I am not sure there is a thread on what Sonos is truly about - the music, so this might be an interesting thread. I have left out classical because that deserves a thread of its own and modern pop because it all sounds the same to me.
I have Phil Keaggy strumming Solitude from his Acoustic Sketches album right now in the bedroom on a play 1 pair and sounding very good indeed.
Recently heard and equally good music and mastering:
1. Michel Petrucciani and NHOP
2. Beyond the Missouri Sky - Metheny and Haden
3. Chiaroscuro - Fresu and Towner
4. Jan Johannsen - Jazz pa Svenska
5. The Astounding Eyes of Rita - Anouar Brahem
6. Last Dance/Jasmine - Jarrett and Haden
7. Saturday Morning - Ahmad Jamal
8. Melos - Paolo Fresu
All but the last are ITunes 256kbps purchases, the last a lossless CD rip.
Very little lost in translation for the lossy thing and Sonos convenience.
Any recommendations on similar music that uses the silence between the notes effectively?
This topic has been closed for further comments. You can use the search bar to find a similar topic, or create a new one by clicking Create Topic at the top of the page.
Page 6 / 14
Jazz radio was a favourite, right up to the time they stopped streaming to many countries outside the US.
I don't know if you already talked about that, but I usually just listen to jazzradio.com when I am "too lazy" to pick my songs or I just use it as an inspiration, they have quite a big variety on their playlist.
Andra Day has been getting a lot of attention lately for her R&B/Soul/Jazz influenced singing. I love the fact that she has such a great sense of style and grace, so unlike most of today's singers. Not to mention a great voice.
She talks about her jazz influences, among other things, here:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/video/know-andra-day-margaret-cho-144415024.html
She talks about her jazz influences, among other things, here:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/video/know-andra-day-margaret-cho-144415024.html
And for piano jazz with a fresh twist, check out Jacky Terrasson, album Smile. Listen to Nardis and Autumn Leaves to get a sense of what he does to refresh old tunes. Recording is audiophile quality, best heard on a play 1 pair in the near field.
Couple of new finds:
A jazz piano trio that does things that trios are well known for, but does it very well indeed - the Jeff Hamilton Trio. Tight and in the pocket are words that come to mind. Check the track Poinciana on the album The Best Things Happen to see what I mean. All tracks are good, but the trio gives a fresh new approach to music that Ahmad Jamal has owned for decades now.
And a new to me lady jazz vocalist who is Italian but still does an very good job with the American Songbook: Roberta Gambarini. Her debut album is excellent - Easy To Love. Well named, with a high quality back up ensemble as well..
A jazz piano trio that does things that trios are well known for, but does it very well indeed - the Jeff Hamilton Trio. Tight and in the pocket are words that come to mind. Check the track Poinciana on the album The Best Things Happen to see what I mean. All tracks are good, but the trio gives a fresh new approach to music that Ahmad Jamal has owned for decades now.
And a new to me lady jazz vocalist who is Italian but still does an very good job with the American Songbook: Roberta Gambarini. Her debut album is excellent - Easy To Love. Well named, with a high quality back up ensemble as well..
Interesting R&B and soul influences; Ray Charles and Van Morrison come to mind. Listen to Ray's early records to get a very similar groove.
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats - S.O.B. Love this song.
Found a couple of gems in the used CD store earlier this week... Sue Raney's 'When Your Lover Has Gone,' and Dinah Washington's 'What A Diff'rence A Day Makes.' Yeah, K, they are string heavy, but oh so sweet!
A great short description of the Ike Quebec Samba album: "Think of it as vintage Quebec blue note in the tint of a relaxed Brazilian glow."
He died of cancer in 1963 just three months after recording this one.
He died of cancer in 1963 just three months after recording this one.
Another excellent album from Ike Quebec is his Bossa Nova Soul Samba. Brazilian flavoured classic jazz without it being overtly so to the extent it gets predictable.
I recently discovered a few compilations of great late night listening - superb blowing sessions from masters of the sax. The albums are culled from different records for a "Lovers" theme, but for the most part the music is very coherent across the album, being from one artiste. All jazz recordings of the 50s/60s, sounding fresh as any performed today. Very decent sound quality as well.
1. Ballads - Ike Quebec
2. Music for Lovers - albums by Dexter Gordon, Hank Mobley and Stanley Turrentine
And for one with more energy and swing, Curtis Fuller and Benny Golson on Bluesette.
1. Ballads - Ike Quebec
2. Music for Lovers - albums by Dexter Gordon, Hank Mobley and Stanley Turrentine
And for one with more energy and swing, Curtis Fuller and Benny Golson on Bluesette.
