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Showing posts from March, 2025

In conversation with Mette Juul about 'Thank You & Other Stories'

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 features the highly talented jazz singer and songwriter Mette Juul . I interviewed her in September 2023 for  episode 174 , discussing her previous album Celeste. Her new album - Thank You & Other Stories - is essentially about luck. It's also about how we are all connected and the significant impact we can have on each others' lives. She also sings about trying to accept some of the darker sides of life and embracing our imperfections. Thanks to Mette for allowing me to play tracks from Thank You & Other Stories 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 you...

Remembering season 19 of Harmonious World

The fifth year of my   Harmonious World  podcast has become well and I'd like to extend a heartfelt thanks to all my marvellous guests from the last three months, and to all of my listeners. Season 19 guests were: Emma Rawicz Avery Hill Ineza Chris Newstead (number 2) Marina Albero Petra Onderuf Adam Ben Ezra Thomas J Morris Pritesh Walia Claire Cope - a sepcial episode for International Women's Day Jeffrey Biegel Emily Masser Matt Carmichael Mette Juul

Dreamweavers: Live at the 606 Club

There’s always something marvellous and musical happening at the 606 Club, just off London’s famous Kings Road, Chelsea. A cold March night was greatly warmed by the album launch of 'Woven in Time' by Dreamweavers, featuring some of the UK's top jazz talent. Dreamweavers, 606 Club, March 2025 @HilarySWriter Dudley Phillips and Chris Allard, 606 Club, March 2025 @HilarySWriter The Dreamweavers album  Woven in Time  is part of an exciting project that is more than just one collection of tracks. Originally conceived by guitarists, composers and producers Chris Allard and Mike Trim, Dreamweavers now includes Jim Watson (piano, keys), Dudley Phillips (bass) and Nick Smalley (drums). With a huge dynamic range, fine small ensemble jazz with creative, virtuoso improvisation brought the club to life. Allard described the track  Driving Home  as "really quite hard", because he'd originally written it for string quartet: glimpses of the composition process like this add ...

Emily Masser: Live at The Bear Club

Luton's TBC (The Bear Club) is a delightful place to hear some great jazz, and never more so than when Emily Masser brought her quintet along. Hot on the heels of the launch of her album 'Songs With My Father', Emily performed several of the tracks, plus a couple of new discoveries with her father - saxist Dean Masser. Emily Masser with her quintet Emily Masser with James Owston and Alex Clarke Hilary and Emily It was good to chat with Emily a couple of weeks before the gig and diving deeper into the inspiration behind her album Songs With My Father  for an episode of Harmonious World. Experiencing a few of the tracks live proved the singer’s position as one of the new talents emerging from London’s Guildhall School Of Music And Drama. There’s a maturities about Emily’s voice and delivery of these standards, chosen for interpretation and development that goes beyond her years. As well as dad Dean Masser (sax), Emily was accompanied at the Bear Club by Matyas Gayer (piano), ...

An interview with saxophonist and composer Matt Carmichael

Welcome to the latest episode of Harmonious World, in which I interview musicians about how their music helps make the world more harmonious. I was fortunate in meeting this week's guest - saxophonist and composer  Matt Carmichael  - before we spoke for the podcast. He was performing as part of Ensemble C with my guest from  episode 263  Claire Cope and hearing him live and with a different group of musicians was fascinating. You can read my review of that gig  here . Thanks to Matt for allowing me to play tracks from his latest album - out on 28 March - Dancing with Embers 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."

EFG London Jazz Festival - artists announced

There is an incredible line-up for this year's EFG London Jazz Festival and there are some big names that will be well worth getting tickets for - ASAP! My choices will be Dee Dee Bridgewater, although there’s a clash (‘twas ever thus!) with Tania Tikaram that night. Then there’s Makaya McCraven and Fergus McCreadie - but watch this space for reviews of these shows and hopefully more! This is what I’ve been told by promoters Serious about what we have in store: Now entering its 33rd year, the global celebration of music, EFG London Jazz Festival, is announcing the first names for its 2025 edition, which takes place from 14-23 November. For 10 days and nights musicians from all over the world will come together in London to perform boundary-pushing music that showcases jazz and its influence across genres and cultures. Grammy and Tony Award-winning Jazz vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater is bringing her WE EXIST! show to the Barbican on Saturday, 15 November. Bridgewater has had a glitter...

