Recommended music - other than classical and pop

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333 replies

K
That is an album I haven't been able to buy on iTunes or find on Apple Music, for a couple of years now.
chicks

K
The Aimee Mann album is a cut above the usual, certainly and the Grinch song is a nice addition.

Lack of anything new led me to some interesting French and German Christmas music though, some of which is good and unique and not just the same music surrounding a different language. And although in English, Fairuz sings Christmas is also a nice change, from the Lebanon.
BCM
I was pawing through my grandfather's vinyls the other day and found Chet Atkins' East Tennessee Christmas. Beegie Adair's Winter Romance is quite enjoyable also. Nothing tops Karen Carpenter's voice in their Christmas Portrait. And, of course, A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra.

I agree... nothing new and exciting in terms of Christmas music this season.
jgatie
I love Aimee Mann's Christmas album - One More Drifter in the Snow. Mostly classics and contemporaries done in Aimee's own inimitable style, flanked by two great originals. My favorite newer Holiday album, by one of my favorite artists. I've been following her since the days she was hitting patrons with her bass at The Rat in Kenmore Square. She's mellowed since then. :)

Jewel's Christmas album is really good too.
K
Seeing that it is that time of the year again, some music for the season that probably isn't heard to the death by now already:
Jazz for a Christmas present: Houston Person/Etta Jones
Christmas with Roger Whittaker
Winter Wonderland: Nicki Parrott
Blue Christmas: Various artistes on a Blue Note release -Kurt Elling, Benny Green, Joe Lovano and others
A Baroque Christmas: Boston Camerata
Christmas Album: Solo Guitar music by John Fahey

Not new music, but listenable. I haven't found any new releases this year that are not in the usual rut of what one hears over and over. Has anyone else been luckier?:-)
chicks
Protest songs used to be very common back in the sixties. Here is a current, highly topical, list of new protest songs.

Lila Downs is always worth listening to. U.S. Elevator uses words written by Woody Guthrie over 50 years ago, just recently rediscovered, and highly relevant to the current situation. So embarrassing that our great democracy is being endangered by a demagogue.

http://www.30days30songs.com
K
While looking up Claroscuro, I found another Anat Cohen album that I liked - Luminosa. And on the former album I liked her rendering of an old favourite, La Vie En Rose; fresh take of an old tune that's nicely done, down to a Louis Armstrong imitation by someone, gravelly voice and all.
chicks
Not a rock fan, so plenty of natural bass for my tastes. I've had plenty of sealed and ported designs, all sounded unnaturally boomy/boxy to me. The sound from the ESLs is just in the room, doesn't sound like it's coming from boxes, far more natural sounding to these ears.
E
I used to drive them with a (modified) Quad 306 (no eye candy I am afraid) and they sounded fantastic. The Onix looks smashing. I also love the contrast between it and the rough cabinet. Do you feel there is enough bass in the low register or do you compensate for that by means of a subwoofer?

Apologies for straying off topic.
chicks


He, do I see a Quad ESL63 in the background? Great speakers. Irene Kral is going to sound great on that!

Good eye! Yes, she sounds very natural through the QUADs, as does most anything I listen to, if well recorded. I drove them with a Connect:Amp for years, but couldn't resist the "eye candy" appeal of the ONIX when it showed up on Craigslist for a song, lol.
K
Emile, yes and I have her Vanguard album, I will look up Chiaroscuro, thanks. Couple of other Cohens too - Avishai Cohen who I think is a brother, is a good jazz trumpet player and another Avishai Cohen, on double bass. Also interesting, though I don't care for all of his music.
E
Oops, that should read Dr Lonnie Smith.
E
Kumar,

Have you come across Anat Cohen yet? I would strongly recommend a track originally written by Dr "And The World Weeps". It is on her album Claroscuro but I prefer the live Youtube version with Paquito D'Rivera.
E
Has anyone mentioned the Spanish singer Andrea Motis yet (I missed a page in this thread)? Also check out her stuff on youtube. Watch her carefully on some of the older videos, she is only 16 and sings like a pro (with a dreadful English accent)! She has matured since then, but she charms my socks off!

Oops, saw Kumar recommended her on a previous page. I should have known.
E
I've no doubt mentioned Irene Kral here before, but the search on this forum is sooooo bad. Was she the perfect jazz vocalist? Her albums with Alan Broadbent have me believing it.



He, do I see a Quad ESL63 in the background? Great speakers. Irene Kral is going to sound great on that!
Peter Mc
Yes, very enjoyable. Thanks. And this guy's 13! I gotta say the second track, "Sunday Waltz", reminded me of of the Peter Allen song "I Still Call Australia Home".
"The presence of those seeking the truth is infinitely to be preferred to those who think they've found it" - Terry Pratchett
K
Top of the line jazz, that. Chris Potter on some tracks is a nice bonus too.
chicks

K
And her diction is very clear in spite of being Italian, in a music genre where this is a challenge. And an aside on the easy on eyes subject - how many successful and ugly female singers have you come across? Double blind tests aren't only valid for audio kit, but I don't plan to go down that road much further:-). Eye candy always works.
chicks
Love Roberta. How is it that one of the best Great American songbook interpreters is Italian? She's also very easy on the eyes, lol.
K
Also check out the second album, Countdown, by the 13 year old jazz prodigy, Joey Alexander, that is possibly even better than his extraordinary debut album, My Favorite Things.
K
Yes, I think you have mentioned her earlier:-). I know, I bought that album.

Have I mentioned Roberta Gambarini? Easy to Love is not just the name of her debut album. And So in Love is the outcome...
Both albums with excellent backup musicians - Hank Jones, James Moody and more - but she still gets to remain front and center all the time. Highly recommended.
chicks
I've no doubt mentioned Irene Kral here before, but the search on this forum is sooooo bad. Was she the perfect jazz vocalist? Her albums with Alan Broadbent have me believing it.

chicks
Another wonderful fadista, Helena Sarmento. The timeless art of Fado.

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