Hilary Seabrook - writer, podcaster, musician

I'm breaking the habit of a lifetime and mentioning the 'C' word in November - only because singer, composer and trombonist Ashley Slater is a good friend and he's produced the album that you need for every gathering you're planning over Christmas. This album has been a closely-guarded secret throughout 2024, with Ashley barely mentioning it more than once a week across social media. Now that's it's finally arrived in your listening ears, you're going to love Merry Jazzmas ! Featuring a bevy of brilliant musicians, every track was crafted by the witty Mr Slater (listen out for "One and one makes true") and the arrangements show them all at their finest. There's Gary Alesbrook (trumpet), Iain Ballamy (sax) Mark Edwards (piano), Mark Fletcher (drummer), Jamie McCredie (guitar and vocals) and Mark Preston (guitar). Ashley has always been a self-deprecating and amusing musician and human being. He's worked with some of the big names includi

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 epiosde, I was joined by drummer  Tom Bancroft  from  Playtime , whose album  Morse Code Through The Lights  I  reviewed  a couple of weeks ago. It's a brilliant album and I hope you enjoy listening to 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."

I only met him once (in September 2014 ), but Quincy Jones was a huge influence. He was interested in language and connections between people, as well as the obvious skill and passion for music. When I was considering starting a podcast, back in those dark days of lockdown in spring 2020, finding a name became easy as soon as I found this quote from Quincy Jones. All I imagined was that musicians would chat with me about what they are good at - Harmonious World in a nutshell. To hear this morning that he had died at the age of 91 was sad, but his contribution to the world will remain forever, and will inspire us all forever. RIP Quincy Jones.

I'm an avid reader and this weekend, I discovered the perfect book cupboard, albeit without its wooden doors. Dating back to the 1200s, this is a sign of the value of books and learning that goes back centuries. To construct a wall and leave space for books is a beautiful concept. Too many homes today contain no books and that makes me sad. I'm not entirely sure I would keep the doors: books should be glimpsed in passing as much as they are read in detail.

Jon Batiste's eighth studio album gives the multi-talented pianist the freedom to play around - whimsically, beautifully and apparently effortlessly - with the works of Beethoven. As a solo pianist, Batiste is extraordinary and his musicianship exudes from every track on this new collection. When I started Harmonious World, I wanted a podcast that talked to musicians, regardless of the genre and Batiste has done brilliantly here what so many other artists strive for, which is creating music that defies box-ticking. Beethoven's compositions inspire Batiste's improvisations. For those who don't know Jon Batiste, you almost certainly have heard some of his music - he has the Grammy and multiple other awards to prove it. He even has an Oscar for Best Original Score for Soul  from the Academy Awards in 2021, and a nomination in 2024 for It Never Went Away. Beethoven Blues (Batiste Piano Series, Vol. 1), out November 15 on Verve Records / Interscope marks the first instalment

Welcome to what promises to be an exceptionally busy November! Jazz festivals aplenty and lots of gigs in the run-up to the festive season. Check out some of these venues and events below, especially those featuring past guests on the Harmonious World podcast: Saturday 9 November: Jazz at St Giles', Oxford Sax player, clarinettist and composer Tom Thorp brings his Ilumetris ensemble to perform tracks from Here, There Be Monsters, alongside Neil Yates (trumpet and Flugelhorn, Andy Stamatakis-Brown (piano), Grant Russell (bass) and John Arnesen (drums).  Click here for tickets & info Friday 8 to Sunday 24 November: Cambridge Jazz Festival Too many artists to list, but Pat Metheny, Brand New Heavies, Dennis Rollins,  Rob Luft  and  Tim Boniface  will be appearing. You really need to take a look.  Click here for tickets & info Thursday 14 November, The Tung Auditorium, Liverpool Sax player, clarinettist and composer Tom Thorp brings his Ilumetris ensemble to perform tracks from