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Kumar
January 12, 2015

Recommended music - other than classical and pop

  • January 12, 2015
  • 333 replies
  • 34357 views
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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    333 replies

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    BCM
    BCM
    February 6, 2016
    Yes... GREAT album! Been a fan of his for years, and actually have that one in my collection. I Fall In Love Too Easily is on it... I heard that song for the first time by Frank Sinatra several years ago and was blown away by the orchestration, melody, the voice... I couldn't get enough of it. I researched the song and saw it was not only written by Sammy Cahn, but was covered dozens of times, including by Chet Baker, Johnny Hartman, Miles, and yes... Tommy Flanagan. Anita O'Day even covered it.
    BCM
    BCM
    February 10, 2016
    Wes Montgomery's 'Fusion!' Loaded with strings, fantastic melodies, and, of course, Wes.
    BCM
    BCM
    February 19, 2016
    Gato Barbieri. Pretty much everything he ever did. Such sultry, burning sax playing from him. I'm addicted to his Caliente! album right now...
    KumarAuthor
    February 20, 2016
    Gato Barbieri. .
    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.
    KumarAuthor
    March 22, 2016
    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.
    BCM
    BCM
    March 22, 2016
    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.
    KumarAuthor
    March 22, 2016
    O'Day is excellent - and IMO best in her small group album with Oscar Peterson. Another instance of a life lived in full.
    chicks
    chicks
    March 22, 2016
    O'Day is excellent - and IMO best in her small group album with Oscar Peterson. Another instance of a life lived in full.

    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?

    KumarAuthor
    March 23, 2016
    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.
    BCM
    BCM
    March 23, 2016
    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.
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