Hilary Seabrook - writer, podcaster, musician

Welcome to International Jazz Day 2025 and a special episode of Harmonious World , in which I interview musicians about how their music helps make the world more harmonious. While at  Claire Cope's album launch , I bumped into harpist and singer Tara Minton , who kindly agreed to be my guest on this very special day. Tara is a great singer and harpist and she tells me in this episode about her composing in Mexico, for a new album which is set for release on 31 October 2025. Thanks to Tara for allowing me to play tracks from her 2021 and 2022 albums Please do not Ignore the Mermaid and Two for the Road 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."

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 delighted that  Quinn Sternberg  got in touch with me directly to introduce his music. I was delighted to discover his new album Pleasant Returns and then to have the chance to chat to him about it. We also discussed his work with Oscar Rossignoli, who I interviewed in 2021 . Thanks to Quinn for allowing me to play tracks from Pleasant Returns 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."

The marvellous Benslow Music opened their campus to spread the word about the Benslow Music Instrument Loan Scheme  on Sunday 27 April 2025. A concert in the afternoon was a celebration of the ILS, with an orchestra of very impressive senior borrowers. Hilary with Benslow Music Chief Executive Michael Duffy A series of talks and the opportunity to tour around the Benslow campus made it an engaging day for visitors. A Brief Introduction to Stringed Instruments, was presented by members of the British Violin Making Association, instrument maker, Kai-Thomas Roth, and bow maker, Tim Baker. Cellist Joely Koos was also speaking, alongside violin dealer and maker, Adam Whone. A panel and Q&A session was hosted by the ILS head Nick Evans-Pughe with Adam Whone and the BVMA's Julian Pindar to a packed hall. The afternoon concert, conducted by Howard Williams, featured a range of gifted musicians currently borrowing instruments from Benslow's ILS. It was a fascinating programme...

There's so much great new music around right now and I would have found it hard to be a judge for this year's Jazz FM awards . The selection of nominees was outstanding and could have been doubled to include even more great artists and performers. It was particularly good to see Jamie Cullum recognised for the impact he's had on jazz and brilliant to see Alice Zawadski take away the gong for Vocalist of the Year. Ni Maxine, winner of Breakthrough Act of the Year Although I was disappointed that the award for Breakthrough Act of the Year didn't go to my Harmonious World guest Sultan Stevenson , there was tough competition and final winner Ni Maxine thoroughly deserved her recognition. Alice Zawadzki was named Vocalist of the Year, while Mark Kavuma earned Instrumentalist of the Year. Jalen Ngonda won Soul Act of the Year, and powerhouse vocalist Shemekia Copeland was honoured as Blues Act of the Year for her continued innovation in the genre. The Collaboration Award went...

One of my favourite albums of 2025 so far comes from trumpeter Brandon Woody and his band Upendo on Blue Note records. Brandon Woody and Upendo (c) Jamie Sandel Newly-signed to Blue Note Records, acclaimed trumpeter and composer Brandon Woody is releasing For The Love Of It All on 9 May 2025. Woody says: “It’s a huge honour to be a part of this label’s legacy. I am excited to begin this new era in collaboration with Blue Note.” “Brandon is one of those rare artists who possesses both a vibrant vision and the chops and knowledge to manifest it,” says Blue Note President Don Was. “As such, he is a natural exponent of the Blue Note ethos and we’re proud to welcome him to the family.” You can read my album review on KindofJazz.com

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 discuss  Bespoke Songs  with soprano  Fotina Naumenko . This new album features four works for soprano and mixed instrumental ensembles. The compositions were commissioned by the singer and feature the works for four composers, each based on lurics by female authors. Thanks to Fotina for allowing me to play tracks from  Bespoke Song s 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."

Today gave many of the UK's finest jazz musicians an opportunity to say farewell to an influential man - Bill Ashton, who founded the National Youth Jazz Orchestra ( NYJO ) in 1965. Bill's funeral was a touching affair, followed by a dignified send-off with some of the afore-mentioned musicians performing many of the NYJO charts that are synonymous with great British jazz. Most of us had a story to tell about how Bill had helped and supported us as we started out on a life in music. NYJO through the 1960s and through to the start of the 21st century was a perfect middle ground between school and the professional life in jazz. For me, a couple of Bill's legendary telephone calls set me on a path as a reasonable-successful sax player, and I'll always be grateful for his support. You can read my initial obituary on hearing about Bill's death on 9 March here While Bill's funeral was a sad event for his family and all of those who considered him a friend, it was also...

