|   Any nice piano music recs? | ForeverAutumn
Jun 22, 2003 7:55 AM | | I'm looking for some nice background type of piano music. Something that I can put on and just relax to, or play during a dinner party, or to set a romantic mood. I don't have a specific style in mind. I guess the best way to describe what I'm looking for is to say that I'm looking for something light and pretty.
Can anyone make some recommendations?
Thanks! |
| Oscar Peterson plays Cole Porter | J
Jun 22, 2003 8:16 AM | | That one's a particular favorite. Also quite relaxing is some Jimmy Smith organ stuff, like Home Cookin'. Horace Silver & the early Herbie Hancock stuff is a little more boppy, but I'd recommend them, too. And Bill Evans. And if you do like bop beyond the mood of a dinner party, there's always Monk & Art Tatum. |
| David Lanz - Finding Paradise | PwrPopGuy
Jun 22, 2003 8:45 AM | | This would probably fit your piano music needs pretty well. |
| Add Lanz's Cristofiori's Dream too (nt) | DLD
Jun 22, 2003 1:57 PM | | |
| Question re: David Lanz | RPM
Jun 22, 2003 8:01 PM | | I have a few songs by him on sampler discs. I like them, but they strike me as being kinda serious (maybe too intense for dinner party music?).
Is all his stuff like this, or does he have a "light side"? |
| Quite serious IMHO | DLD
Jun 23, 2003 5:15 AM | | we listen to Lanz while we're hanging together, reading, surfing the net, etc. I'd call this type of listening one notch above background, but not usually an "active" listening experience. We've used it as background dinner music sometimes. His version of Whiter Shade Of Pale is terrific. I've just recently bought Heartsounds but haven't opened it yet.
He may have a lighter side, I just don't hear it on the one album I've listened to. |
| George Winston | DarrenH
Jun 22, 2003 9:37 AM | | Summer
Autumn
Winter Into Spring
Very nice background piano music.
Don't get December unless you're in the mood for Christmas.
Darren |
| Hmmm...I have a feeling I'd like "Autumn" ;-) (nt) | ForeverAutumn
Jun 23, 2003 7:38 PM | | |
| Keith Jarrett- The Melody at Night, With You. | Swish
Jun 22, 2003 2:42 PM | | Very nice 1999 release by this prolific pianist. I've used it for the very same purpose as you intend--background music at a dinner party. Several of the guests really admired it and asked me about it, so it was a good choice. |
| Keith Jarrett- Koln Koncert. | hifitommy
Jun 22, 2003 6:22 PM | | this was innovative back when it came out and is very captivating with lots of 'expression'.
geo winston sounded like that and i thought he was good but he never advanced. he is stuck right where he started.
i do have his linus and lucy stuff but it was cheeeeep. the windham hill artists are mostly too smooooov but michael hedges was great.
the oscar peterson stuff is great. there is a new artist named tord gustavson who was reviewed in stereophile in last months issue. he is being compared to bill evans, another good recommnendation. check out waltz for debby, and quintessence. there are more to listen to.
...regards...tr |
| I have a couple if you don't mind other instruments | HYFI
Jun 22, 2003 5:34 PM | | Ahmad Jamal for one. He has been around for ages. I have Digital Works. Along with upright bass and drums, this is good dinner/cocktail party music.
David Benoit is another fav. 2 of his more mellow dinner disks would be Waiting for Spring with the late female guitar great Emily Remler. Nice stuff here. Another Benoit disk to fit your needs would be Letter to Evan.
Dave Grusin-Two for the Road-the music of Henry Mancini. Real good standards here. Grusin has too many good disks to mention but alot of it would fit the Smooth Jazz genre. |
| another nod for Dave Grusin | RPM
Jun 22, 2003 7:52 PM | | I have a cd called "Collection". It's not gonna score many points if your dinner party guests are music geeks, but if not, Grusin should fit your decription.
As hyfi said, this is not exclusively piano music (lots-o-sax too) but many big name jazz artists appear on Grusins albums. |
| The only Music Geeks I know are in my family. :-) | ForeverAutumn
Jun 23, 2003 7:45 PM | | I guess that it doesn't have to be exclusively piano. Everytime I hear a nice piano piece I think, "I need to get me some of that". But I don't know what to look for. This is a great list that I'm building from these recs.
Thanks! |
| re: Any nice piano music recs? | BarryL
Jun 23, 2003 6:37 AM | | Don't you ever play that David Bryan CD I got you?
How about Jordan Rudess, 4NYC? You'll see him at the Dream Theater concert.
Emerson plays Emerson?
There are a couple of Lyle Mays CDs that are outstanding, but not solo piano.
The David Benoit albums and Dave Gruisin are also not solo piano, but are outstanding anyway. Almost everything by either is highly recommended.
When I get around to doing my solo piano Canadiana, I'll let you know. |
| Boy that brings back memories | HYFI
Jun 23, 2003 9:31 AM | | I saw Lyle Mays before anyone knew who he was. Of course he was Pat Metheny's keyboard player. It had to be 1978, just when the first album came out.(the all white one) I was highly impressed with his playing then as well as his Rick Wakeman-like keyboard setup. He was completly surounded by stacks of pianos and organs and synths. He played in front of him as well as behind himself at the same time. It's so cool when people are that talented as to play multiple instruments at the same time. I used to know a guy from a band called Spaces that played 2 saxes at the same time and something different on each one. |
| Re: David Bryan | ForeverAutumn
Jun 23, 2003 7:47 PM | | Actually you got that for Hubby and he won't let me listen to it. :-(
Just kidding. Yes, actually, I do listen to it and enjoy it very much. But I need more!
:-) |
| Bill Evans, Vince Guaraldi, Oscar Peterson... | Ex-Lion Tamer
Jun 23, 2003 11:19 AM | | Evans' Sunday at the Village Vanguard and/or Waltz for Debbie
Vince Guaraldi is the composer of the Charlie Brown music, his disk "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" is a very nice set. His non-Peanuts album, "Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus" is also some easy drinkin' jazz piano trio music.
Oscar Peterson, "Night Train" is a very good record.
And if a little understated vocalising is OK, try Shirley Horn..."The Main Ingredient" is a nice, intimate set. Shirley could be described as a classier Diana Krall.
Someone else mentioned George Winston...always a good choice, my favorite is "Autumn".
Mark |
| |
