Sunday 30 June 2024
Cliff Beach and I chat about 'You Showed Me The Way'
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.
Remembering season 16 of Harmonious World
Now we're approaching the end of season 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.
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.
Friday 28 June 2024
Thursday 27 June 2024
Chatting with Nicole Brancato over a cuppa
It was such a pleasure to chat with Nicole, thanks to an introduction from our mutual friend, composer William Susman.
Monday 24 June 2024
Avishai Darash joins me online to discuss 'Between Hope and Desire'
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."
Saturday 15 June 2024
Remembering season 15 of Harmonious World
During season 15 of Harmonious World, I conducted even more live chats with some extraordinary, international musicians.
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:
Friday 14 June 2024
Remembering season 14 of Harmonious World
Season 14 of Harmonious World was a giant. I chatted with some incredible musicians - including the phenomenon that is 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:
Thursday 13 June 2024
Remembering season 13 of Harmonious World
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:
Wednesday 12 June 2024
Remembering season 12 of Harmonious World
Once more, season 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.
Tuesday 11 June 2024
Remembering season 11 of Harmonious World
Season 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.
Season 11 guests were:
Monday 10 June 2024
Remembering season 10 of Harmonious World
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.
Season 10 guests were:
Sunday 9 June 2024
Remembering season nine of Harmonious World
Season nine of Harmonious World brought conversations with a huge range of musicians around the world, and this really became more than a lockdown project.
Season nine guests were:
Saturday 8 June 2024
Remembering season eight of Harmonious World
During season 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:
Friday 7 June 2024
Remembering season seven of Harmonious World
By the time we reached the start of 2022, season seven of Harmonious World was ready, with some great artists lined up.
Season seven guests were:
Thursday 6 June 2024
Remembering season six of Harmonious World
Season 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:
Special episode with a live audience on 1 July 2024
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 some of his music."
Rob Luft has appeared several times at Hitchin's JazzUp! at Club85 and we know he'll get a great reception on this special evening with Hilary and Harmonious World.
Wednesday 5 June 2024
Remembering season five of Harmonious World
By the time we reached season 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:
Tuesday 4 June 2024
Remembering season four of Harmonious World
Season 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:
Monday 3 June 2024
From 1978 to 2024 with Jose James
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.
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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 well as Charles Mingus, Billie Holiday, John Coltrane, Marvin Gaye and Ella Fitzgerald.
The best thing about 1978 and seeing Jose James live on stage is that each of the tunes shows a respect for the past, a reflection of the present and a hint of the future. Technology plays its part, but Jose's use of a loop pedal is not a clever trick - clever as it undoubtedly is - but a piece of kit used creatively to allow the singer to produce his own backing vocals and solos, all at the same time.
Marcus Machado's solo on Black Orpheus was interrupted by a medical emergency in the audience. A respectful pause while help was given, and then the solo began again with the same level of energy and dexterity.
Favourite tune? It has to be Place of Worship, played in memory of the great saxophonist Casey Benjamin, who passed away in March.
This definitely goes onto the list as one of the best gigs of 2024 - I can remember 1978 as a teenager, but I wouldn't want to go back there. I'm happy being able to listen to musicians like this hold the attention of a rapt audience at Ronnie Scott's right now.
Remembering season three of Harmonious World
Season 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:
Sunday 2 June 2024
Remembering season two of Harmonious World
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)
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A change of format for the cover photo |
Saturday 1 June 2024
Remembering season one of Harmonious World
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!)
Rob Luft (watch out for a special episode featuring Rob in July 2024!)
Marco Marconi (who was also my last pre-Covid gig in March 2020)
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The original design |
Gig Listing no 6 - June
Friday 14 June: Alfie’s, First Floor, 49 Greek Street, W1D 4EG
Saturday 15 June: The Archduke, 153 Concert Hall Approach, London SE1 8XU
Friday 21 June: Alfie’s, First Floor, 49 Greek Street, W1D 4EG
Wednesday 26 June: Twickenham Jazz Club at the Cabbage Patch, 67 London Road, Twickenham TW1 3SZ
27 June to 6 July: Montreal Jazz Festival
Friday 5 to Sunday 7 July: Love Supreme Festival, Glynde Place
I'll be there! Lots of past and future guests appearing, including Christian McBride. Find out more
Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 July: Boisdale Belgravia
Friday 12 to Sunday 14 July: NN North Sea Jazz Festival, Rotterdam Ahoy
Billed as the world’s largest indoor music festival, this has some great names announced, including:Sting, Joshua Redman, Jamie Cullum, Cécile McLorin Salvant, John Scofield & Dave Holland, Chucho Valdés, Lizz Wright, Shai Maestro, Laura Misch, Myra Melford, Reuben James, Walter Smith III, Ibrahim Maalouf, a new quartet featuring Chris Potter, Brad Mehldau, John Patitucci and Johnathan Blake and much more. Find out more
Friday 19 July: Brasserie Toulouse Lautrec, 140 Newington Butts, Kennington, London SE11 4RN
Friday 26 July: Oliver’s Jazz Bar, 9 Nevada Street, London SE10 9JL
Tuesday 30 July: Boisdale Belgravia, 15 Eccleston Street London SW1 W9LX
Friday 15 to Sunday 24 November: EFG London Jazz Festival
There are some incredible gigs coming in already for this year's London Jazz Festival, including a raft of great options at Cadogan Hall.
Ongoing
* My newest discovery is Jazz Cafe Posk in Hammersmith: a great, relaxed venue
* Check out one of my favourite venues - London's marvellous 606 Club
* In Milton Keynes, there's also the Stables Theatre, which often features live music
* Different venues, plus lots of music on offer at Boisdale in Belgravia and Canary Wharf
* Lots to see and hear at Kings Place, right next to Kings Cross and St Pancras
Harmonious World is FOUR - listen to my anniversary episode with Lois Deloatch
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 little of what he is good at doing."
Thanks for listening to Harmonious World. You can support the show by becoming a subscriber.