Emma Rawicz and Gwilym Simcock: 'Big Visit'

Great duo projects in jazz can be a joy to behold, and this is certainly true of 'Big Visit', the ACT album from Emma Rawicz (sax) and Gwilym Simcock (piano). In the last few months, I've seen Rawicz at Ronnie Scott's with Laila Biali, interviewed her for Harmonious World and now listened to her work with renowned pianist Gwilym Simcock. Her ability to retain her musical character in different settings is really special and this duo collection is something very special. Emma told me about her project with Simcock and the energy and enthusiasm with which she discussed it is certainly evident in the tracks on this album. Simcock is fulsome in his praise for her skill, and that is huge praise from this giant of jazz: “It’s a really joyful experience and a positive environment. We just get on so well, her writing is so advanced, her attention to detail extraordinary. With her, the ideas just flow from person to instrument, and that’s the ideal we all aspire to.” The res...

Michael Buckley: 'Ebb and Flow'

If you want a gateway album to discover jazz on tenor sax, you'll find pleasure in every bar on Michael Buckley's ' Ebb and Flow ', released a few weeks ago on Livia Records. Buckley is a simply extraordinary sax player - check out his work as a sideman with The Mingus Big Band as well as The Corrs, Donovan, and The Cranberries. Based in Dublin, but absolutely of international stature, Buckley brings us a selection of nine original compositions with a delightful trio: Greg Felton (piano), Barry Donohue (bass) and Shane O’Donovan (drums). This brings collaboration and empathy from all four musicians, with the tenor sax wending its way between them all. Eight of the nine tracks were composed by Buckley (the exception being May Story by Greg Felton) but there is a sense that rehearsals have taken the originals and developed them to fit the styles of each musician. Production duties are equally collaborative, shared between Buckley and Livia Records' own De...

Marcin and Hayato Sumino: 'I Wish'

Every once in a while, music hits my inbox and jumps straight onto my regular playlist. That was true yesterday when I heard Polish guitarist Marcin for the first time: his collaboration with pianist Hayato Sumino  on Stevie Wonder’s ‘I Wish’ brought incredible energy into my ears and my life. Describing musicians as social media sensations can often mean more emphasis on the influencing than the music, but this is absolutely not true of these two artists. There is a vibrancy and virtuosity from both musicians that comes from extensive musical studies across all genres of music. Their version of ‘I Wish’ takes the Stevie Wonder classic and blows it apart with this extraordinary live recording. Marcin discusses the arranging and performance process: “Working with Hayato on ‘I Wish’ was one of the most challenging and fun experiences. We arranged the song in about two hours at Hayato’s studio in Tokyo, and two days later we were already recording it live in the studio! It was the fi...

Discussing 'Songs With My Father' with vocalist Emily Masser

Welcome to the latest episode of Harmonious World, in which I interview musicians about how their music helps make the world more harmonious. It's always good to speak to artists at the start of their musical journey -  Emily Masser  is still studying, while performing professionally around the UK. In this conversation, we discuss her album  Songs With My Father , which is out now. There is a maturity to Emily's singing style that promises much and delivers in spades with her father on sax (hence the title) and an all-star rhythm section. Thanks to Emily for allowing me to play tracks from Songs With My Father 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."...

Jeff Goldblum: 'Still Blooming'

Despite some stellar acting roles in the last few months - notably 'Wicked' and 'Kaos' - Jeff Goldblum is shining in the world of music, particularly with his brilliant large ensemble, The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra . Their new album, ‘Still Blooming’is set to be released on April 25th, 2025 on Decca Records. Still Blooming  is a quite delightful collection of jazz standards performed by the talented Mr Goldblum and his brilliant friends in The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra. For those of us in the UK, there's a chance to see some live performances alongside the album's launch. It's unlikely (though not impossible) that Goldblum will be joined on stage by some of the guest vocalists on Still Blooming , including Scarlett Johansson and Ariana Grande. However, it is likely that Mr G will reprise his rather wonderful vocals on the classic  Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye . It is rare that an actor of Goldblum's stature can wow equally on a different stage, but he cer...

Anoushka Shankar: 'Chapter III: We Return to Light'

It's not often that musicians conceive of their albums as a trilogy, but 'Chapter III: We Return to the Light' brings to a satisfying and superlative conclusion the latest work from sitarist and composer Anoushka Shankar. 'Chapter I: Forever, For Now' arrived in October 2023, followed by Grammy-nominated 'Chapter II: How Dark it is Before Dawn' in April 2024. The trilogy captures the places that formed Shankar's music, with Chapter I focused on Europe - recorded in Berlin, while she was born and lives in London; Chapter II acknowledges the American influence - recorded in California, where she moved aged 11 and lived for over 15 years; Chapter III concentrates on the mindfulness of India at the root of all her music. It will come as no surprise to listeners of this latest album that Shankar's Indian classical musical education comes from her father Ravi Shankar, with more than a sprinkling of the more modern and electronic Goa Trance music. Collabora...

