Harmonious World

Welcome to the trailer for season 18 of Harmonious World, in which I interview musicians about how their music helps make the world more harmonious. For those of you who don’t know who I am, my name is Hilary Seabrook and I’m a writer, podcaster and musician (with a little teaching thrown in). You can find out more about me on my blog - just search for Hilary Seabrook blog and you’ll find it, plus...

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 interviewed flautist Stathis Karapanos , who has new music out now - both Hindemith's Complete Works for Flute and also Michael Shapiro 's sublime 'In the Light of the Sun' concerto for flute and orchestra, recorded wi...

Welcome to the latest episode of Harmonious World, in which I interview musicians about how their music helps make the world more harmonious. This time, I am joined by award-winning vocalist Deelee Dube , who I chatted with in a coffee bar in South East London. It was a joy to find out about her musical journey and I hope you enjoy listening in. Thanks to Deelee for allowing me to share some of he...

Pianist Simon Mulligan joins me for the latest episode of Harmonious World. A transatlantic performer, Simon is British but lives in the United States. It was a delight to be introduced to him by friend of the podcast William Susman , and I interviewed Simon just around the corner from the 606 Club in London's Chelsea Harbour. Thanks to Simon for allowing me to share some of his tracks alongs...

For the latest episode of Harmonious World, I'm joined by pianist and composer Phil Merriman : his album The Roots Beneath came out in the spring and it's a lovely collection of tunes that sit somewhere between instrumental contemporary jazz and modern classical music. Thanks to Phil for allowing me to share some of his tracks alongside our conversation. Get in touch to let me know what...

Saxophonist Bjorn Arko is extraordinary and - after hearing him play with legendary drummer Billy Cobham at Love Supreme in July - I tracked him down and asked for an interview. The latest episode of Harmonious World is the result. Thanks to Bjorn, you can hear a couple of his most recent tracks alongside our conversation and he tells me there's a new album in the pipeline. Get in touch to le...

The latest episode of Harmonious World features a conversation with pianist Norman Krieger, discussing his new album - Norman Krieger plays Gershwin. wIt's a stunning album and it was a pleasure to discuss it with Norman, particularly as it celebrates the centenary of Rhapsody in Blue. Thanks to Norman for allowing me to include some clips from Norman Krieger plays Gershwin alongside our conv...

Welcome to Harmonious World where, as usual, I'm asking my guest to share some of what they're good at, in the hope of making the world more harmonious. This time, I'm joined by accordionist Glenn Hartman , one of the founding members of the New Orleans Klezmer All Stars . Their new album - Tipish - is out now. Thanks to Glenn for allowing me to include some clips from Tipish alongs...

This was my second conversation with Danae Xanthe Vlasse , a composer who is simply extraordinary. Her album Mythologies won a Grammy in 2022 and now Mythologies II is out, featuring the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra , sopranos Sangeeta Kaur and Hila Plitmann , tenor Omar Najmi and pianist Robert Thies . I was so fortunate in being present at Abbey Road studios when some of this album was recorded,...

Welcome to a very special episode of Harmonious World, in which I speak to the team behind the Great British Music Camp, as well as tutors and campers. GBMC is a very special place and if the quality of recording is not always perfect, I make no apology for the background noise of young people having fun and making music. GBMC is all about collaboration and creativity and I hope this helps you get...

Welcome to the latest episode of Harmonious World, where I'm joined by  vocalist and composer Aaron Jensen to discuss his role as Artistic Director of Countermeasure and their latest album - Orchestral Sessions . Thank you to Aaron for allowing me to play a selection of tracks from Orchestral Sessions alongside our conversation. Get in touch to let me know what you think! Thank you for listen...

As if it's not enough that Aleksi Glick has appeared twice already on Harmonious World ( in 2020 and in 2022 ), but this episode features two separate interviews: one online a few weeks ago and then a brief chat over a cuppa in Cambridge earlier this week. Aleksi and I had a good chat online about his latest album - World Traveler . Then in person I asked him the question that I'll now b...

This is, coincidentally, the third in a series of episodes featuring past guests and it's been another fascinating opportunity to chat with a musician about their life and work both during and following the pandemic. With pianist and composer Craig Urquhart , I was able to actually discuss the album - Renewal - which was released in 2023 but written in 2022, around the time we spoke for the f...

