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?
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Diahann Carroll (RIP) with The Andre Previn Trio. Didn't follow her career, but this early album with the always excellent Previn is a delight for vocal jazz fans.
New Recommendation: Musica Nuda - Live a FIP.
While listening with great enjoyment to Brahem's 'Black Cat' album I was reminded in one section of another excellent album track 'A Rainbow in Curved Air' by Terry Riley. Repetitious and hypnotic - but it's not everyone's cup of tea!
An easier listen and with a recording quality I've rarely heard bettered is 'Buddy Holly - The Original Master Tapes'. Not available on Spotify, I bought the CD on Amazon and made a FLAC recording to a NAS drive.
Finally as a follow-up to the Max Richter recommendation may I recommend a series that was shown recently on Sky Atlantic here in the UK: 'My Brilliant Friend' adapted from the novel of that name by Elena Ferrante. It's just fabulous and has a wonderful soundtrack by Max Richter which is available separately. I've watched all 8 episodes three times it's that good and the Richter's soundtrack through the Sonos Beam with surround sound is musical nirvana.
An easier listen and with a recording quality I've rarely heard bettered is 'Buddy Holly - The Original Master Tapes'. Not available on Spotify, I bought the CD on Amazon and made a FLAC recording to a NAS drive.
Finally as a follow-up to the Max Richter recommendation may I recommend a series that was shown recently on Sky Atlantic here in the UK: 'My Brilliant Friend' adapted from the novel of that name by Elena Ferrante. It's just fabulous and has a wonderful soundtrack by Max Richter which is available separately. I've watched all 8 episodes three times it's that good and the Richter's soundtrack through the Sonos Beam with surround sound is musical nirvana.
+1 to that; it is a lot of new music to be explored over the coming days, so thanks for that, I have Richter's new Vivaldi playing as I write this. And a combination of Sonos + Apple Music (in my case) makes it so easy to do this exploring - these are truly the best of times for home audio. For every abuse of social media and smart phones, there is this upside to the tech of today.
As to the Rita album, I find Brahem's La Pas Du Chat Noir album to be just as enjoyable. Mystic Jazz is a good description I read somewhere for it.
Kumar - you're a poet!
What I like about Sonos is that it's 'good enough'.
That is why I started this thread; there is too much worrying about the state of the finger pointing to the moon here as in most other such fora, losing sight of the moon in the process. And Sonos is more than good enough I have found - properly set up it is in the HiFi class for audio. What can mar the experience is still inherent in the state of wireless tech where music play minus stuttering or interruptions can still be a challenge at times, but Sonos meets these challenges better than most of the competition.
What I like about Sonos is that it's 'good enough'.
That is why I started this thread; there is too much worrying about the state of the finger pointing to the moon here as in most other such fora, losing sight of the moon in the process. And Sonos is more than good enough I have found - properly set up it is in the HiFi class for audio. What can mar the experience is still inherent in the state of wireless tech where music play minus stuttering or interruptions can still be a challenge at times, but Sonos meets these challenges better than most of the competition.
My pleasure.
I'll be interested to hear your thought on the tracks you like. I do so agree with your comments on our good fortune these days with home audio. When I think back to the 70's and 80's, the time spent and the money wasted on the pursuit of 'high fidelity' nirvana! Never achieved it - though got fleetingly close at times! But the focus was too much on equipment and not the music.
What I like about Sonos is that it's 'good enough'. I can forget the system - no distortion, no clicks or irritating sibilance. And all at the touch of a button as they say. I'll investigate the Brahem album some more today.
What I like about Sonos is that it's 'good enough'. I can forget the system - no distortion, no clicks or irritating sibilance. And all at the touch of a button as they say. I'll investigate the Brahem album some more today.
+1 to that; it is a lot of new music to be explored over the coming days, so thanks for that, I have Richter's new Vivaldi playing as I write this. And a combination of Sonos + Apple Music (in my case) makes it so easy to do this exploring - these are truly the best of times for home audio. For every abuse of social media and smart phones, there is this upside to the tech of today.
As to the Rita album, I find Brahem's La Pas Du Chat Noir album to be just as enjoyable. Mystic Jazz is a good description I read somewhere for it.
Henske, Theesink and the Fairfield Four are great additions to my playlists; much obliged.
Exploring found me the album There will be a Light - Ben Harper with perennial old favourites, the Blind Boys of Alabama...and add the Fairfield Four to that genre as well now.
Always nice to find something new.
Always nice to find something new.