Marconi and Wade: Live at Benslow Music

Marco Marconi and Mark Wade were two of the last artists I saw in March 2020, so it was only right that I get along to see them live at Benslow Music School in Hitchin almost exactly five years later. And their performance was simply 'Slick' (one of the Wade originals they played). The Italian Marconi (piano) has made the UK his home and Wade (double bass) - an inveterate New Yorker - visits every few months, with this duo gig tying in nicely with some teaching on a jazz course at Benslow Music . Both of these hugely talented musicians have appeared on Harmonious World. I interviewed Marco just a few weeks into the Covid-19 pandemic, and his gig at the Pheasantry on London's Kings Road was my last live music before we went into lockdown. I've interviewed Mark twice - the first time just the week before Marco and the second just a year ago. As in the past, the Marconi/Wade duo delivers beautiful jazz in the lovely setting of Benslow Music, with a combination of orig...

Ensemble C: Live at Jazz Cafe Posk

International Women's Day 2025 was pretty much all about the special episode of Harmonious World featuring pianist and composer Claire Cope , followed by the launch of Claire's album 'Every Journey' with her Ensemble C . Every Journey  is a truly stunning album and the launch event at Jazz Cafe Posk gave a packed audience the chance to enjoy a few of the tracks. Beginning the evening with the album's title track allowed Ensemble C to show the dynamic range and instrument combinations that make Every Journey  such a special collection of work. Cope has a unique ability in grouping instruments in this 11-piece ensemble to create a vast array of colour. Dynamically, there were some very impressive passages that built imperceptibly from a relative silence to filling the whole venue. Creating such an exceptional sound from these 11 instruments has taken skill, with Cope acknowledging the inspiration from musical forebears such as Kenny Wheeler and Maria Schneider. When ...

Chatting with pianist Jeffrey Biegel

Welcome to the latest episode of Harmonious World, in which I interview musicians about how their music helps make the world more harmonious. A few months ago, I interviewed composer  Peter Boyer  in a second conversation, this time about his composition Rhapsody in Red, White and Blue . The man behind that recording - and the 50-state 'Rhapsody National Initiative' - is the fabulous pianist  Jeffrey Biegel  and it was a delight to interview him for this latest episode. Thanks to Jeffrey for allowing me to play tracks from his many performances, as well as a clip from the opening of Rhapsody in Red, White and Blue 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....

RIP Bill Ashton

"Higgles - we're coming to Hitchin today. Are you around?" I usually was around to see Bill Ashton when he and Kay came to visit the market in our little Hertfordshire town. We'd often grab lunch together and he'd catch me up on the news from all our mutual friends. In one of Bill's favourite Hitchin pubs: Kay, Bill, me, Richard  And so, I shall miss my good friend Bill Ashton (6 December 1936 to 8 March 2025).  He’s been a part of my life since I first took my baritone sax along to a rehearsal of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO) in 1980. The Cockpit Theatre was a noisy place full of amazing young musicians who together produced outstanding jazz, the like of which I had never experienced, let alone imagined I could be a part of.  Both Bill and I knew, and acknowledged, that I wasn't the best bari sax player ever to try their hand at NYJO, but I learned so much while being around great musicians and trying to keep up with sax players like Jamie Talb...

International Women's Day 2025 - a special Harmonious World episode with Claire Cope

Welcome to a special International Women's Day 2025 episode of Harmonious World , in which I interview musicians about how their music helps make the world more harmonious. I'm delighted to be joined by pianist and composer Claire Cope - her Ensemble C has a new album out today, called Every Journey. Thanks to Claire for allowing me to play tracks from Every Journey alongside our conversation. I hope you enjoy those tracks, and particularly Home, which ends the podcast and which really encapsulates that feeling of being where you feel most at home, or the people that bring that feeling. 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."

JazzFM Awards 2025: nominees announced

It was a delight to read the nominations for the 2025 JazzFM Awards , including recognition for two of my guests on Harmonious World . Lucy-Anne Daniels (January 2024) is nominated as Vocalist of the Year and Emma Rawicz  (January 2025) joins corto.alto and Mark Kavuma as nominees for Instrumentalist of the Year. The 2025 Jazz FM Awards, presented in collaboration with PPL and PRS for Music, have unveiled this year’s nominees. Recognised as one of the most prestigious events in the jazz world, the awards celebrate both emerging and established talent, highlighting the genre’s ongoing evolution and innovation. The ceremony is set to take place on Thursday April 24th 2025 at KOKO in North London.  There’s more to come: beyond the competitive categories, there will also be a Lifetime Achievement Award, Gold Award, and Impact Award, recognising people who have not only shaped jazz history but continue to inspire new generations of musicians and audiences.  Nick Pitts, Conten...

