Good Classical and Jazz recordings

**Zero** · 03-03-2003 01:57 AM

I finally took a neighbor up on his offer to let me borrow some of his smooth jazz cd's. I love this type of music, the kind you can just play in the backround and just vibe to. Unfortunately I found quite a few of these recordings to be lacking in quality.

Its a tad frustrating, jazz and classical in my opinion are one of the most critical genres that demand recording excellence.... each instrument has its own personality and should be given justice.. I find that not to be the case with classical, seems the four jazz cd's I have is taking a simular path.

Any suggestions gentlemen???

Just a hint on my tastes -

Classical, I can go for anything, but its got to have style, mood, generally from very soothing and calm to incredibly intense.

Jazz, guitar is great! Piano is good too. Not to keen on most jazz vocals - Diana Krall is an exception of course. Im looking for something more along the lines of "weather channel forecast" music...

Thanks boys.

Sean

**gidrah** · 03-03-2003 02:20 AM

For good classical recordings look at anything on the Telarc label. I was listening to one today that had Rossini's Willaim Tell Overture on it. Great stuff. Explosive.

Jazz recordings: There have been some rereleases lately that sound okay. One of my reference recordings is Sun Ra-Lanquidity. It's a HDCD reissue and sounds great.

**Frank Z** · 03-03-2003 07:58 AM

Atc
Here's a few that you might want to check out.

Classical
Holst - The Planets
Telarc Cat#CD80133

Mozart - The 5 Violin Concertos
Itzhak Perlman
Deutsche Grammophon Cat#445 535 2

Jazz
Chris Botti
The Very Best of Chris Botti
GRP Cat#314 589848-2

Nora Jones
Come Away Mith Me
Blue Note Cat#7243 5 32088 2 0

A few of the artists that I've heard on the local jazz station and really enjoy are Bony James, Dave Koz, & the Rippingtons.

**joe logston** · 03-03-2003 08:27 AM

frank, this is what it is all about on this forum music and movies and seems to me that polk speakers help to bring this pleasure to me better, thats why im here and you are here for the same reasons.
i dont have any of chris botti cds got to get some
thanks

**Frank Z** · 03-03-2003 08:31 AM

Your Welcome!
If you're into multi-channel music pick up Botti's "Night Sessions"

meestercleef · 03-03-2003 10:28 AM

Many fine recordings, just like many fine movies, were made a while ago. If you are lucky, you will be able to find remasterings of original tapes done by people who really care how they sound--some CDs emphasize this on a sticker on the cover. Or maybe you have a good turntable & cartridge & you still have the original LPs in good condition. However, you won't be able to hear an ant farting during the violin solo, which is the kind of detail a lot of people seem to think is necessary to enjoy music. I refuse to stop listening to Satchmo, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, the umpteen old blues guys w/names like "Blind Boy", etc, just because they aren't recorded using DSD, or whatever the latest thing is. If you look through magazines and books that specialize in reviewing recordings of various kinds, you should be able to find some older ones that are widely recommended. Some of these reviews will devote serious attn to sound quality. Newstands and music reference sections at places like Barnes & Noble or Borders are good places to find these kinds of mags & books.

**Zero** · 03-03-2003 12:14 PM

Gidrah,

Telerac you say. Will have to write that down next time I go cd-hunting. Thanks bud. Its been very frustrating having great music that sounds like its playing from a box (no pun intended).

Frank,

Awesome stuff man! Gave your post the copy and paste job. Will use it as a reference sheet, will get my demo on with imesh then go on the hunt.

Meester,

Next time I am dragged to Barnes and Noble I will be sure to check out the mags that focus around good clarity recordings things of the sort! :)

Thanks for the help boys. Listening to Ken Navarro at the moment - great stuff. Not a bad recording either, not as good as I would like but good enough, great music!

**RuSsMaN** · 03-03-2003 12:20 PM

Telarc cd's are a great, but won't do you a whole lot of good until you have a good 24bit (at least 16bit) Dac in the loop.

'Laserlight' is a good label to look for also.

