Hilary Seabrook - writer, podcaster, musician

Welcome to the latest episode of Harmonious World , in which I interview musicians about how their music helps make the world more harmonious. For this episode, I interviewed flautist  Stathis Karapanos , who has new music out now - both Hindemith's Complete Works for Flute and also Michael Shapiro 's sublime 'In the Light of the Sun' concerto for flute and orchestra, recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Abbey Road studios earlier this year. Thanks to Stathis for allowing me to share clips from his recordings of 'Echo' for Flute and Piano, 'Enthusiasm' for Flute and Viola and 'Abundskonzert Nr2' alongside our conversation. Get in touch to let me know what you think! 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

There have been more huge moments in the sphere that is  Harmonious World  and none bigger than discovering as we end season 17 that we're in the top 10% of UK podcasts. There continues to be a long list of guests and I'm grateful to every one of them, and - of course - to all the listeners. Season 17 guests were: Rob Luft - live in front of an audience, with a YouTube video as well! A special from Love Supreme , including comedian Marcus Brigstocke Dermot Rogers Jeff Slate Peter Boyer Marina Arsenijevic Craig Urquhart , live in Berlin Aleksi Glick , online and live in Cambridge Aaron Jensen The Great British Music Camp , including a YouTube video from Calibre video Danae Xanthe Vlasse Glenn Hartman Norman Krieger Bjorn Arko Phil Merriman Simon Mulligan , live from near London's 606 Club in Chelsea Deelee Dube , live in South East London Stathis Karapanos

I’m delighted to be working with John Morrow for The Riff online magazine. This weekend, we found ourselves at Hitchin’s Club85 for the latest show hosted by JazzUp! Hitchin’s JazzUp! has always championed the younger members of our musical community, especially with the extended residency of the Joe English trio as support for some more established players. The September 2024 session featured Leeds-based Away From Home, formed by Hitchin’s very own Benji Arnold. It’s refreshing when bands pay homage to standards, while showcasing their own compositions and that’s what Away From Home does so well. Some beautiful tips of the hat like Wayne Shorter’s ‘Footprints’ and the rarely-heard ‘We See’ by Thelonious Monk were handled well by these engaging musicians. It’s always a shame when jazz clubs are not packed out and I suspect that audiences sometime stay away from the unknown, which is a great shame. It is only with nights like this from JazzUp! that we can discover the next generation o...

There is a richness to the gorgeous 'Possession' out now on Ubuntu Music from London saxophonist, composer and BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year semi-finalist Asha Parkinson . Her ensemble Kalpadruma is an eclectic collection of musicians that combines all that is wonderful about a jazz quintet, string quartet, woodwind, voice and Parkinson's own sax. The tracks are all individual and blurring boundaries between, well, just about every genre of music you can imagine. Distant Devotion includes guest fluting from Gareth Lockrane, adding an ethereal quality above the wider ensemble and Rebecka Edlund's vocals. All the tracks on this album are intense and each one has a different atmosphere. The quasi-classical Mirror Image  combines strings, woodwind, vocals and piano with more flute interweaving a trumpet solo. Right through the album, there's a sense of awareness of the world's problems and how people can help find solutions. Permanent Verse  portrays both the...

Welcome to the latest episode of Harmonious World , in which I interview musicians about how their music helps make the world more harmonious. Travelling in London bus style with Deelee Dube This time, I am joined by award-winning vocalist  Deelee Dube , who I chatted with in a coffee bar in South East London. It was a joy to find out about her musical journey and I hope you enjoy listening in. Thanks to Deelee for allowing me to share some of her tracks alongside our conversation. Get in touch to let me know what you think! 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

One of the best things about getting a (tiny) reputation as a jazz journalist is that I get sent some really, really interesting music to listen to. Much of this excellent output from incredibly talented musicians would, otherwise, slip through the net. Such is true of Lumination  from the Joel Frahm Trio, out now on the independent Anzic Records . Frahm (tenor sax) is joined by Dan Loomis (acoustic bass) and Ernesto Cervini (drums) for some genuinely exciting and innovative jazz. Frahm brings his experience as a sax expert and highly inventive musician - long-time collaborator Brad Mehldau describes his sound as  "big and generous, very warm and comfortable," emphasising the "unapologetic emotional outpouring" in his playing. Lumination  shows the dexterity and creativity of this trio, which has been together for nearly a decade. The interplay between sax and bass above the rhythmic inventions of the drums is quite a unique sound: after just a few bars, your ears ...

