Harmonious World

* * * Now you can subscribe to Harmonious World and help spread the word * * * Welcome to the latest episode of Harmonious World, featuring a conversation with Grammy award-winning Ukrainian-American pianist Nadia Shpachenko . Nadia's latest album features works by composer Lewis Spratlan , who sadly died just a few days before this episode came out. He leaves a marvellous legacy and this alb...

* * * Did you know there's a new link to subscribe to Harmonious World and help spread the word? * * * Welcome to the latest episode of Harmonious World, in which I chat with violinist Rachel Barton Pine. Rachel's fascinating album Violin Concertos by Black Composers Through the Centuries is a real delight and I hope you enjoy listening to the snippets you can hear. Find out more about t...

* * * Did you know there's a new link to subscribe to Harmonious World and help spread the word? * * * Welcome to the latest episode of Harmonious World, in which I chat with soprano Nanette McGuinness from Ensemble for These Times . I've been listening to the E4TT album The Guernica Project and we discuss the individual movements of Guernica , as well as the other fascinating tracks. Th...

This is a bumper episode of Harmonious World featuring my conversation with the truly inspirational composer Amanda Lee Falkenberg . We discuss her recording of The Moons Symphony with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by the marvellous Marin Alsop and the London Voices . I make no apologies for the length of this episode - I just couldn't cut it short. Thanks to Amanda for allowing me...

This episode of Harmonious World begins with sax player Timo Vollbrecht and his quartet  - Fly Magic - playing Happy Happy from their latest album, Givers & Takers . The ensuing conversation with Timo explains a little about that track, the album as a whole, playing with Fly Magic and their plans for the future. Tour dates are appearing in both America and across Europe, so keep an eye out for...

Welcome to another fascinating conversation with an artists who knows exactly what she's doing and who produces music of which she is justifiably proud. Acantha Lang is fairly new to the London music scene, but she's already making her presence felt. In February, Acantha is supporting Roachford on a UK tour and you really don't want to miss a show near you. If the UK is too far to t...

This is another repeat conversation for Harmonious World, as musicians around the world continue to produce exciting new music.  My guest for the first episode of 2023 is violinist Matthew J Detrick , who is discussing his project Apollo Chamber Players . The latest album from Apollo Chamber Players is Moonstrike , featuring music composed by Jennifer Higdon, Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate and...

Welcome to 2023! I hope it brings us all immense happiness and more peace that most of us found at times in 2022. Get in touch to let me know what you think! 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 e...

The latest episode of Harmonious World - the last one for 2022 - features my second  conversation with guitarist Yuri Liberzon . I hesitate to call him a classical guitarist and you'll hear why. This second conversation takes us on a journey through the works of composer Konstantin Vassiliev and Yuri's album of Vassiliev's guitar works that cross genres and include elements of conte...

Coincidentally, this interview with American conductor Garrett Keast appears exactly a year since our last episode together. 27 December seems to be our anniversary! In this conversation, we catch up on some of the exciting plans for the Berlin Academy of American Music in 2023 (and 2024 ....). This second conversation gives me the chance to feature more of the music form the BAAM 2021 album Trans...

I'm catching up on some of the great conversations I've had in recent weeks: this time it's another duo - songwriters Dizzy and Fay . The website includes lots of videos and links to their album - Hooked - which is beautiful. Thanks to Dizzy and Fay for allowing me to play extracts from Hooked alongside our conversation. Get in touch to let me know what you think! Thank you for list...

Piano and guitar duo Ross Stanley and Chris Allard joined me for the latest episode of Harmonious World. Their album - Tortugas - came out in July and it's been a delight to listen to in preparation for this conversation. To hear the whole album (and some extra tracks), join us all at London's 606 Club on 24 January. For those of you wanting to catch up on Ross's work with Trish Clo...

I'm joined by Greek drummer, now based in London, Billy Pod for the latest episode of Harmonious World. I've been loving listening to Billy's latest album - Quintessence - and it was a pleasure to chat with him. Thanks to Billy for allowing me to play extracts from Quintessence alongside our conversation. Get in touch to let me know what you think! Thank you for listening to Harmoni...