**Jstas** · 03-03-2003 12:39 PM

I live here in NJ, near Philly. What that means is that I can't go more that 3 frequencies down the dial without hitting a radio station. So I haven't bought any Jazz or classical CD's for a while. I just turn on the radio! Lucky me!

I did get a jazz CD. It's by Diana Krall. This girl is amazing and the recordings are of abnormally high quality. I'd recommend any one of her albums. Not to mention she is pretty nice eye candy too!

What I have been listening to is blues. I got a box set called Shoebox Full of Blues from the House of Blues label. They are all original recordings dubbed from the studio tapes and digitally remastered. Most are very clear and clean but some of the older recordings have a good deal of noise that one is not used to hearing from CDs. I don't mind though, it's all part of the charm!

Another straight blues/jazz/fusion label I have some albums from is Blue Note Records. They have been around for loooong time. The only album I am remembering that I have from them right now is Us3 "Hand On The Torch". That album isn't sounding so great anymore because I think I have actually worn the recording out.

There is a series of classical composers that is digitally remastered. It includes all the big names like Mozart, Beethoven, Vivaldi, Berlioz, Bach and so on. Those recordings are very well done. Most are live recordings done in concert halls by full symphony orchestras. I guess it all depnds on what you like in your recordings.

**shack** · 03-03-2003 01:13 PM

Jazz - I really like George Benson - a great guitar player with a good voice. An old live album is Weekend In LA from 1977 and a more recent studio album is Absolute Benson from 2000. If you like his work, he has maybe a 100 albums to pick from.

"weather channel forecast" music - smooth jazz - Early Spyro Gyra - Just about anything from the late 70s to the mid 80s.

Classical - A few of my favorite pieces:

Beethoven - 5th, 7th and 9th Symphonies
Handel - Water Music and Messiah
Copeland - Appalachan Spring
Vivaldi - The 4 Seasons
Holst - The Planets
Tchaikovsky - 1812 Overture
Mahler - Symphony No. 1 and Symphony No. 2
Berlioz - Symphony Fantastique

There are some fantastic recordings and some really bad stuff. You have to remember that classical is recorded and mastered differently than most other music. It is very often a single take recorded live along with all of the issues that entails. Telarc is one of the better labels but there a lot of other good ones. You almost have to decide what you like and then seek out the best recordings. Even then the music will vary depending upon the "interpretation" of the music by the conductor. Handel's Messiah is a great example. There are several differnt styles of this single piece of work. Some traditional, some more modern, period instruments, contemporary instuments, etc...etc... If you think putting together a Jazz collection is difficult...wait till you try classical.

**polkatese** · 03-03-2003 05:02 PM

Sean,
if you like Jazz Piano, I would suggest Joe Sample (any of his, start with the Best collection), Guitar would be along George Benson, Lee Ritenour. And if you like Samba/Bossanova, try Ana Caram, Gilberto, Eden Atkins. Very soothing....

**phoneisbusy** · 03-03-2003 09:04 PM

ATCVenom

If you want intense/haunting, try "Henryk Gorecki: Symphony No.3 Opus 36". It starts off slowly and softly with just one bass cello and draws you in from there. It's an amazing and sure to put you through a couple of mood swings.

You might want to try listening to some Nina Simone or Etta James although they may be more blues then jazz. I also listen to Diane Krall, she's an Island girl you know. :D

Gorecki and Simone are memorable to me because I got to see Nina Simone perform at the Montreal jazz festival and Gorecki was in attendence for the Vancouver Symphony's performance of his symphony.

Anyways, hope you enjoy them if you ever get a chance to listen to em.

Dave

**STUFFMD** · 03-03-2003 09:13 PM

Anything of the Marsalis brothers have done is awsome,they are more of a classic jazz form, no vocals. Chris Botti is very good, I have not been overjoyed with his recordings though. If you like Diana Krull I highly suggest you check out Claire Martin, she has a best of, She is considered the British version of Diana. I'm also a big 4play fan, 4 jazz greats in their own right playing together, they also have a compilation, and the recordings are awsome, some of the best I have heard. Flim and the BB's, Weather Report, Spyro Gyra, I believe all have Best Of's, the latter 3 are all older Jazz artists.
Good Luck, Enjoy Stuff

**gidrah** · 03-05-2003 02:30 AM

BTW: The Sun Ra I suggested is anything but smooth. Heavy and full of soul.

