Hilary Seabrook - writer, podcaster, musician

In June 2020, I released the first episode of my podcast -   Harmonious World  - and I had no idea how much delight it would bring me to share conversations with musicians from around the world. Whether you're a guest, a listener or one of the collaborators who have helped me find my guests, thank you! I now have listeners in 2, 475 cities across 129 countries, so wherever you are, welcome to our collective musical attempts to make the world more harmonious. Season 20 guests were: Chris Gall Sultan Stevenson Fotina Naumenko Quinn Sternberg Tara Minton for International Jazz Day Nicole Zuraitis Dave Keech Ute Lemper Vonn Vanier Iain Farrington Cecilie Strange Becca Wilkins Dave Handler

I headed right back to Tin Pan Alley - London’s Denmark Street - for a delightful Sunday afternoon of music with singer songwriter Hannah Brine . Hannah’s debut album Blue Sky Now  features ten songs written by the singer herself, either solo or in collaboration with some songwriting heavyweights, namely Jeff Franzel ,  Michael Garvin , Henk Pool and Emily Phillips . Produced by guitarist and bandleader Jamie McCredie , it is a genuinely beautiful collection of tracks that allows Hannah’s voice to shine - it’s more often forming part of choirs and a huge range of vocal ensembles in high-profile TV, live and recording projects. Hannah is used to directing groups of voices and it’s really lovely to hear her solo voice in her own compositions. Today’s gig at Rough Trade on Denmark Street was even more engaging, with just the singer, McCredie’s guitar and backing vocals from Imogen Halsey and Celia Crwys-Finnigan. The album itself includes an impressive selection of the UK’s best...

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, you can hear my conversation with  David Handler , who is a composer, violinist and club owner in New York City. His debut album - Life Like Violence - is out now on Cantaloupe Music. It's a fascinating collection of acoustic and electronic music that, as we discuss, is not for background listening. Thanks to David for allowing me to share clips from Life Like Violence 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."

Sometimes I feel like I’m late to the party on artists that other people have long-since discovered. One such happened last night, as a packed Barbican Hall was treated to a mesmerising performance by the incredible pianist and band-leader Tigran Hamasyan . Photo (c) Daragh Drake Virtuosity a nd invention filled the stage and blasted the audience as Hamasyan and his band performed work from his latest album -   The Bird of a Thousand Voices . There’s an intensity about this music, that encompasses irregularity and rhythmic and melodic complexity that never descends into cacophony. Born from Armenian folklore - specifically in a retelling of   Hazaran Bibul  - the music tells the tale through rock, jazz, improvisation and quasi-classical virtuosity that all harks back to folk music. Perhaps the reason I haven’t encountered Hamasyan before is precisely that eclectic mix of styles and influences. But once heard, never forgotten. I missed this band at Cadogan Hall last year a...

Welcome to the latest episode of Harmonious World, in which I interview musicians about how their music helps make the world more harmonious. The sun was shining and children were playing as I interviewed vocalist  Becca Wilkins  in London's Finsbury Park just a few days before the launch of her album  Reverie . It was a delight to bump into Becca (and her drummer  Billy Pod , who I interviewed in 2022) last night at the Barbican, and we followed up this live chat about her album and all things musical and creative. Thanks to Becca for allowing me to share clips from Reverie 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."

It was a delight to interview Ute Lemper for a recent episode of Harmonious World, and her performance at London’s Cadogan Hall gave me the chance to hear her sing live for the first time in 35 years. The first time I was aware of Ute’s voice was in the planning stages of ‘The Wall’ Berlin 1990, when I was working for the Producer, Mick Worwood. Mick had conversations with Roger Waters about the artists that would be appearing on stage and the name Ute Lemper came up very early in conversations. Even then, she was becoming renowned for her incredible voice and her performances of the work of Kurt Weill. Now, 35 years later, I heard some of those songs live, with just a piano accompaniment. Long-term collaborator Vana Gierig was more than an accompanist and clearly the musical understanding between these two consummate artists is intense. There was humour and polish in the entire show, which included personal and innovative arrangements of some much-loved Weill classics. Everything fro...

When jazz pianist Brian Kellock died recently, London’s 606 Club initially cancelled the night where he was due to perform just a couple of weeks later. There’s a memorial concert planned in the autumn, but the night that Brian was scheduled to appear instead because something of a celebration of his music with some of his fellow Scots. Fraser Urquhart (piano), Calum Gourlay (bass) and Corrie Dick (drums) were joined by trumpeter Bruce Adams and the irrepressible Jim Mullen on guitar. @HilarySWriter The music was just wonderful as the quintet, who had never performed together before, filled the 606 with a selection of standards that would have made Brian Kellock smile. Everything from The Way You Look Tonight  and Shiny Stockings to What is This Thing Called Love?  and Cotton Tail  but with some personal features that really showed what this extraordinary group of musicians is capable of. Fraser Urquhart’s piano is always understated and he is often heard alongside ...

Welcome to the latest episode of Harmonious World, in which I interview musicians about how their music helps make the world more harmonious. Enjoy listening to my chat with saxophonist and composer Cecilie Strange. Her album,  Beech  is the fourth in a collection that really exposes her quasi-classical compositions through storytelling. Cecilie has two upcoming gigs in the UK with Sounds of Denmark - at London's  Pizza Express  on 25 September and the following day at  Turner Sims  in Southampton. Catch her if you can. Thanks to Cecilie for allowing me to share clips from Beech 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."

This was not the gig I was expecting, but it was amazing and full of truly beautiful music played by a stunning quartet who had never so much as soundchecked together! Elina Duni stepped in at the last minute when the billed singer - Vidya, who I wrote about almost exactly a year ago - was sadly taken ill. 06062025 Elina Duni @hilaryswriter Joined by Vidya’s original band - Rob Luft (guitar), Mirko Scarcia (bass) and Corrie Dick (drums) - Elina performed an eclectic collection of originals, arrangements and standards. The band came together in a way that seemed more effortless than it probably was in reality. Luft and Dick are frequent band mates, often with Duni herself, but this was the first time this quartet had appeared on stage and the sound was just beautiful. Duni has an international background and career, so there were songs from Albania, the Balkans, Brazil, Italy and the great American songbook, but they were all arranged to show the very best of these accomplished musici...

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 huge delight to be joined live in my local coffee shop by pianist and composer  Iain Farrington . As you will hear through our conversation, Iain has composed for and performed at some highly prestigious events. We were chatting primarily about the forthcoming world premiere of Talk of the Town, which Iain has composed for  Hitchin Chamber Orchestra  to perform on 12 July at  St Mary's Church  as the orchestra celebrates its tenth anniversary.  Click here to join us if you can ! Thanks to Iain for allowing me to share clips from some of his other compositions and performances. 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...

  The weather is warming up here in the UK, so it's time to get out and enjoy some summer sounds. Here's a few ideas for where to go - see the list at the bottom of some of my favourite jazz clubs. Tuesday 17 June: East Side Jazz Club, 2 Harvey Rd, London E11 3DB The Pocket Ellington, a seven-piece celebration of the Ellington repertoire play this prestigious out-of-town jazz spot with Alan Barnes (reeds), Tony Kofi (tenor), Andy Davies (trumpet), David Lalljee (trombone), Dave Green (bass) and WinstonClifford (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 Wednesday 18 June: Pizza Express, Dean Street, Soho London W1 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 ...