XXHighEnd

Pedal, a really welcome invitatition!
Thank you....

Bob James Trio/Straight Up.
Today I had a first encounter with The Bob James Trio. There are probably more jazz trio recordings than chess moves, but never the less this format never stops to satisfy my music appetite. There is something “magic” going on when talented jazz musicians succeed with their interplay, and this album is a gem. Straight Up is timeless, modern jazz at its best. To be played again and again.

Pinao: Bob James
Bass: Christian McBride
Drums: Brian Blade

Recorded in 1996, the sound is stellar. -A transparent “alive in studio” recording, with very realistic treble. -Lots of “real” attack and energy on the cymbals.  

The Dynamic Range is pretty good: DR13

Highly recommended! (Well, probably you already own it. I am maybe the last one to discover it…)

Hey Pedal this is a great idea. I just ordered your suggestion: $5 on Amazon! Have you heard Paul's "find": "The Gifted Ones" ( http://www.phasure.com/index.php?topic=1872.0)? It's recorded as well as Waltzing for Debbie (http://www.phasure.com/index.php?topic=1753.0 ) and has the best recorded trumpet I've heard. (If we could get Peter to give it a listen, he might change his opinion about horns.  :) )
Can't think of a better way to find good music than folks here sharing what they are "currently" listening to.

Well, here's some Americana female harmony that I play at least one track from almost every day: 40 Days by the Wailin' Jenny's. They have two other cd's that are also very good (Firecracker and Bright Morning Stars)

One more but its classical: Bach: A Strange Beauty. Its recorded very, very well and makes, for me, Bach's Harpsichord music accessible cause its transcribed for piano. Its really mind blowing.

I have a 24/96 version and I just received the SACD, which sounds MUCH better. If you want to give your system a full workout (track 3 is my favorite) you've gotta hear this: Crown Imperial by the Dallas Wind Symphony.

Two impressing red book records for the friends of drums and related instruments :-)

Regards,
Georg

When I took my mother-in-law back to D.C. after the holiday, she insisted I take her Sony 400 disc cd player, full of cd's, back to Philly so I could "record" them all. Among the many jewels I've found is this 1956 recording-- Jazz vocalist Anita O'Day's first Verve recording: This Is Anita. Incredible voice--incredible recording.

I brought this one with me from my last flea market visit. I'm collecting for years medieval music but this Suisse live Radio recording is without any limitations and refreshing unperfect at the same time - directed by Rene Clemencic.

Are there any more classical music lovers..??


                                          +


I'm afraid i have this love hate reaction with Simone Dinnerstein's Bach.
A couple of years ago i heard her interpretation of the Goldberg variations. What struck me most is the sound of her 1903 Hamburg Steinway model D concert grand.
The sound of this beautiful instrument is less "hammering" than today's Steinway.
Her aproach to Bach is (over?) Romantic for me living with Bach the last 30 years. Bach is on my daily diet.
A Strange Beauty says it all for me. Her playing strange and beautifull together. Stylistically incorrect, sloppy trills and other ornaments but als a sense of beauty and tenderness of heart.
Unforunately the recording is not that well. The piano is fuzzy and the Bass is to prominent like the double bass has a separate mic. You can hear the strings vibrating. The violins etc. sounding thin. Very regrettable while they play very well.

I can hear she loves Bach but she is not entirely convincing. The recordings with Perahia, Schiff, Hewitt in the Goldberg variations i hear a herculean achievement, an 80-minute journey through a dramatically changing succession of musical landscapes. Dinnerstein remains disappointingly earthbound while the others severd all earthy ties.
I own both Perahia,Schiff and Hewitt's interpretations of the keyboard concertos. Please listen to one of them compared to Dinnerstein.

Last year i bought the cd with some of the concertos played by Alexandre Tharaud. Well....thats recorded very,very well..!!! Tharaud playing a Yamaha grand wich is beautifully merged with the strings. For example in the concerto BWV1052 in the Largo Dinnerstein spoyling the magic of the emerging piano by playing with the orchestra. When Tharaud deploys a shiffering is going down my spine. A must have...!!!!
Although Dinnerstein is not entirely convincing but a nice addition to a collection anyhow.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/511%2BNOYoJcL._SS400_.jpg)

Dinnersteins ear-catching playing i hear on the Straight-ahead/Mainstream Bob James trio also. Indeed a startling recording. The last trio cd "Take it from the Top" is also that great recorded and played. You know the Fourplay reconding's. If you like the trio you like Fourplay.