I'vew got some good sounding Kitaro CDs. New Age kinda stuff.

**wodom1** · 03-05-2003 11:32 PM

Eric Essix is a great jazz guitarist out of Alabama. He's released a few albums though I can't think of the titles off the top of my head. If you like classic jazz, alot of the great albums from the '40's to the 70's have been released remastered. Miles Davis' 'Kind of Blue,' Coltrane's 'Giant Steps,' Dave Brubeck Quartet's 'Time Out.' These are all great hard bop jazz albums with excellent sound quality but these are not the elevator/weather channel music that you may be looking for.

**Zero** · 03-05-2003 11:57 PM

Going to have to plug in all these names in Imesh and make like a downloadin fool. If it sounds good, and is recorded well.......... Im all over it : )

**polkatese** · 03-07-2003 11:29 AM

Sean,
just bought George Benson "Absolute Benson" Gotta say that the recording quality is one of the best, you oughta give it a listen, sound soothing on the LSi...

**shack** · 03-07-2003 11:40 AM

Originally posted by polkatese
Sean,
just bought George Benson "Absolute Benson" Gotta say that the recording quality is one of the best, you oughta give it a listen, sound soothing on the LSi...

The lead track "The Ghetto" is really nice.

**polkatese** · 03-07-2003 12:02 PM

Shack, I thought this album represents a really nice comeback of Benson...Still think that breezin was one of his best along with On Broadway and This Masquerade, but with Ghetto and Lately, I think he is doing great (well, jamming with Joe Sample is almost always a sure thing)..

**avelanchefan** · 03-07-2003 01:23 PM

I am a Chuck Mangione fan. Really love Children of Sanchez. really great fugle(sp?) horn player.

**polkatese** · 03-07-2003 01:32 PM

avelanchefan,
Feel So Good, eh? He hasn't been producing any new album recently, have you listen to his SACD from Chesky? It should be a good one, I have the redbook and thought of getting it, but hasn't done it yet..I used to play flugel in HS MB, thought it has sweet sound to it...

**Tour2ma** · 03-07-2003 07:23 PM

ATC,
For classical here is a link to a thread that Doc started back in August or so. It includes many fine suggestions and an excellent, detailed write up by web-god Micah. I concur with most of the recommendations he's made that I know.

http://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/forum/...&threadid=4600

I've been preparing my list on and off (mostly off) for a couple months now.

Big thing with classical is that it is just not the composer's work that makes a good recommendation, in addition it's the conductor and symphony, and, where applicable, the soloist that make the recording a "one to buy". Micah covers all of this.

As for label, I read a lot of praise for Telarc, and yes, they are very good and I own some. However, they don't have a monopoly on making great sounding CD's and IMHO they do not often contract with the best performers.

There are great sounding CD's from well known names like Sony, DG, London, Phillips, CBS, MCA and RCA, and lesser known names like EMI and Denon (yes, they dabble in recording as well), and virtual unknowns like Teldec, Dorian, L'oiseau Lyre, nonesuch, Titanic and Varese Sarabande.

I have never been one to sacrifice sonics for a technically superior performance or interpretation, but there are sometimes significant differences that make a little sound quality sacrifice worthwhile. My RCA Red Seal Heifetz/ Reiner-CSO recording of Tchaikovsky's Violoin Concerto is the most obvious example. The playing is so brilliant that you soon "sight" of the slight tape hiss that is in the quieter passages. Some of the best recordings I own are AAD, not even remastered, and they sound great.

Anyway you've inspired, and reminded me to get back to work on my list for Doc. I sent him my "working draft". If you would like one as well, send me an e-mail.

