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. It was a real delight to chat with  Ute Lemper : I was assistant to the Producer of The Wall: Berlin 1990 and Ute sang on stage for that performance. Her latest album is Pirate Jenny, a celebration of revolutionary composer Kurt Weill's 125th birthday this year. If you get a chance to hear Ute sing live, please do take it - if you're in the UK, she's appearing at the  Cadogan Hall  on Friday 13 June and I hope to be in the audience. Thanks to Ute for allowing me to share clips from Pirate Jenny and you'll want your headphones on to experience the delights of her voice(s)! 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 singl...

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."

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.

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...

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....

Thanks for popping over - would you like to subscribe and support the work I do? It takes time and some tech and logistics to interview musicians for Harmonious World and review gigs and albums here. Subscribe on Harmonious World or Buy Me A Coffee  and you'll get some thank you goodies too! When you subscribe, you'll receive a bookmark and a pen. After two months, you'll also receive a keyring. All subscribers also receive a weekly email and access to a monthly subscriber podcast. Also, you can read my general, travel and fiction writing on Substack . For a small monthly donation, you can help me stay productive!

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...

Every once in a while, a musical event catches my eye and that is certainly true this week of the BAFTA (the British Academy of Film and TV Awards) win for original score, which went to Daniel Blumberg for his extraordinary work on 'The Brutalist'. I'm hoping to get to interview Daniel for my podcast , simply because the composition and recording process which he outlines in a YouTube video is breathtaking. Watch this space ... This week has been a great one for The Brutalist  with four BAFTA awards - US filmmaker Brady Corbet (Best Director), Adrien Brody (Best Actor) as well as cinematography and, of course, best original score. Last night (as I write this), the Academy Awards gave Oscars for Brody, cinematography and Blumberg's score once more. Very well-deserved awards for a truly extraordinary film. Blumberg talks about the Overture that does much more than accompany the film's opening: “Brady and I wanted there to be continual music for the first 10 minutes ...

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 interesting to talk to someone with a passion for a specific musical topic and I'm joined here by Thomas J Morris , who has an incredible history alongside some of the world's finest orchestras: his book Always the Music: How a Lifelong Passion Framed a Future for Orchestras is well worth a read and we discuss some of the ideas within it. 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."

Friend of Harmonious World Michael Shapiro has been working on his opera ‘The Slave\, based on the novel by Isaac Bashevis Singer for several years. It’s now complete and Michael is working on the not inconsiderable project of getting it produced With several potential productions across the world, I’m looking forward to attending the premiere! But first, I need to read the original book (although not in the original Yiddish). Having hunted around second hand book stores and various online sites, I had pretty much given up on finding a version I could read, but was delighted to receive this copy for Christmas! I may be some time …  

When I began my podcast, Harmonious World, it was with the intention of featuring music across genres and from around the world. 'Home Now', the new album from London-based New Zealand pianist and composer John-Paul Muir on Ubuntu Music ticks all of those boxes with panache. Unashamedly a jazz album,  Home Now  is nevertheless proud of its classical influences. That is true of the compositions and the performances of Muir himself and also his fellow band members. John-Paul’s many accolades across both classical and jazz disciplines include winning the Kerikeri International Piano Competition, the New Zealand National Concerto Competition and the New Zealand National Young Performer of the Year Awards. His move to London to study with senior professor Joan Havill at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama inspired a shift in focus to jazz and improvisation, resulting in the stunning Home Now . The five pieces - Sunlight, Home Now, Silent Acknowledgement, Balm and Overjo...

One of the joys of last week was spending time in Abbey Road studios, hearing the first notes of Michael Shapiro 's opera 'The Slave', based on the novel by Isaac Bashevis Singer. The aria 'Let Me Live' was recorded by members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the incredible soprano Miah Persson, all conducted by Michael himself. Now it's time to start re-reading the novel.

