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. This episode offers something a little different - a snapshot of the world of songwriters and an insight into an international music competition. The  International Songwriting Competition  is an annual song contest that offers aspiring and established songwriters to have their songs heard in a professional international arena. Joe explains something of the aims and mechanics of the competition. I'm delighted that Harmonious World has become one of the  ISC's industry partners . The track at the start and end of this conversation is the Harmonious World theme tune, performed by pianist and composer  Joe English . 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 harmonio...

Lineup is still to be announced, but the dates have been revealed for next year's Watford Jazz Junction Festival . The 2024 edition was spectacular, and we're looking for another wide range of music - something for everyone between 10 and 18 May 2025. And the music starts even before that, with a special performance from the amazing Orphy Robinson on 28 February 2025 . Meanwhile, WJJ are running a crowd funder to ensure that their free event around Oxhey village on 18 May remains free to the audience, with artists paid to perform. Please contribute if you can.

Subscribing to Harmonious World is easy - and you'll get some great benefits. There are several options, so just choose the one that suits you best. 1. Buy me a coffee  - choose the amount you'd like to contribute and you can buy a keyring. 2. Subscribe to support the Harmonious World podcast - choose a monthly amount that suits you and you'll receive a monthly subscribers-only episode with details of some of the great guests I've got booked in and an insight into some of the music I've been listening to. 3. Subscribe to my Substack to receive the regular short story collection 'Encounters with Harmonious World' (from 1 January 2025). These won't be available to free subscribers. For all these options, you'll receive a regular email newsletter and, after subscribing for three months, you'll receive a free keyring, pen and bookmark. After twelve months, you'll receive a free T-shirt to celebrate your contribution towards a Harmonious World.

Welcome to the latest episode of Harmonious World, in which I interview musicians about how their music helps make the world more harmonious. I can scarcely believe that I have reached 250 episodes (not my 250th guest, as there have been some duplications) but I am delighted that this special edition features guitarist, composer and singer  Rosie Frater-Taylor . I've seen and heard Rosie several times through 2024 and it was a delight that we finally got to chat about her background and her music, especially her latest album,  Featherweight . Please do sign up to Rosie's email  newsletter  to find out where you can hear her in 2025 - you won't be disappointed. Thanks to Rosie for allowing me to play clips of a couple of her tracks from the  Featherweight  Deluxe version 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 q...

It's called 'The Pocket Ellington', but there is nothing about this band that is small. A big sound and some really high-quality arrangements that wowed the audience at London's fabulous Vortex jazz club. With Alex Webb on piano and musical director duties, this is a tight, well-rehearsed and impressive band: Tony Kofi (tenor sax). Alan Barnes (baritone and alto saxes, clarinet), David Lalljee (trombone), Andy Davies (trumpet), Dave Green (double bass) and Winston Clifford (drums). The project was conceived by Webb and Kofi, who share a love of the Ellington big band sound: The Pocket Ellington takes music composed by the great Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, as well as by a number of other musicians influenced by them, and reduces them to a manageable septet setting. The four  horns themselves have to work hard to produce the sense of around 15 and the combinations seem to do just that. With a great rhythm section behind them, there really is a sense of the 'bi...

I've been lucky enough to hear this project live a few months ago, but now it's ready to be shared with everyone. The incredible vocalist Ineza, backed by pianist Alex Webb and his band of Copasetics, have recorded 'Women's Words, Sisters' Stories' to showcase some of the finest songs written and performed by jazz women across the years. Pianist and arranger Alex Webb (who appeared on Harmonious World in May 2022), has arranged a selection of songs composed by women and added one of his own original tracks, plus one co-written with Ineza. If you've never heard Ineza perform, then you're in for a treat. Born in Rwanda, raised in Belgium and now living in the UK, she's got a voice that's a force to be reckoned with and it's a pleasure to hear her versions of classics like Billie Holiday's  Tell Me More and Peggy Lee-Schluger's I Love Being Here With You . Two singles have already been released from the album, and you can find Women...

Welcome to the latest episode of Harmonious Worl d, in which I interview musicians about how their music helps make the world more harmonious. This conversation took place between sets at  Cambridge Jazz Festival  a couple of weeks ago, when  Dennis Rollins  was working as composer, conductor and artistic director with the  Cambridge University Jazz Orchestra . It was a real pleasure to chat with Dennis and I hope we can fit in a more lengthy conversation in the near future. His passion for education knows no bounds, and you can experience his wisdom wherever you are in the world at  funkytrombone.com Thanks to Dennis for allowing me to play clips of a couple 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,...

My new series of short stories comes out on Substack on 1 January 2025. Read about it here .

You are going to want to book your tickets for the Love Supreme Festival 2025 (4-6 July) because there are some incredible acts now confirmed to appear. Come and see incredible sax player Lakecia Benjamin in the July sunshine at Glynde Place A brilliant list of artists will be appearing in Europe's largest greenfield jazz festival. You can read some of my musings from the 2024 festival here , here and here , but trust me - wandering around between the tents and the delicious food outlets and hearing a huge range of jazz, funk and soul acts really could be where your summer 2025 peaks. The good thing about Love Supreme tickets is that the price is best when you buy it early and there are so many great artists announced already - with more to come - that there is bound to be a couple you really don't want to miss this summer. A couple of weeks ago, soul star Maxwell was announced, for the headliner slot on Sunday evening and now Motown legend Smokey Robinson is confirmed for hi...

Welcome to the latest episode of Harmonious World , in which I interview musicians about how their music helps make the world more harmonious. I've known about  Kim Cypher  - sax player, composer and vocalist - for several years, but we've never actually met. It was a delight to chat with her  about her new album,  Catching Moments . Thanks to Kim for allowing me to play clips of tracks from  Catching Moments  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."

Wishing you a very happy December and lots of exciting gigs coming up - get your tickets for something to look forward to in the summer! Check out some of these venues and events below, especially those featuring past guests on the Harmonious World podcast: Saturday 14th December: The Vortex,11 Gillett Square, Dalston N16 8AZ The Pocket Ellington, a seven-piece celebration of the Ellington repertoire with Alan Barnes (reeds), Tony Kofi (tenor), Andy Davies (trumpet), David Lalljee (trombone), Dave Green (bass) and Winston Clifford (drums). As well as clever adaptations of Ellington classics by pianist / MD Alex Webb, the group also plays music from arranger/composers influenced by the Duke, including Mingus, Monk and Gil Evans. Click here for tickets & info Tuesday 31 December 2024: Soul Mama, Gantry Hotel, 40 Celebration Ave, Stratford E20 1DB Enjoy what promises to be an epic New Year's Eve celebration with Natalie Williams's NYE Soul Revue. Click here for tickets & ...