Sax player Sam Braysher always delights, with his pure sound and seemingly-effortless style. His latest album - That's Him: the Music of Kurt Weill  plays with some of the less well-known music of Weill, along with vocalist Sara Dowling and an all-star rhythm section. Kurt Weill took listeners on a journey around opera, jazz, musical theatre and European classical music and on this 2024 album, Braysher deliberately avoids the composer’s classics like Mack the Knife and September Song . Instead, he brings his intelligent and insightful arrangements to tunes like What Good Would The Moon Be? and Moon-Faced, Starry-Eyed , both composed by Weill with lyrics by Langston Hughes. Gorgeous songs, the former rendered beautifully by Sara Dowling, who won Best Vocalist at the British Jazz Awards in 2019. Braysher and Dowling are joined by Matyas Gayer (piano), Dario Di Lecce (double bass) and Steve Brown (drums) and the collective tracks bring a new interpretation of a composer we all though...

The tenth annual Cambridge Jazz Festival promises much local and international talent in 50 shows from 8 to 24 November 2024. There's so much to discover, even for those who profess to not like jazz! Pet Metheny by Jimmy Katz Especially high on my list this year are Omar and QCBA, Brand New Heavies and, of course, the legend that is Pat Metheny. Opening night on Friday 8 November sees the Corn Exchange taken over by the colossus that is Brand New Heavies , who are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Brother Sister album, which includes the classics Dream On Dreamer, Midnight At The Oasis and Back To Love . The following week at the Junction on Saturday 16 November features  OMAR & QBCA , which will be another funky night. Composer and trombonist Dennis Rollins MBE is Artist in Residence and he appears with CUJO and Zero Gravity in two events: Dennis Rollins & CUJO on Sunday 17 November at West Road Concert Hall and with  Zero Gravity Trio on 14 November at La ...

Just announced is the full line-up for this year's EFG London Jazz Festival 2024 ! From 15-24 November, you'll be able to catch a selection of the incredible music on offer in the capital’s biggest celebration of jazz and live music. The full programme is organised into a number of strands to help us all negotiate our way through such a huge selection of events:  Icons ,  Jazz Visionaries ,  New Creations ,  Homegrown ,  Beyond Margins ,  Voices ,  Beyond Borders ,  Celebrating the Jazz Clubs  and  Free & Family . There are some real icons, like  Pat Metheny ,  Jamie Cullum ,  Song Yi Jeon with a special appearance by Dianne Reeves ,  Charles Tolliver Presents Max Roach @ 100 ,  Meshell Ndgeocello  and  Imelda May + Bernhofft. For me, one of the most exciting strands is Beyond Borders, which showcases music from all corners of the earth, celebrating unity with the power of music. Discover the l...

Pianist Simon Mulligan joins me for the latest episode of Harmonious World . A transatlantic performer, Simon is British but lives in the United States. It was a delight to be introduced to him by friend of the podcast William Susman , and I interviewed Simon just around the corner from the 606 Club in London's Chelsea Harbour. Outside the 606 with Simon Thanks to Simon for allowing me to share some of his tracks 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 .

Venturing into our local independent cinema away from a rainy Sunday afternoon to watch  the marvellous’Lee’ was definitely a prime example of pathetic fallacy. With moments of joy, this is a dark expression of the life of the remarkable photographer Lee Miller, starring Kate Winslet. ‘Lee’ was produced with the full support of Miller’s family and it is a brutally honest portrayal of a complex woman who in her time produced some of the most iconic representations of the Second World War, particularly in her images of the liberation of Dachau.  This is far from a comfortable piece to watch, but it’s deeply moving and Winslet’s portrayal of the photographer feels genuine and respectful. Miller never really enjoyed the success she deserved for her work in the final months of the Second World War, and it was her son who discovered her photos in her English home after her death in 1977. Without his work, we might never have known the story of this remarkable woman.  Gazing at ...

For the latest episode of Harmonious World , I'm joined by pianist and composer   Phil Merriman : his album   The Roots Beneath   came out in the spring and it's a loely collection of tunes that sit somewhere between instrumental contemporary jazz and modern classical music. Thanks to Phil for allowing me to share some of his tracks 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 .

