Hilary Seabrook - writer, podcaster, musician

I often talk about the difficulty - and pointlessness - in trying to categorise music and the latest EP from Stewart Prosser proves the point. Quasi-classical, ambient, jazz, Far From Home brings trumpet and electronics to life and  player, out on Elm Tree Records on 14 February 2025. Lost Dawn , the first of these three tracks, is a gentle musing from collaborator Jody Smith on keyboards before Stewart’s trumpet ambles in and takes centre stage. The track leaves the listener wanting more, swiftly followed by a tempo and mood change in  Punchbag.  Stewart and Jody interweave and it’s never quite clear how much is improvised and how much has been composed. It doesn’t matter, because there is a sense that this is music from the soul. The third track -  Fogbound  - is also the first single from the EP, released today. A brief piano intro and then a breathy trumpet soars above the most gentle of accompaniments before the arrangement develops and Stewart adds a mute ...

The 200th episode of Harmonious World  is somewhat self-indulgent, as it features a conversation with Dan Jennings, broadcaster and host of the podcast Desperately Seeking Paul, who interviewed me back in lockdown. You'll hear in our conversation why it's self-indulgent and why it appears on the 40th anniversary of the release of The Style Council album Cafe Bleu . You can read the Guardian article we refer to in our chat. Thank you to Dan for spending time with me, and I hope you enjoy listening in to our conversation. The music at the start and end is the Harmonious World theme tune, from pianist, composer and bandleader Joe English .

I was 20 when I was asked to audition for The Style Council and met Paul Weller and Mick Talbot. A European tour later, I then appeared on the band's debut album Cafe Bleu . It turns out that was 40 years ago today. My vinyl album takes pride of place in my studio, alongside the single, a sketch of John Coltrane and the liner notes of Coltrane's A Love Supreme . These are some of the most inspiring images of my musical life.

Someone recently asked me if I'm proud of my sax playing. Actually, I am. Although it seems strange to see images of me playing tenor 40 years ago. I thought of myself as a baritone player and have gone back to that first love. This is me behind Paul Weller on Saturday Superstore on 18 February 1984. Looking back is good, as long as it's just a moment before looking forward. Two years ago, I thought I would never play again because of my cancer treatment. Now I'm working on a new project with fellow ex-Style Councillor (from a different era of the band), Stewart Prosser. Although playing for any length of time is exhausting now, I would rather try and be shattered afterwards. Since my two bouts of stomach cancer, I do get tired easily but I'm still able to play like the 21-year-old me of The Style Council days.

It seems like yesterday - Top of the Pops in February 1984 with The Style Council. In case you can't spot me - I'm on the right with the tenor sax.