In the words of the late, great Quincy Jones: “The only music I don’t like is bad music.” Tonight, the London Symphony Orchestra joined with composer and sax player Cassie Kinoshi in the world premiere of her suite ‘Heart’, alongside Anna Clyne’s ‘This Midnight Hour’ and Beethoven’s ‘Pastoral’ symphony. And it was a classical/jazz combination that worked beautifully - modern and traditional sitting side by side in one of the best venues in London.    Opening your ears to a variety of music is clearly popular, with the main hall almost completely full. An enthusiastic audience clearly made no distinction between the classical and the jazz elements of this considered programming.  Clyne’s ‘This Midnight Hour’ (2015) takes its inspiration from poetry by Baudelaire and Jimenez, with stunning string writing that uses every section of the orchestra from frenetic strings at the start to a bold, brassy ending. The popular ‘Pastoral’ symphony No 6 is well-loved for a reason. Beeth...

One of the joys of my podcast is interviewing people who become friends and that is certainly true of composer and conductor Michael Shapiro. This is the third time he has invited me to observe a recording, this time of his collection of Dublin Songs and an aria ‘Let Me Live’ from his opera ‘The Slave’. Soprano Miah Persson joined members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in recording this beautiful music and it was pleasure to be in the control room,

One of my other 'hats' is as Chair of Hitchin Creative. We aim to bring creative people together across the little Hertfordshire town where I live: you'd be surprised how many artists, writers, musicians, comedians, sculptors, designers and photographers live within a few miles of each other! Just launched today is the programme for the Hitchin Winter Festival, which runs from 16 November. It includes a huge number of events through to Christmas, and now everyone can check it out. There's even an advert for harmonious World - I can tick everyone in Hitchin off my Christmas card list!

When I can, my interviews for Harmonious World take place in person. Of course, my guests are making music around the world, so it's often impossible, but today was an exception. I popped into London (half an hour on the train) to chat with harpist, flautist and singer  Catriona Bourne for a future episode of Harmonious World. We had a great chat and it'll be a lovely episode when it comes out in a few weeks' time. One of the issues I am constantly struggling with is the number of musicians I'd like to chat with - there's so much great music being released and performed now and it's hard to keep up. If you hear an album or a performer you think I should either review or interview, please let me know!

Jon Batiste's eighth studio album gives the multi-talented pianist the freedom to play around - whimsically, beautifully and apparently effortlessly - with the works of Beethoven. As a solo pianist, Batiste is extraordinary and his musicianship exudes from every track on this new collection. When I started Harmonious World, I wanted a podcast that talked to musicians, regardless of the genre and Batiste has done brilliantly here what so many other artists strive for, which is creating music that defies box-ticking. Beethoven's compositions inspire Batiste's improvisations. For those who don't know Jon Batiste, you almost certainly have heard some of his music - he has the Grammy and multiple other awards to prove it. He even has an Oscar for Best Original Score for Soul  from the Academy Awards in 2021, and a nomination in 2024 for It Never Went Away. Beethoven Blues (Batiste Piano Series, Vol. 1), out November 15 on Verve Records / Interscope marks the first instalment...

Welcome to what promises to be an exceptionally busy November! Jazz festivals aplenty and lots of gigs in the run-up to the festive season. Check out some of these venues and events below, especially those featuring past guests on the Harmonious World podcast: Saturday 9 November: Jazz at St Giles', Oxford Sax player, clarinettist and composer Tom Thorp brings his Ilumetris ensemble to perform tracks from Here, There Be Monsters, alongside Neil Yates (trumpet and Flugelhorn, Andy Stamatakis-Brown (piano), Grant Russell (bass) and John Arnesen (drums).  Click here for tickets & info Friday 8 to Sunday 24 November: Cambridge Jazz Festival Too many artists to list, but Pat Metheny, Brand New Heavies, Dennis Rollins,  Rob Luft  and  Tim Boniface  will be appearing. You really need to take a look.  Click here for tickets & info Thursday 14 November, The Tung Auditorium, Liverpool Sax player, clarinettist and composer Tom Thorp brings his Ilumetris ensemb...

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 an extended conversation with my dear friend  Michael Shapiro , who I wouldn't know if it wasn't for an introduction from  Crossover Media 's Amanda back at the start of Harmonious World. As well as our previous two interviews in  2020  and  2021 , I have spent time with Michael in Milan (where his  Frankenstein  score was performed) and several times in London. His musical passion, intellect and wit come across - I hope - in this latest episode. Alongside our conversation, you can hear extracts from Michael's flute concerto In The Light Of The Sun , performed by my previous guest  Stathis Karapanos . 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 t...