Aiming to be the UK's first sustainable outside theatre, The Living Theatre in the tiny village of Whitewell is well on its way, with brilliant and professional actors, directors and backstage crew. This week, they're performing Macbeth  and the Sunday matinee performance managed to dodge torrential thunderstorms that brought pathetic fallacy to life in the hours running up to the start. The Living Theatre Founded in August 2020 - perhaps not the ideal time to begin any creative endeavour - The Living Theatre has clear aims: “To develop a professional working community theatre in a rural open space with access to industry experience for all whilst promoting mental well-being, community engagement and personal development.” The Living Theatre's production of Macbeth  (it couldn't have been more different to Friday's Present Laughter !) was dark and effective, with the two protagonists supported brilliantly by Duncan, Malcolm, Banquo, Macduff et al. This is a really ...

There is a wonderful programme that allows cinemas across the UK to screen productions from London as part of NTLive from the National Theatre. This week, I was entranced by Present Laughter by Noel Coward, originally performed at the Old Vic, another of our fine theatres. We're particularly fortunate in Hitchin to have several theatre spaces, including The Richard Whitmore studio (named after one of the UK's most esteemed newsreaders and journalists, who lives in Hitchin). Twice a month, it is taken over by Hitchin Films for screenings of some real treasures and often for NTLive events. Present Laughter is a delightful, farcical comedy with some very deep messages, hidden beneath the hilarity. The play revolves around the indiscretions and career of Garry Essendine (played here by Andrew Scott), an actor who is somewhat self-obsessed - his surname is an anagram of 'neediness'. I love Coward's play on words. Apparently, the ideas behind Present Laughter  were for...

When I heard the sax playing of Bjorn Arko with Billy Cobham at Love Supreme in July, I was determined to find out more about his background and playing. That led to an interview and the latest episode of Harmonious World .  Bjorn Arko on stage with Billy Cobham Thanks to Bjorn, you can hear a couple of his most recent tracks alongside our conversation and he tells me there's a new album in the pipeline. 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 .

I'm a little late to the party on the work of composer, saxophonist and clarinettist Tom Thorp , who hails from Manchester and brings the album on tour across the UK this autumn. Tom Thorp (centre) with Ilumetris Tom tells a story of discovering an unusual part of the landscape where he walks his dog. Like many musicians and composers, the inspiration led to immense creativity and now there's a new acoustic project called Ilumetris and the album  Here, There Be Monsters . This is a strong album with some amazing performances from Tom himself, alongside Neil Yates (trumpet and Flugelhorn, Andy Stamatakis-Brown (piano), Grant Russell (bass) and John Arnesen (drums). There are also some spoken word passages from Prof. George Walkden. Listening to the album, there's no credit for bass clarinet, but I'm sure I spotted some and assume it's from Tom. The fine sounds of contemporary jazz and classical music combine in Tom's writing and playing - sometimes together on th...

A couple of years ago, Amsterdam-based guitarist Linus Eppinger sent me his delightful debut album Leaning In , featuring Nicolai Daneck, Doug Weiss and Jorge Rossy, I loved that album but somehow the review never got written. Now, in 2024 Eppinger returns with The Leaning In Underground and their album Taking Over . With Daneck once more on piano, the quartet also includes Ties Laarakker (bass) and Peter Primus Frisch (drums) on the recording from Kasper Frenkel’s Electric Monkey studio in Zaandam, near Amsterdam. A charming collection of standards such as  Love for Sale ,  The Girl from Ipanema ,  Sunny  and  Wave , the album also contains four originals, composed by the entire band in an example of collaboration. A gorgeous version of One Hundred Ways is one of those tracks that Eppinger’s cool guitar sound was made for. You get the sense of the fun this band must be having when you listen to their  Sorry for the Fridge I Bought  - a quirky homage...

Welcome to September, which here in the UK is starting to feel decidedly autumnal. Check out some of these venues and events below, especially those featuring past guests on the Harmonious World podcast: Monday 2 September: Pizza Express, Dean Street, Soho London W1 The concert debut of The Pocket Ellington, a seven-piece celebration of the Ellington repertoire with Alan Barnes (reeds), Tony Kofi (tenor), Simon Finch (trumpet), David Lalljee (trombone), Dave Green (bass) and Winston Clifford (drums). As well as clever adaptations of Ellington classics the group also plays music from arranger/composers influenced by the Duke, including Mingus, Monk and Gil Evans. Click here for tickets & info Thursday 12 September: Piano Bar Soho, Carlisle St London W1D 3BT Marvin Muoneke with the Alex Webb Trio. A rare London date by this remarkable jazz vocalist, who toured recently with the Down For The Count Orchestra. Expect spine-tingling versions of the great jazz ballads as well as plenty of...