Welcome to the latest episode of Harmonious World, featuring a conversation with guitarist and composer Peter Janson . Getting To Here is a collection of self-penned tracks and arrangements of classics (including Chick Corea's Spain ) featuring Peter on solo jazz guitar. Thanks to Peter for allowing me to play extracts from Getting To Here alongside our conversation. Get in touch to let me kn...

I hope you enjoy this episode of Harmonious World as much as I enjoyed the conversation. Drummer and composer Peter Kogan has produced a stunning album and it was a pleasure to chat with him. Just Before Midnight features a selection of ensembles with Peter at the core and you really need to hear the whole collection of tracks to get a full sense of the breadth of the playing from all involved, an...

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends. In one of my favourite episodes, you can hear me this time in conversation with pianist and composer Marina Arsenijevic . We discuss Marina's Serbian American background and especially one of her most recent compositions and recordings, the absolutely wonderful Tesla Rhapsody . Thanks to Marina for allowing me to play extracts from Tesla Rhapsody...

In a highly topical episode, Harmonious World this time features a selection of music, including one piece composed by Peter Boyer to remember the fallen during the First World War. Peter's fourth album of orchestral music features the London Symphony Orchestra in a selection of his works, including Balance of Power . Thanks to Peter for allowing me to play extracts from his orchestral works...

As this episode of Harmonious World begins, you can hear the piano of Ammiel Bushakevitz and the simply extraordinary voice of American tenor Timothy Fallon , who joins me for this conversation. Timothy and Ammiel's latest album - Crepuscolo - is a collection of the songs of Ottorino Respighi. Our conversation ranges across the album, Timothy's background, Vienna and his award-winning co...

The latest episode of Harmonious World features composer, producer and performer David Vito Gregoli . David's latest album is a collaboration with double Grammy winner Ricky Kej . Wild Monsoon is an eclectic, mesmerising collection and this is an interesting discussion of how the music came into being. Thanks to David for allowing me to play extracts from Wild Monsoon alongside our conversati...

I was delighted to discuss the album 'The Paper Lined  Shack' for this episode of Harmonious World with composer Jeff Beal . The two collections - The Paper Lined Shack and Things Unseen  - are disparate but beautiful compositions and somewhat cinematic. My discussions with Jeff Beal cover the composition, recording and his musical background. I hope you enjoy listening in.  Thanks to Je...

For this episode of Harmonious World I am joined by sax player Derrick Michaels and bassist Zachary Swanson: two-thirds of Trio Xolo . If you're unfamiliar with free-flowing improvisation, the Trio Xolo  latest album - In Flower, In Song  - is a great place to start. The combination of bass, percussion and sax brings a sense of music that captures the moment in which it is performed. I enjoye...

The first episode of season 10 of Harmonious World features an interview with pianist and composer Ben Raznick . Ben's latest album - Birds of a Feather  - includes classic piano tracks alongside some original compositions. Our conversation includes much about his music and a slight deviation into discussion of Denver, the city Ben currently calls home and where the album was recorded. Thanks...

I'm grateful to pianist Ben Raznick for asking me about my sax playing. I thought it would make an interesting trailer for season 10, which starts this week. The first guest for season 10 will be Ben, talking about his new album Birds of a Feather. In this trailer, you can hear his composition Barcelona Tango-Rag , which feels like it should be my new theme tune! First, you can hear a brief u...

Not only have I interviewed composer and pianist Ross Lorraine for the latest episode of Harmonious World, but I was fortunate enough to attend the album launch and hear these songs performed live. Heart of Mine features some extraordinary musicians, including singers Claire Martin , Ian Shaw and Luca Manning .  My conversation with Ross discusses the composition process, as well as how delighted...

The latest episode of Harmonious World features a conversation with pianist and composer Darren Litzie . My Horizon is Darren's debut album and it includes a selection of original tracks and especially the beautiful standard I Have Dreamed . If you're fortunate enough to be in Fairfield, Connecticut in October, you can catch the album launch.but meanwhile, I hope you enjoy our conversati...