Harmonious World

It was such a joy to interview singer Carmela Rappazzo for the latest episode of Harmonious World. Love and Other Difficulties is a wonderful album (including pianist Oscar Rossignoli, who was a guest on episode 69) and it was a pleasure to discuss it and New Orleans in general with Carmela.   Thanks to Carmela for allowing me to play extracts from Love and Other Difficulties alongside our convers...

This latest episode features composer, arranger and sometime keys and bass player Sacha Puttnam . Out shortly is Sacha's album Spirit of Cinema with the Classic Film Orchestra. This is a superb collection of Sacha's compositions that pay homage to just a few of David Puttnam's superb films. This was a great conversation - there's a lot to learn about Sacha's approach to mu...

One of the joys of hosting this podcast is the artists I'm discovering and Patricia Barber is definitely a great new find to add to my list. With not one, but TWO albums out now, there's lots to discover, alongside Patricia's amazing back catalogue. Higher is a collection of original tracks, while Clique collects together some of the standards Patricia is used to adding to her set,...

In a delightful conversation with cellist Bion Tsang , we explored some of the reasons for Bach's long-lasting appeal. Bion has just released a double CD collection of Bach's cello suites.  Alongside Bion's own undeniable talent, the sonorous, rare Stradivari cello combine with the acoustics of the Bastyr Chapel, Seattle to produce a wonderful album. Thanks to Bion for allowing me t...

For this episode of Harmonious World, I chatted with pianist Tim Chernikoff . Tim's debut trio album - Pieces of Sanity - is out on 24 September and it's well worth a listen. beautiful original tracks by Tim himself and  covers of Wayne Short and Chick Corea tracks, as well as the stunning Till We Die by Rodgers and Hart. Thanks to Tim for allowing me to play extracts from the album alon...

The latest episode of Harmonious World features my interview with bassist David Arend from the musical collective Alchemy Sound Project . Afrika Love is Alchemy Sound Project's third album and it features five tracks that individually and collective tell a story worth listening to. Thanks to David for allowing me to play extracts from the album alongside our conversation. Follow me on instagr...

Pianist Oscar Rossignoli joined me for the latest  episode  of Harmonious World. Inertia - Oscar's debut solo album - is a collection of original works and improvisations. It is a tribute to so much of the last year, and not least the passing of Chick Corea and the Covid-19 pandemic. But it is, above all, a collection of beautiful solo piano works that are original composition and improvisati...

When I interviewed Jerod Tate for this episode  of Harmonious World, we discussed everything from Greek Mythology, folk traditions within classical music to the colonisation of Mars. Jerod's latest album is the stunning Lowak Shoppala (Fire and Light) , which features a libretto that depicts Chickasaw culture and history. There's narrators, soloists, the Chickasaw Nation Children's...

In a change of direction, this episode  of Harmonious World features an interview with the remarkable Dr Christina Teenz Tan, who co-created the Lim Fantasy of Companionship for Piano and Orchestra. Recorded at London's Abbey Road studios, the project was inspired by Drs Tan and Lim's earlier 'ALAN the Musical' and it is both stunning music and a wonderful concept. You'll...

This episode of Harmonious World features Marion, from the rather wonderful Marion & Sobo Band . You'll love the infection music of Histoires , their new album which is out now. It's a mixture of jazz improvisation, impressionism, chanson and Balkan music. All combined with a spirit of joyful exuberance. Thanks to Marion for allowing me to play extracts from the album alongside our c...

When I interviewed drummer and composer Ulysses Owens Jr , little did I know that he was about to return a call to an old friend of mine, the supremely talented trumpeter and band leader Guy Barker MBE. It's a small world. Ulysses's new big band album is out now on Outside In Music and you should definitely take a listen to it. I finish the podcast with an extract from the title track -...

Grammy-nominated violinist Curtis Stewart joined me for the latest episode of Harmonious World. His new album - Of Power - conveys much that history needs to know about the Covid-19 pandemic, the Black Lives Matter movement and what it means to be alive in 2021. I'm tipping this for a Grammy nomination, but, as Curtis and I discuss in our conversation, the category it would sit in would need...

