicians were bringing music that they had created during this difficult period. What had begun as a lockdown project to help keep music alive had become a vehicle for rejuvenating live music and performances as we remembered them. Season five guests were: Nik Bartsch Jane Roman Pitt Matteo Finali JOMORO Gavin Bryars Nick Finzer Arturo O'Farrill Curtis Stewart Ulysses Owens Jr Marion and Sobo Christina Tan Jerod Tate Oscar Rossignoli David Arend Tim Chernikoff Bion Tsang Patricia Barber Sacha Puttnam Carmela Rappazzo Chris Standring Igor Butman

S eason four of  Harmonious World  ran up to my first anniversary in June 2021. By this stage, we were all heartily sick of being in lockdowns - on and off - for months, but the death toll was scary and everyone we knew had either contracted Covid-19 or knew someone who had suffered badly with it. Long Covid was being recognised as a serious, ongoing condition, and masks were everywhere. Season four guests were: Dean Tsur Michael Shapiro  (#2) Ashley Slater and Hattie Snooks Christian Loffler Lara Solnicki Todd Mosby Joe Lovano Craig Hella Johnson Lynn Tredeau Carl Lord Hertfordshire Festival of Music Ryan Michael Richards Andrew Burashko Drew Angus Richie Hawley Jo Harrop Sam Braysher

Jose James calls himself "the jazz singer for the hip hop generation" but he's so much more than that. His appeal seems to span the generations and as long as he keeps on releasing albums like his latest 1978  and putting on shows like this weekend's at Ronnie Scott's, that's not changing any time soon.  Photo credit: Leon Barker Playing tracks from 1978 ( Jose James's 12th studio album and fourth on his record label Rainbow Blonde Records ), Jose and the band ran through different styles and genres effortlessly. The album is split into two - 'party' and 'politics', evoking something of the year of Jose's birth, while never slipping into meaningless nostalgia. This really is jazz for a hip hop generation, performed by some of the best musicians around. They all tipped their musical hats to some of the greats, who've clearly informed and inspired them and helped them develop their own style: Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Casey Benjamin, as ...

S eason three of  Harmonious World  began in January 2021. We thought we were coming to the end of Covid-19 lockdowns and it was all about wearing masks, hand sanitising and social distancing. But gigs were starting and venues were beginning to open up for live streaming events. Season three guests were: Richard Danielpour Luna Pearl Woolf Jane Ira Bloom Peter Manning Robinson William Susman (number 2) Daniil Trifonov Nicholas Gunn Hilary Hahn Jorn Swart  (incidentally, the first episode to use tracks alongside the conversation) Hailey Brinnel Ernie Watts Lisa Reagan from Shunia Paul Laria

When I reached season two of Harmonious World in September 2020, I was beginning to get into my stride. People were starting to listen to my podcast and I was enjoying the conversations. By now, lockdowns were ending (only to come back again, from time to time), and we were beginning to be allowed out in public, but it was still very early days with gigs, and most musicians were still home most of the time. Season two guests were: Toby Jepson Chad Lawson William Susman (now a long-time supporter of the show) Michael Shapiro (it's funny that these two great composers were only a week apart in these early days of Harmonious World and they're both so important in terms of support and bringing new guests) Ben Rosenblum Elyse Anne Kakacek Laila Biali (#2) Sarah McKenzie Yuri Liberzon Aleksi Glick (who is booked for another appearance in season 17) Robin Spielberg Jeni Slotchiver Avi Avital A change of format for the cover photo

For my fourth anniversary, I'm revisiting my previous 16 (!) seasons of Harmonious World . Join me as we start with season one in June 2020. Remember the pandemic? I continued broadcasting through February and March on the now non-existent North Herts FM and then had spent most of April and May working out how on earth I was going to put together a podcast and luckily I had some great help and advice from Amanda at Crossover Media in New York. Within a few days of working it all out, I had guests lined up and they continue to come from Amanda, Zachary and Max at Crossover, plus over PR and industry experts around the world. I'm grateful to them all. Season one guests were: Laila Biali (called episode 2, but I had mistakenly counted the trailer as episode 1 - it was early days!) Niv Ashkenazi Ros Gilman Anne Sofie van Otter Mike Paul-Smith Inbal Segev Rob Luft (watch out for a special episode featuring Rob in July 2024!) Mark Wade Marco Marconi (who was also my last pre-Covi...

We're officially in summer now in the UK and festival season is upon us. It goes right through to the EFG London Jazz Festival in November. Bring it on! Friday 14 June:  Alfie’s, First Floor, 49 Greek Street, W1D 4EG Marvin Muoneke with the Alex Webb Trio. This dazzling singer, based on the UK’s west coast, rarely makes London visits, so this is a must-see. Possessor of a rich and agile voice, evoking Nat Cole and Gregory Porter, Muoneke has teamed up with Webb to present a programme of classic songbook tunes as well as a few left-field choices. For tickets & info: Alfie's Tickets — Soho Live Music Club Saturday 15 June:  The Archduke, 153 Concert Hall Approach, London SE1 8XU Marvin Muoneke with the Alex Webb Trio, presenting a programme of classic songbook tunes as well as a few left-field choices. For tickets & info: Archduke | Black & Blue (blackandbluerestaurants.com) Friday 21 June:  Alfie’s, First Floor, 49 Greek Street, W1D 4EG ‘Billie Holiday a...

Happy fourth anniversary to Harmonious World - four years of chatting with musicians and connecting with listeners around the world. For this special episode , Lois Deloatch and I chatted online, but I'm hoping to head across to the United States to meet her and other musicians in person. It was a really inspirational conversation that covered her new album - Love Always - but also life, music and the world. Love Always is a wonderful album that crosses genres and includes Lois's versions of Amazing Grace and Lift Every Voice and Sing , as well as wonderful original tracks. Thank you to Lois for allowing me to share tasters of tracks from Love Always alongside our conversation. Thank you for listening to Harmonious World. Please rate, review and share: click on the link and subscribe to support the show. Don't forget the Quincy Jones quote that sums up why I do this: "Imagine what a harmonious world it would be if every single person, both young and old, shared a...