+1 to that; it is a lot of new music to be explored over the coming days, so thanks for that, I have Richter's new Vivaldi playing as I write this. And a combination of Sonos + Apple Music (in my case) makes it so easy to do this exploring - these are truly the best of times for home audio. For every abuse of social media and smart phones, there is this upside to the tech of today.
As to the Rita album, I find Brahem's La Pas Du Chat Noir album to be just as enjoyable. Mystic Jazz is a good description I read somewhere for it.
Thanks for sharing, Zigzag2. I love seeing new updates in this thread too, always nice to get some new recommendations 🙂
Thanks for setting up this thread Kumar. Whilst 'lurking' as the say, in the background, I've investigated most of the recommendation s. In particular ' The astounding eyes of Rita' was a just wonderful discovery. One of those recordings you can just settle down with and lose yourself in the music.
Here's some favourites of mine:
Welcome to the Cruel World by Ben Harper and in particular the track 'Whipping Boy.
Hans Theesink - Johnny and the Devil. Standout track Mississippi.
Max Richter - Recomposed: The Four Seasons.
Dave Grisman - Tone Poems
Trio da Kali - Ladilakan
Phat Phunction - Real Life Hi Fidelity
Aziza Brahim - Soutak
Judy Henske - Judy Henske
And finally, possibly the most stunning of all:
The Fairfield Four - Wreckin' the House.
With the last one be warned that the editing of this live album is done with a butcher's axe! However the quality of the music and the atmosphere they achieve with the audience is extraordinary.
One final point regarding quality: I recently discovered that changing the volume level in Spotify settings to 'quiet' produces a far more dynamic and enjoyable output. Listening to 'Whipping Boy' for example at just off maximum volume on 2 X Play5 2 gen now gives playback the brutal crack and thwack on the drums that it was presumably engineered to produce.
Here's some favourites of mine:
Welcome to the Cruel World by Ben Harper and in particular the track 'Whipping Boy.
Hans Theesink - Johnny and the Devil. Standout track Mississippi.
Max Richter - Recomposed: The Four Seasons.
Dave Grisman - Tone Poems
Trio da Kali - Ladilakan
Phat Phunction - Real Life Hi Fidelity
Aziza Brahim - Soutak
Judy Henske - Judy Henske
And finally, possibly the most stunning of all:
The Fairfield Four - Wreckin' the House.
With the last one be warned that the editing of this live album is done with a butcher's axe! However the quality of the music and the atmosphere they achieve with the audience is extraordinary.
One final point regarding quality: I recently discovered that changing the volume level in Spotify settings to 'quiet' produces a far more dynamic and enjoyable output. Listening to 'Whipping Boy' for example at just off maximum volume on 2 X Play5 2 gen now gives playback the brutal crack and thwack on the drums that it was presumably engineered to produce.
In frequent recent play: Everything I Love, Sir Roland Hanna. Solo Jazz Piano of the highest quality both on performance and recording. Rarely has a piano sounded better outside of the real thing, the voicing on this album is that good.
I wonder where the Sir comes from - is it like Duke for Ellington? I doubt it is a UK knighthood, but if it was so, richly deserved!
Highly recommended for a quiet late evening over a drink.
I wonder where the Sir comes from - is it like Duke for Ellington? I doubt it is a UK knighthood, but if it was so, richly deserved!
Highly recommended for a quiet late evening over a drink.
Jeff Goldblum, who's been playing a live set in LA for years, just released a very nice little live album. Decent band, but where it really shines is Jeff's ebullient personality and interaction with his guest singers.
At the age of 65, Sting still has his mojo - as seen in an equal partnership with Shaggy on their recent album: 44/876. Listen to the track Sad Trombone for starters, but there are no fillers in the 16 track reggae album. Solid music making, and highly recommended.
Good find; many familiar names, and O'Day scatting with the drummer is a highlight that won't come across half as well minus the video of it.
The mood of a summer dripping with nostalgia, even from its many objects, is captured very well too. Is that the music was suited to that age, which is why it isn't as popular now?
The mood of a summer dripping with nostalgia, even from its many objects, is captured very well too. Is that the music was suited to that age, which is why it isn't as popular now?
The 1958 Newport Jazz Festival on film. Anita O’Day’s performance, starting about 17 minutes in, is some of her best on film.
Dozens of great jazz performers at their finest. Woodstock schmoodstock. This is far more musically significant, IMO.
Dozens of great jazz performers at their finest. Woodstock schmoodstock. This is far more musically significant, IMO.
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