**wallstreet** · 03-07-2003 11:03 PM

you guys must not have any smooth jazz stations where you live. For guitar:
Norman Brown
Larry Carlton
Lee Ritenour
Gota
Ronny Jordan

For Sax:
Steve Cole
Boney James
Walter Beasley

**Tour2ma** · 03-08-2003 12:07 AM

SHEEEE-it, doesn't everybody have "The Wave" in their city by now? Smooth jazz is OK as background music, but I don't find it to be satisfying. Anything that never makes me sit up and take notice, at least once in a while, just doesn't do it for me... and that's pretty much the case with these stations. And they play a good bit of the one thing I absolutely cannot stand, instant "Jazz", smooth or otherwise, that takes a lead instrument and sub's it in for the vocal in a soft rock or other "pop" piece of music.

OK, I do notice that, but it's not a good thing. :)

Not tryin' to stomp you here, wallstreet, or make any commentary about your musical tastes, other than mine are different.

Hey at least you didn't mention Kenny G... ;) So we have that to build on...

Jazz to me is:
Burton/Corea - Crystal Silence
Dave Brubeck - Time Out
Flim and the BB's - Tricycle; New Pants; This is a Recording
Errol Garner - Concert by the Sea
Charlie Mingus - New Tijuana Moods
Getz/ Gilberto - Getz/ Gilberto
Sonny Rollins - The Quartets (with Jim Hall)
Miles Davis - In a Silent Way
Louis Armstrong, Art Blakley, Charlie Parker, Lionel Hampton, Al DiMeola, George Benson, The Harper Brothers, Marcus Roberts...

One guilty pleasure I'll admit to, is an old, 60's valve trombone player, Harold Betters. He covered some "songs", but the sound of his valve trombone was too unique and good for me to resist.

**polkatese** · 03-08-2003 12:47 AM

Don't forget Lady Ella and her amazing scat, the best one, Montreaux 1975 with Tommy Flanagan trio....

**Tour2ma** · 03-08-2003 01:18 AM

Spot on polkatese. There' a whole group of Lady Jazz Singers that deserve mention and multiple listenings. In addition to Ella:

Sarah Vaughn
Carmen McRae
Dakota Station, and my favorite
Ruth Brown...

And we can add Peggy Lee to that list and Leena Horne did some nice work as well.

I gotta check out this Diana Krall folks are talkin' up. "Bout time we had a modern Lady Jazz legend come along.

**wallstreet** · 03-08-2003 10:00 AM

Originally posted by Tour2ma
.
.
.
Not tryin' to stomp you here, wallstreet, or make any commentary about your musical tastes, other than mine are different.

Hey at least you didn't mention Kenny G... ;) So we have that to build on...

Don't worry. I was just addressing the original post. The guy said he liked smooth jazz. I gave him what he asked for. There's a big diff between smooth jazz and classical jazz. And quite honestly, anyone who can be offended because someone doesn't like their music is an idiot don't you think? I got libraries of industrial dance, electronic music that nobody likes. Heck, I don't even like alot of it! But I do like smooth jazz. They make for some great "throw down" music if you know what I mean.;)

**Tour2ma** · 03-08-2003 10:20 AM

Oh... throw down.. you mean like:
http://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/forum/...&threadid=7188

BTW agree with you on the music taste thing, but there are some around who would qualify as idiots under your criteria. Didn't think you were one of them necesarily, just trying to keep the peace, wear the new leaf, etc.

Don't know "industrial dance", but pretty sure I know what electronic is. Wanna give a couple examples of each? ATC probably won't mind a mini-derail at this point.

**wodom1** · 03-08-2003 08:40 PM

Tour2ma--you forgot Coltrane! You do like John Coltrane, right? One of the greatest sax-men of all time.

**Zero** · 03-09-2003 12:23 AM

Neglected to check back here! Wow!!!!! So many names/suggestions!!! Im going to be busy for hours just copying and pasting these names to a document - let alone searching for their work on imesh. Great stuff gents!

Tour, would be glad to take a look at the sheet you have compiled.... Whenever you have the time, feel free to drop me a line at: coquinino@hotmail.com

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