My todays playlist:
I ordered the new cd with Brahms 1st pianoconcerto with Pollini and Thielemann. In order to prepare to a new recording i always listen to others.
Tonight i'll probably listen to Zimmerman,Rattle with the Berliner Philharmoniker. Maybe the Berliners playing to beautifull. I don't know. But there are few recordings wehre

an orchestra embracing the piano that beautifull, with tender and care as the Berliner do.
(http://www.klassiekezaken.nl/images/afbeeldingen/400/ro_1246.jpg)
Next a recording of the 2 clarinet sonatas & trio by Martin Fröst in preparing of the soon to arrive cd with the same works played by Sharon Kam.
These probably last written music by brahms is hauntingly beautifull. As all what Brahms left to us they're masterpieces. I hope Fröst will soon record the greatest masterpiece off all Brahms's chambermusic and even chambermusic in general (with the String quintet of Schubert)....the clarinet quintet. (Ok maybe a little exaggerated)
(http://i43.tower.com/images/mm106221642/brahms-clarinet-sonatas-trio-martin-fr-st-cd-cover-art.jpg)
After a break i'll play the 4th symphony of Anton Bruckner by the Concertgebouw Orchestra led by Mariss jansons. Also awaiting the new recording by Haitink and the London Symphony Orchestra. Haitinks interpretations evolved dramatically over the last 40 years of playing Bruckner. I already heard it on the radio. How free are the solos.  Haitink unleashes the soloists as never heard in compare to others. The finale is the true apotheosis. From what i've heard over the radio probably one of the best recording from that "difficult" Barbican Hall.
The Concertgebouw Orchestra is definitely the better Orchestra and also acoustic. The recording by Jansons perfectly captures the warm golden sound with shining strings and bronze Brass.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51I2Nqke%2BEL._SS500_.jpg)

Yo MOWA, thanks for your considerable insights. Will give your picks a listen and, hopefully, will continue my growing appreciation of classical.

I guess it's Dinnerstein's sense of beauty and tenderness of heart that so grabs me.

Currently I have a stack of brand new CDs that I did not come through because I am captivated by two new ones for the last two weeks.

Berg/Beethoven violin concertos by Isabelle Faust and Claudio Abbado.
The coupling of the Berg/Beethoven is very rare but it works very well. The contrasts between the two are enormous. Berg wrote his violin concerto (Dem Andenken eines Engels) as a requiem for the daughter of Alma Mahler (Gustav Mahler's ex) and Walther Gropius. Berg loved the young girl as his own daughter. Berg didn't know at the time that this violin concerto would be his last work en maybe become his own requiem.
Berg throws you in wistful sorrow and a poetic remembrance of loss, of things past, pain and shock. The Beethoven concerto relieves you from the pain. Faust recorded the Beethoven concerto in 2007 coupled with the Kreuzer sonata. That recording has all the quality and beauty to listen over and over again. Now i hear Faust has grown her interpretation and enriched her playing with a inner glow. The inspiring collaboration between Isabelle Faust and Claudio Abbado with his hand picked Orchestra Mozart is a wonderful miracle. The sound of this recording even more so. The violin is beatifully merged in the orchestra as Faust did in her Brahms violin concerto. She is not the violin babe with the tight dress on the cover of her cd's. No, she is the real musician with expressive range and emotional intensity.
Is this the best Berg or Beethoven on disc? I don't know. Berg is played with more grandeur by Perlman or Anne-Sophie Mutter. There are hundreds of cd's with the Beethoven concerto so it's impossible to say what's best. And who am i to say what is? Last couple of years there are some beautifull performances on disc. For example the one by the Dutch Lisa Ferschtman and the hystorically informed Jan Willem De Vriend. Both Ferschtman and Orchestra playing on gut strings. The concerto for me sounding like i heard it for the first time. And i can't live without Wolfgang Schneiderhan nor Arthur Grumiaux. Both 40 year old recordings but both violinists give their violin a soul. I still don't have them on cd but on gramophone. But Faust has this purity, this honesty i like.
(http://muziekvanspronk.nl/media/catalog/product/cache/2/image/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/f/a/faust.jpg)
An even great miracle is the new Bruckner symphony No.4 from Bernard Haitink and the London symphony Orchestra i mentioned in the post above. I play it daily. Its beautifull, definitive, heartbreaking, etc. I hear the end apotheosis already hidden in the beginning where the horn play the opening theme.
Why is this disc so beautifull? For one thing Haitink has lived and grown his insight in Bruckner for the last 40 years. His first recording in 1965 is still a touching, lively and excellent recording. The tidal movement in the new recording overwhelms at the tuttis. Haitink is the architect of a mighty cathedral. The LSO play as they never play before. They give everything they have; Tenderness when need like in the adagio and the climax of the first movement and the bursts of brass are shattering.
And i didn’t really hear this freedom the soloists have before in any other performance.
Both Haitink and LSO play not just. But there is an Urge, a need to do not any music but this particular music. Right now there is nothing else what matters, only this music matters.
I dare to say; for me this is the best Bruckner 4 available.
Although the recording is not perfect. Maybe because of the bad acoustic of the Barbican Hall. It sounds somewhat dry and flat as many LSO Barbican recordings seem to be.
I have to say the LSO is one of the best and world class orchestra but not in the league of the concertgebouw orchestra, Berliner/Wiener Philharmoniker or the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Despite the minor flaws this recording is so good that I’ll take it to the desert island.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51YTHXmM2xL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)

