Hilary Seabrook - writer, podcaster, musician

Big Wade and Black Swan Theory collectively blends funk, soul, jazz and everything that fills the cracks between those genres: his new album -  Piano Man - on all major streaming platforms ahead of the Piano Man Tour 2024 , which has dates across the US. Piano Man  brings a selection of original and covers, including a stunning version of Autumn Leaves , which reinvents the song as the funky, electronic Autumn . Big Wade's voice takes the song's melody and improvises around and around, with backing vocals and a deliberately sparse arrangement underpinning the song. Similarly, on Children of the Ghetto , the lead and backing vocals blend in with the soulful musicians of Black Swan Theory. Electronics are used with dexterity, often expanding the vocal lines, as in the ethereal and ghostly opening of Don't Let Me Go . However, the tools never dominate - simply adding depth and layers to the funk. Never more than when Big Wade enters a new world in Interludes , including vocals...

Pianist, composer and bandleader  Joey Alexander has recently released his seventh album - Continuance - and he joined me to discuss it on Harmonious World. We chatted just hours after he complete a five show run at New York's 'Birdland' jazz club to officially launch the album. Joey is an interesting young man and a truly phenomenal pianist and composer. Thanks to Joey for joining me in conversation and for sharing tracks from Continuance  for me to play alongside our conversation.

For the fans, by the fans: 'From the Caribbean 2 Coventry' is a fascinating collection of the positive influences on British youth culture. This is an extraordinary selection of facts, photos and music that should give you even more reason to visit the brutalist marvel that is the Barbican centre. At 'From the Caribbean to Coventry' with Gary Crowley and Tony Minvielle I was fortunate to attend the official opening of the exhibition and meet up with some friends with a mutual love of the music and the ethos behind 2 Tone Records, which makes up at least part of this fascinating story. Jazz Fm presenter and writer Tony Minvielle has an incredible story to tell about music in the UK and beyond and there was a panel displaying his family history that shed some light on his influences. His voice and his words have popped up frequently in my own musical education and it was great to spend time chatting about music and musicians. It was also a delight to catch up with old fri...

Multi award-winning jazz vocalist Ian Shaw is reaching the end of his residency at Pizza Express in the heart of London's Soho. Joined by many of his friends (the listing reads like a Who's Who of British jazz), the gig I caught featured saxist Tony Kofi. This quartet is extraordinary and their performance celebrated the upcoming album dedicated to Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington. There will be a review in due course. Shaw and Kofi were joined by Barry Green (piano) and Dave Green (drums) and the quartet engaged a sell-out Pizza Express. Upcoming gigs included Shaw joined by Claire Martin, Elaine Delmar, Guy Barker and Natalie Williams. When you have a chance to hear him sing, please do so - you won't be disappointed.

The rather marvellous Yakul have released their 12-track album of live recordings from Pizza Express Live in London. Take a listen if you can and watch out for my review on KindofJazz.com

I met arranger, orchestrator and composer Jeff Atmajian at Abbey Road studios in November, while visiting past Harmonious World guests Michael Shapiro and Danae Xanthe Vlasse . Jeff kindly agreed to be interviewed by me in person, so we met in Islington a few weeks later, while he was finishing conducting a recording for the UK TV show 'Call the Midwife'. Jeff is intensely interesting and finding questions to ask him was a breeze. He has worked on many film scores and those for some of the best-known film and TV composers in California and London. The tracks you hear at the start and finish of the show are from 'Creation: Once Upon All Time' by Carol Schuller Milner, but there are numerous tracks I could have selected as examples of his creative work. Thanks to Jeff for sparing time to join me in conversation for Harmonious World and sharing the tracks alongside our chat. We also discuss his extensive and fascinating IMDb listing. I hope you enjoy listening to our c...

Saxophonist and composer Tim Boniface brought his brand new original work 'Psalter: Themes for Peace' to St Albans Cathedral in an intensely moving experience. The music was composed for performance in the cathedral under the stunning ‘Peace Doves’ artwork that celebrates and welcomes peace. Tim selected specific readings from the Psalms, read on the evening by Canon Dr Hilary Marlow at the beginning of each of the six movements. In a fascinating balance between composition and improvisation, the music explores biblical themes and our response to diverse perceptions and expressions of peace from throughout the Psalms. Joining Tim at St Albans for this premiere were three of the UK’s foremost jazz musicians. James Pearson (piano) is often seen at Ronnie Scott’s, where he is artistic director as well as a virtuoso on the keys. Malcolm Creese (bass) was best known for his work with Cleo Laine and John Dankworth and is founding member of Jazz combo Acoustic Triangle. John Ormston ...