Welcome to the latest episode of Harmonious World, in which I interview musicians about how their music helps make the world more harmonious. It was a great pleasure to chat with pianist and composer  Sultan Stevenson , discussing his engrossing new album,  El Roi , as well as his nomination as Breakthrough Act of the Year in this year's  Jazz FM Awards . Sultan is out on  tour , so do try to catch him when you can. And we're all keeping our fingers crossed for the announcement of the 2025 Jazz FM Awards later in April. You can also  listen to my conversation  with sax player Soweto Kinch, who I interviewed at the end of 2023 and who appears on  El Roi . Thanks to Sultan for allowing me to play tracks from  El Roi  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 ...

For many years, when jazz was less mainstream and accessible, it was often Jamie Cullum who was cited as the hope for British jazz. When he released 'Twenty Something' in 2003, it was certainly the first time that other people were talking about the music that I was enjoying listening to. At 40, I suddenly could have conversations with people about jazz without them thinking I was weird. Now Cullum is being honoured with the Impact Award at the 2025 Jazz FM Awards. Although Cullum has always been on my wishlist for guests on Harmonious World, I was delighted to interview pianist and composer Sultan Stevenson , celebrating his new album El Roi  and also his nomination for Breakthrough Act in the same awards. If talking about Cullum made me a little bit cool in 2003, then chatting with Stevenson in 2025 may be ramping up my credibility a little. This year’s ceremony will be hosted by Ben Bailey Smith (AKA Doc Brown) and nominees for the 2025 Jazz FM Awards include (of course) Ez...

I'm delighted that there's a new cover for Harmonious World . Thanks to Cassy Paris for the new profile pic and to Richard Cave for the re-design. There are so many musicians producing outstanding work at the moment and it's difficult to keep up, but I'll keep trying, I have big plans for Harmonious World in the coming months - just search wherever you get your podcasts or click here . Of course, it would be great if you could subscribe , share etc.

An extraordinary gig at the marvellous Pizza Express in London’s Dean Street: Jo Harrop at her best with her band for the launch of her vinyl album ‘ The Path of a Tear ’.  Paul Edis (piano) with Jo Review in detail now on KindofJazz.com

Welcome to the latest episode of Harmonious World, in which I interview musicians about how their music helps make the world more harmonious. For the first episode in season 20, I am joined in conversation by pianist  Chris Gall . We discuss his brand new album  Impressionists Improvised , a solo piano exploration of works by Debussy, Ravel and Satie alongside some original tracks. This is a beautiful combination of classical music that many of us are familiar with, interpreted with improvisions by a brilliant pianist. Thanks to Chris for allowing me to play tracks from Impressionists Improvised 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."

The stunning harpist Ashley Jackson has released her debut album 'Take Me To The Water', and it's a wonderful collection of tracks where she adds her personal touch to works by Margaret Bonds, Alice Coltrane, Claude Debussy, and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. Coltrane's Radhye-Shyam starts the album as it means to go on, with music that seems to take the listener on a journey. Almost symphonic, but less than six minutes long, this would make a great introduction to the work of Alice Coltrane for those who have already discovered John's work. Deep spirituality and human connection abound. Every track on this album is linked to the theme of water and its power. There is a fusion between classical music and cultural heritage, as well as links to the tragedy that there are still people around the world living without access to safe, clean water. Jackson said: “Water is celebrated in lots of different cultures, but, despite that, you find recurring themes in those celebration...

Spring is finally here and we're heading towards Festival Season! 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 and Alex Webb present ‘Billie Holiday at Carnegie Hall’, an evocation of Lady Day’s historic 1956 appearance at the New York venue, with Mark Kavuma (trumpet), Josh Kemp (tenor), Neville Malcolm (bass) Alfonso Vitale (drums) and Webb (piano).  Click here for tickets & info Wedn...