Harmonious World

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 a conversation with pianist James Pearson about his work to help celebrate the centenary of the birth of Oscar Peterson . James's live shows are extraordinary and I highly recommend you track down one of his appearances, whether in...

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 great pleasure to chat for the third time with Jane Ira Bloom , who has just been named Soprano Saxophonist of the Year by Downbeat magazine. Her latest album is Songs in Space and you can listen to our other conversations here (January 2021) and he...

Welcome to the latest episode of Harmonious World, in which I interview musicians about how their music helps make the world more harmonious. Return to Electric is the new album from drummer Phil Haynes , and he joins me to discuss it, as well as the path that has led him here. Thanks to Phil for allowing me to use tracks from Return to Electric alongside our conversation. Get in touch to let me k...

Welcome to the latest episode of Harmonious World, in which I interview musicians about how their music helps make the world more harmonious. Drummer and composer Ofri Nehemya joins me for an interesting chat around his solo debut album - Time Traveler , out now on Adhyaropa Records . Thanks to Ofri for allowing me to use tracks from Time Traveler alongside our conversation. Get in touch to let me...

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 latest episode, I am joined by pianist Mark Gordon, who runs the Scarborough Jazz Festival . Not only is the 2025 Festival running from 26-28 September, but there's also a Live Compilation CD available with recordings from 2024. Thanks to Mark...

Welcome to the latest episode of Harmonious World, in which I interview musicians about how their music helps make the world more harmonious. I've just returned from Love Supreme 2025 and I had the delight of interviewing Fergus Quill , Pete Roth and Mike Pratt as well as Daniel Casimir . I'll let them do the talking, but you can find out about their music as well as hear discussion of F...

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, you can hear my conversation with David Handler , who is a composer, violinist and club owner in New York City. His debut album - Life Like Violence - is out now on Cantaloupe Music. It's a fascinating collection of acoustic and electr...

Welcome to the latest episode of Harmonious World, in which I interview musicians about how their music helps make the world more harmonious. The sun was shining and children were playing as I interviewed vocalist Becca Wilkins in London's Finsbury Park just a few days before the launch of her album Reverie .  It was a delight to bump into Becca (and her drummer Billy Pod , who I interviewed...

Welcome to the latest episode of Harmonious World, in which I interview musicians about how their music helps make the world more harmonious. Enjoy listening to my chat with saxophonist and composer Cecilie Strange. Her album, Beech is the fourth in a collection that really exposes her quasi-classical compositions through storytelling. Cecilie has two upcoming gigs in the UK with Sounds of Denmark...

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 huge delight to be joined live in my local coffee shop by pianist and composer Iain Farrington . As you will hear through our conversation, Iain has composed for and performed at some highly prestigious events. We were chatting primarily about the f...

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 was joined by Vonn Vanier , ahead of the release of his fascinating debut album Dawn .    Thanks to Vonn for allowing me to share clips from Dawn , which has a fascinating selection of styles and creativity. Get in touch to let me know wh...

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...

Welcome to the latest episode of Harmonious World, in which I interview musicians about how their music helps make the world more harmonious. I have known trombonist Dave Keech for several years and it's exciting to hear some of his own new music - his EP Tokyo comes out in October. In our live conversation, Dave and I discuss the tracks and musicians on Tokyo and I hope you enjoy listening i...

Welcome to the latest episode of Harmonious World, in which I interview musicians about how their music helps make the world more harmonious. As soon as I met Nicole Zuraitis last year, I knew she'd make a great guest and she proved me correct.  There was so much to discuss and I hope you enjoy listening in to our conversation about music, her work with the marvellous Christian McBride and mu...

Welcome to International Jazz Day 2025 and a special episode of Harmonious World, in which I interview musicians about how their music helps make the world more harmonious. While at Claire Cope's album launch, I bumped into harpist and singer Tara Minton, who kindly agreed to be my guest on this very special day. Tara is a great singer and harpist and she tells me in this episode about her co...

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 delighted that Quinn Sternberg got in touch with me directly to introduce his music. I was delighted to discover his new album Pleasant Returns and then to have the chance to chat to him about it. We also discussed his work with Oscar Rossignoli, who I...

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...

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 great pleasure to chat with pianist and composer Sultan Stevenson , discussing his engrossing new album, El Roi , as well as his nomination as Breakthrough Act of the Year in this year's Jazz FM Awards . Sultan is out on tour , so do try to cat...

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 beautif...

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 als...

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...

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 good to speak to artists at the start of their musical journey - Emily Masser is still studying, while performing professionally around the UK. In this conversation, we discuss her album Songs With My Father , which is out now. There is a ma...

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 piani...

Welcome to a special International Women's Day 2025 episode of Harmonious World, in which I interview musicians about how their music helps make the world more harmonious. I'm delighted to be joined by pianist and composer Claire Cope - her Ensemble C has a new album out today, called Every Journey .  Thanks to Claire for allowing me to play tracks from Every Journey alongside our conver...

Welcome to the latest episode of Harmonious World, in which I interview musicians about how their music helps make the world more harmonious. Guitarist Pritesh Walia joins me today from California, to discuss his debut album - Hopetown . This is an impressive first album, with original compositions and an inventive arrangement of The Beatles' Blackbird , a clip of which you can hear as we dis...