Once more, I'm joined by a previous guest. This time it's pianist Marina Arsenijevic , who has an album out that celebrates her obsession with Chopin. Marina and I discuss her recording technique, future works and - of course - her obsession with Chopin and how it resulted in this album: Chopin Obsession . Thank you to Marina for allowing me to play a selection of the pieces recorded on...

A delightful second episode with composer Peter Boyer : this time celebrating the release of his Rhapsody in Red, White & Blue on Naxos records, featuring Jeffrey Biegel (piano) and the London Symphony Orchestra. Such a pleasure to chat with Peter and I hope you enjoy the brief snatches of the Rhapsody that he allowed me to use alongside our conversation. Please do listen to the whole piece, w...

It's incredible that my path has never crossed with that of Jeff Slate - we have mutual friends and musical experiences going back too long to calculate. It was a joy to chat with him about his album The Last Day of Summer , which is out now. Alongside the conversation, you can hear extracts from The Last Day of Summer , and I hope you enjoy listening in. Get in touch to let me know what you...

This is my second chat with record producer Dermot Rogers , around the new re-release of Louis The First from Irish guitarist Louis Stewart . Alongside the conversation, you can hear extracts from Louis The First , as well as exciting news about plans for the future re-release of more work by this illustrious guitarist, who passed away eight years ago. Get in touch to let me know what you think! T...

Welcome to a very special episode of Harmonious World, with snippets recorded live at Love Supreme 2024 . Alongside random musings from around the site, you'll hear a conversation with British comedian Marcus Brigstocke , who is - he admits - a bit of an obsessive when it comes to jazz. He shares some interesting thoughts about the parallels between comedy and jazz. I hope you enjoy listening...

This is the second episode featuring guitarist Rob Luft and - most excitingly - the FIRST Harmonious World episode recorded in front of an audience. The event was part of Hitchin Festival and I was delighted that Rob was able to join me in conversation and also that he played so much. The audience was thrilled, too. I want to thank Rob, every member of the audience, Glyn and the team at Hitchin&ap...

Welcome to season 17 of Harmonious World. I hope that 2024 is a happy and healthy year for you all so far. Some of my guests and listeners are in parts of the world where that probably seems impossible, and I really hope that we see some progress in seeing a return to sanity and kindness everywhere. For those of you who don’t know who I am, my name is Hilary Seabrook and I’m a writer, podcaster an...

Vocalist Cliff Beach released You Showed Me The Way earlier this year, paying tribute to the great American songbook, inspired by Ella Fitzgerald. He joins me here to chat about the album and beautiful original track - The Gift of the Blues - which features a stunning baritone sax line. Thanks to Cliff for allowing me to play extracts from You Showed Me The Way    alongside our conversation. Get i...

This is my second chat with pianist and composer Nicole Brancato and this one was in a (noisy) coffee shop in central London. It was great to chat with Nicole in person and find out more about the music she makes. Alongside the conversation, you can hear extracts from High Voltage Wires , the single released late in 2023 by Nicole and her colleague Teagan Faran as part of their ' Persephone a...

I'm joined by pianist and composer Avishai Darash to discuss his latest album - Between Hope and Despair . Avishai and I chat about all things musical and even touch on physics and frequencies. Thank you to Avishai for allowing me to share tasters of tracks from Between Hope and Despair alongside our conversation. Get in touch to let me know what you think! Thank you for listening to Harmonio...

Join me in conversation with renowned International jazz guitarist Rob Luft - the first episode recorded live in front of an audience. I've recorded episodes with Rob before and it's fantastic that he can be my first guest in front of a live audience here in Hitchin. Rob is a truly international musician and he'll be bringing his guitar along. The evening will be a great opportunity...

Vocalist and composer John Korbel joined me online to talk about his latest album Falling Feels Like Flying . This is a collection of songs written by John and they mark the collaboration with keyboardist and producer Mark Falchook. It feels like songs that John just had to write and perform. Thank you to John for allowing me to share tasters of tracks from Falling Feels Like Flying alongside our...