Interesting and it is also well recorded, by the same folk responsible for some of the best recorded Oscar Peterson, the Exclusively for my Friends albums.
And available to stream from Apple Music...nice.
Thanks for highlighting the release:-)
And available to stream from Apple Music...nice.
Thanks for highlighting the release:-)
I'll let one of my go-to reviewers answer.
http://www.jazzwax.com/2016/04/bill-evans-some-other-time.html
http://www.jazzwax.com/2016/04/bill-evans-some-other-time.html
A new Bill Evans! How does it stack up against his best work?
Released today. Listening now.
Another classic jazz album with strings - Winter Moon/Art Pepper - with subtle strings support.
I'm impartial to the 30s Dorsey stuff, followed by Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman... A huge part of my jazz collection centers around that style and them. Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw... all great stuff. Vocally, throw in Sinatra, Helen O'Connell, Ella, Billie Holliday, Peggy Lee, Dick Haymes. That list is endless to me.
Oddly, I've taken a crazy turn this week... I've fallen in love with the 50s and 60s country artists (I toured the Grand Ol Opry in Nashville a couple of weeks ago). Loretta Lynn, Moe Bandy, George Jones, Connie Smith, Willie, Lefty Frizzell, Gene Watson, Gentleman Jim Reeves. I dropped a fortune at the used CD shop soaking a ton of all that up. Thankfully, a lot of it is available in 'essential' and 'best of' collections, so that pares down the wallet necessity.
Oddly, I've taken a crazy turn this week... I've fallen in love with the 50s and 60s country artists (I toured the Grand Ol Opry in Nashville a couple of weeks ago). Loretta Lynn, Moe Bandy, George Jones, Connie Smith, Willie, Lefty Frizzell, Gene Watson, Gentleman Jim Reeves. I dropped a fortune at the used CD shop soaking a ton of all that up. Thankfully, a lot of it is available in 'essential' and 'best of' collections, so that pares down the wallet necessity.
:-))
On subject: I have found, with my limited searching for them, very few recent big band performances that benefit from the better recording tech now at hand. I have found that many of the older recordings of big bands show up the lower recording quality of the past much more than what is heard on small group performances of the time. Even from the fifties, many of the latter have excellent sound quality. Some exceptions to this of course, like the Clifford Brown with Strings that is excellent music and excellent SQ; I find that to be a much better listen than the Charlie Parker with Strings.
Are there any really well recorded jazz big band instrumental/vocal albums of any time that are worth investigating?
I go both ways... big band and swinging, or just quiet vocals with an instrument or two. Depends on the mood. With Anita, she has some raucous stuff that makes awesome meal prep music, like her work with Billy May, or her bluesy close to solo stuff. Sinatra did the same thing. Gotta love brass! Sometimes, of course.
Dangerously is right - but she was able to walk the fine line a lot more successfully than many others. AllMusic has her as a contender for the finest jazz vocalist ever and that is high praise.
As you say, there is huge amount of her music online, both live and studio. Enough to allow me to listen to just the kind I prefer, I am not a fan of big band backed singing by any singer.
As you say, there is huge amount of her music online, both live and studio. Enough to allow me to listen to just the kind I prefer, I am not a fan of big band backed singing by any singer.
Fully on the edge! She liked to live dangerously.
My set is only 4 CDs, but of course her huge library is available online. I'm trying to remember the live set I enjoyed a few months ago. Live at Mr. Kelly's?
O'Day is excellent - and IMO best in her small group album with Oscar Peterson. Another instance of a life lived in full.
Over the weekend I stumbled on a 9 CD box set from Anita O'Day. Not really a fan of the jazz vocal singers, but man... something about her vocals just makes martini time so extra special.
For anyone that likes jazz piano trios with a lot of energy/drive and for just good music, try Monty Alexander. I don't know if he ever made a poor album, but a few excellent ones:
1. Montreaux Alexander
2. In Tokyo
3. Uplift - both 1 and 2 - are excellent albums.
1. Montreaux Alexander
2. In Tokyo
3. Uplift - both 1 and 2 - are excellent albums.
Old unearthed gem, that - I can see you are partial to strings:-)!
A new jazz singer in a Brasilian style - Andrea Motis/Live at Jamboree. Fresh new voice although in time the lack of variety might tell. But this album also has the benefit of great blowing in support, with Scott Hamilton in the line up.
Page 6 / 14
Enter your username or e-mail address. We'll send you an e-mail with instructions to reset your password.