I had the immense pleasure of speaking to pianist, composer, band leader, educator and truly inspirational Arturo O'Farrill for the latest episode of Harmonious World. Virtual Birdland brings to your ears 10 compositions from over 50 online concerts recorded from the safety of the musicians' homes during the pandemic. This album is a sure-thing for a Grammy in 2022 and it brings to life...

The latest episode of Harmonious World features an interview with trombonist and bandleader Nick Finzer . Cast of Characters is the recording of a live set recorded immediately prior to the pandemic in March 2020. It's a beautiful collection of compositions and such a delight to hear a band playing live in front of an appreciative audience. If you're fortunate enough to live on the East...

Thanks to Andrew Burashko from Art of Time Ensemble (who features in episode 52 ), I managed to have a conversation with Gavin Bryars , a British composer I have long wanted to interview. It was a delight to speak to Gavin and I have also managed to book my ticket for his concert in as part of Cambridge Summer Music Festival . We managed to discuss Gavin's background in music as well as sever...

This is a double interview - I spoke first to Brazilian percussionist Mauro Refosco , and then we were joined by American drummer Joey Waronker . Together, they make up JOMORO . Blue Marble Sky is a fascinating album, not least because it comes from rhythm-driven minds. Both Joey and Mauro have played with some incredible artists and this album features some great guests. Thanks to Joey and Mauro...

The latest episode of Harmonious World features an interview with Matteo Finali, guitarist and band leader of Final Step . The fifth album from Matteo's band is Disconnections  and it's well worth a listen. It has been described as post-Miles electric jazz,  but if that means nothing, just know that this is funky and full of energy. Probably what we all need right now. Thanks to Matteo f...

I was delighted to interview Jane Roman Pitt for the latest episode of Harmonious World. Jane has written and performed several albums of lullabies, and we were specifically talking about an earlier one - Midnight Lullaby.   Although we tend to think of lullabies as useful for getting babies to sleep, there's more to the musical form than that, as Jane and I discuss. Thanks to Jane for allowi...

The first full episode of season five features Swiss pianist and composer Nik Bartsch . This was a fascinating interview, around Nik's playing and his new album - Entendre . I've selected two tracks to begin and end the podcast and I hope they give you a flavour of Nik's playing, which beautifully and profoundly confounds ideas of composition, interpretation and improvisation. Enten...

Welcome to season five of Harmonious World! This trailer contains a request just for you, dear listener. Could you please leave me a review and a rating wherever you find your podcasts? It would really help me - I'm getting lots more listeners, but I have a target and I'm not even close! Also, don't forget you can buy me a virtual coffee by clicking on the link below. And season fiv...

It was a pleasure to interview East London sax player Sam Braysher for the latest  episode of Harmonious World. Sam's second album is called Dance Little Lady, Dance Little Man and Sam explained where  that title came from, as well as how he selected the tracks.   Thanks to Sam for allowing me to play extracts from  Dance Little Lady, Dance Little Man alongside our conversation. Follow me on...

The latest  episode of Harmonious World features UK singer Jo Harrop . After a critically acclaimed album - Weathering the Storm - with guitarist Jamie McCredie, Jo's next album is due out in the autumn and it promises much. The first song from the album is If I Knew and it's released now. Our conversation covers both albums, lockdown, gigs and especially the prospect of 'Jazz On a...

It's not just because Richie Hawley is a great clarinettist and has some fascinating ideas and techniques for bringing music to our ears, but this was a great conversation for the latest  episode of Harmonious World. Richie's latest album is with pianist Conor Hanick . A Gentle Notion includes the clarinet sonatas of Aaron Copland, Jennifer Higdon and Pierre Jalbert, together with Joan T...

There's a great story behind Drew Angus 's latest single - Made to Love You . We discuss Drew's background. lockdown, and how the song got written in this episode of Harmonious World. Apart from a catchy tune that might become your ear-worm for the day, there's some beautiful cello in this arrangement, too. Thanks to Drew for allowing me to play the start and end of Made to Lov...

Andrew Burashko is a pianist and Artistic Director of  the Art of Time Ensemble, which fuses high art with popular culture, exploring where classical music intersects with an array of other styles of music. I thoroughly enjoyed the imaginative and inspirational tracks on the Art of Time latest album - Ain't Got Long . I'd highly recommend this as a download and there are videos to watch,...