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. This episode features the highly talented jazz singer and songwriter Mette Juul . I interviewed her in September 2023 for  episode 174 , discussing her previous album Celeste. Her new album - Thank You & Other Stories - is essentially about luck. It's also about how we are all connected and the significant impact we can have on each others' lives. She also sings about trying to accept some of the darker sides of life and embracing our imperfections. Thanks to Mette for allowing me to play tracks from Thank You & Other Stories 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 you...

The fifth year of my   Harmonious World  podcast has become well and I'd like to extend a heartfelt thanks to all my marvellous guests from the last three months, and to all of my listeners. Season 19 guests were: Emma Rawicz Avery Hill Ineza Chris Newstead (number 2) Marina Albero Petra Onderuf Adam Ben Ezra Thomas J Morris Pritesh Walia Claire Cope - a sepcial episode for International Women's Day Jeffrey Biegel Emily Masser Matt Carmichael Mette Juul

There’s always something marvellous and musical happening at the 606 Club, just off London’s famous Kings Road, Chelsea. A cold March night was greatly warmed by the album launch of 'Woven in Time' by Dreamweavers, featuring some of the UK's top jazz talent. Dreamweavers, 606 Club, March 2025 @HilarySWriter Dudley Phillips and Chris Allard, 606 Club, March 2025 @HilarySWriter The Dreamweavers album  Woven in Time  is part of an exciting project that is more than just one collection of tracks. Originally conceived by guitarists, composers and producers Chris Allard and Mike Trim, Dreamweavers now includes Jim Watson (piano, keys), Dudley Phillips (bass) and Nick Smalley (drums). With a huge dynamic range, fine small ensemble jazz with creative, virtuoso improvisation brought the club to life. Allard described the track  Driving Home  as "really quite hard", because he'd originally written it for string quartet: glimpses of the composition process like this add ...

Luton's TBC (The Bear Club) is a delightful place to hear some great jazz, and never more so than when Emily Masser brought her quintet along. Hot on the heels of the launch of her album 'Songs With My Father', Emily performed several of the tracks, plus a couple of new discoveries with her father - saxist Dean Masser. Emily Masser with her quintet Emily Masser with James Owston and Alex Clarke Hilary and Emily It was good to chat with Emily a couple of weeks before the gig and diving deeper into the inspiration behind her album Songs With My Father  for an episode of Harmonious World. Experiencing a few of the tracks live proved the singer’s position as one of the new talents emerging from London’s Guildhall School Of Music And Drama. There’s a maturities about Emily’s voice and delivery of these standards, chosen for interpretation and development that goes beyond her years. As well as dad Dean Masser (sax), Emily was accompanied at the Bear Club by Matyas Gayer (piano), ...

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 fortunate in meeting this week's guest - saxophonist and composer  Matt Carmichael  - before we spoke for the podcast. He was performing as part of Ensemble C with my guest from  episode 263  Claire Cope and hearing him live and with a different group of musicians was fascinating. You can read my review of that gig  here . Thanks to Matt for allowing me to play tracks from his latest album - out on 28 March - Dancing with Embers 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."

There is an incredible line-up for this year's EFG London Jazz Festival and there are some big names that will be well worth getting tickets for - ASAP! My choices will be Dee Dee Bridgewater, although there’s a clash (‘twas ever thus!) with Tania Tikaram that night. Then there’s Makaya McCraven and Fergus McCreadie - but watch this space for reviews of these shows and hopefully more! This is what I’ve been told by promoters Serious about what we have in store: Now entering its 33rd year, the global celebration of music, EFG London Jazz Festival, is announcing the first names for its 2025 edition, which takes place from 14-23 November. For 10 days and nights musicians from all over the world will come together in London to perform boundary-pushing music that showcases jazz and its influence across genres and cultures. Grammy and Tony Award-winning Jazz vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater is bringing her WE EXIST! show to the Barbican on Saturday, 15 November. Bridgewater has had a glitter...

Great duo projects in jazz can be a joy to behold, and this is certainly true of 'Big Visit', the ACT album from Emma Rawicz (sax) and Gwilym Simcock (piano). In the last few months, I've seen Rawicz at Ronnie Scott's with Laila Biali, interviewed her for Harmonious World and now listened to her work with renowned pianist Gwilym Simcock. Her ability to retain her musical character in different settings is really special and this duo collection is something very special. Emma told me about her project with Simcock and the energy and enthusiasm with which she discussed it is certainly evident in the tracks on this album. Simcock is fulsome in his praise for her skill, and that is huge praise from this giant of jazz: “It’s a really joyful experience and a positive environment. We just get on so well, her writing is so advanced, her attention to detail extraordinary. With her, the ideas just flow from person to instrument, and that’s the ideal we all aspire to.” The res...