Broodmen: 'Liminality'

If you haven't heard jazz using an accordion, I invite you to check out ' Liminality ', the new album from Serbian trio Broodmen . This is a mash-up of jazz and hard-hitting rock, led by longtime collaborators guitarist Dragan Alimpijević Pik and drummer Zoltán Simon. If anything can get you up and dancing, this is probably it. Broodmen came together in Novi Sad, Serbia and this latest album combines influences from across Europe and musical genres with a punch of energy. Their debut album from 2017 - Secondary Emotions  - is followed by this exciting and stimulating collection of compositions. Alongside Dragan Alimpijević Pik (guitar) and Zoltán Simon (drums), Liminality  features the accordion of Lazar Novkov and saxophone from Vasa Vučković on the effervescent Amsterdam  which concludes with a percussive moment from Simon's drums. The energy obvious throughout Liminality perhaps emanates from the recording process - live in a single, unbroken session. Alimpijević...

Josephine Davies: 'The Celtic Wheel of the Year Suite'

There's a real sense of excitement from the opening bars of 'The Celtic Wheel of the Year Suite' from saxophonist and composer Josephine Davies and The Enso Ensemble. A really fine collection from this brilliant musician and her large ensemble, the suite encompasses months and seasons, starting on a musical high with 'Eos' after the Goddess of the Dawn. If you ever need a new track to set for your early morning alarm call, Eos would work brilliantly. It's the perfect start to an uplifting and inspirational suite. The dynamic range chases away any darkness that might be lingering. The 17-piece ensemble nails the composition and seems to focus on mythology and music at the same time. A wonderful blend of arrangement and improvisation, the suite as a whole brings complexity and simplicity in equal measure. Davies said: “Having written several jazz orchestra pieces, and inspired by a lockdown move to the countryside, I felt drawn to deepen my connection with the e...

Culture Shift: Blast from the past at the National Portrait Gallery

Culture Shift is a celebration of the work of 'The Face' magazine, which was my guide through the culture of the 1980s. On display now at London's National Portrait Gallery, the covers and the information displayed provides a fascinating insight into some of the music and fashion that made me (and many others like me). On until 18 May 2025, Culture Shift  brought me face to face (pun intended!) with some real blasts from my past. My 1980s included George Michael and Paul Weller The whole of the 1980s was filled with music and finding my style. I turned 17 in January 1980, a few months after my musical shift from clarinet (which I still love and play from time to time) very firmly to the saxophone. I discovered the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, which opened my eyes and ears to music that excited and thrilled my soul. That moved me towards soul and into that realm where jazz met pop, especially with my time in The Style Council. Alongside all that discovery of music, I wait...

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Maria Schneider: Live at The Barbican

Tonight’s performance in the main hall at London’s Barbican Centre confirmed Maria Schneider ’s position as one of the finest composers of our generation. Working with the sublime Oslo Jazz Ensemble (formerly Denada), Schneider presented a selection of tunes from her ‘Data Lords’ double album from 2020 and the result was simply extraordinary. Photo credit @Hilary Seabrook With a host of Grammy awards and a Pulitzer Prize nomination for Data Lords , Schneider has proved her right to stand on the Barbican stage in front of one of the finest ensembles in the world. Her music allows every member to shine, individually and collectively. Sax players who double on clarinet, bass clarinet, flute and alto flute, trumpets and flugelhorns, an accordion and multiple percussion pieces wielded by the drummer collectively provide a range of timbres, textures and dynamics that thrilled this audience. The Data Lords  compositions celebrate everything that is wonderful about nature, as well as all ...

Pritesh Walia joins me to discuss 'Hopetown', his debut album

Welcome to the latest episode of Harmonious World, in which I interview musicians about how their music helps make the world more harmonious. Guitarist Pritesh Walia joins me today from California, to discuss his debut album - Hopetown . This is an impressive first album, with original compositions and an inventive arrangement of The Beatles' Blackbird, a clip of which you can hear as we discuss the tune. Thanks to Pritesh for allowing me to play tracks from Hopetown 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."

Gig listing no 15: March 2025

The days are getting (slightly) longer and the weather is getting (marginally) warmer here in the UK. But don't fret - there is still plenty of music to listen to in warm venues. Saturday 8 March 2025: Jazz Cafe Posk, Hammersmith Pianist and composer Claire Cope launches her new Ensemble C album - Every Journey  for International Women’s Day 2025 Friday 4 April: Jazzlive at The Crypt, St. Giles Church, Camberwell Church Street, London SE5 Coltrane and Hartman on Impulse! feat. Denys Baptiste and Marvin Muoneké. Revisiting the famous album when John Coltrane teamed up with vocalist Johnny Hartman to explore their favourite romantic standards, tenor sax boss Denys Baptiste is joined by the extraordinary vocalist Marvin Muoneké and a top-flight rhythm section of Gary Crosby (bass), Alex Webb (piano) and Alfonso Vitale (drums).  Click here for tickets & info Monday 7 April: The Jazz Café, 5 Parkway, Camden, London NW1 7PG To celebrate Billie Holiday’s birthday, Riketté Genesis...