Tomorrow I start some new CDs....Did i say Maybe..??  :innocent:

... now I feel like playing Zappa tonight ...
haha

Great read, your story. I will try to do one or two myself. More people should maybe.

Thanks,
Peter

Just recently downloaded Black Sabbath "Master of Reality" from Qobuz, the one from Sanctuary Records.

I have the Warner Brothers version (not good, too much bass), the "Deluxe version" (from Sanctuary, but could be labelled as Noise Records also - remastered in 2009 - fair).

But the straight version from Sanctuary Records brought back to me the sound I heard the first time I listened to this record. It was in the seventies... In the "Sweet Leaf" song, there is a very present "buzz" that comes from the guitar and it is really striking...

Sorry if that is not in line with the selections I see here, but I thought it could be interesting for those who like this kind of music (I know I do) :)

Alain

...Since I see that there are 3 versions of "Master of Reality" (Black Sabbath) on Qobuz website, I thought it would make more sense to put the link (just in case):

http://www.qobuz.com/album/master-of-reality-black-sabbath/0505074920332?qref=sre_1_14

If you listen to "Sweet Leaf" (where that "buzz" is very present) and compare with the 2 other versions, you will hear what I mean :)

Alain

A good album to test how your system reproduces the bass notes. The bass is specially musical, not just deep but also rich. In general a great album with very good harmonics, the piano and drums are very well recorded. Fantastic rhythm and dynamics, excellent music all around. Of course this is Bach but played in a way that it seems a totally diferent work.
http://www.amazon.com/Jacques-Loussier-Plays-Johann-Sebastian/dp/B000003D5Q/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1330863300&sr=8-3-fkmr0 (http://www.amazon.com/Jacques-Loussier-Plays-Johann-Sebastian/dp/B000003D5Q/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1330863300&sr=8-3-fkmr0)

I think of myself as a "varied" listener... as in I like lots of different types:
(my categories on the HD go as follows: classical, children, Christmas, folk/blues, jazz, rock, soundtracks... anyway}
but, I keep coming back to variations of rock so... must still be a kid at 52.  I try not to go back but keep listening for new music all the time,,, but,

My wife grew up in Mazatlan, Mexico and I grew up in California, US and so I've been filling in her gaps of rock music (and she mine of Latin music), so while she rested I thought of some old Led Zeppelin and put the song Rain from Houses of the Holy.  You know I don't think I've played a Led Zeppelin album since having Peter's XXHE, and just wow ... haven't had tears like that for awhile... blame the wine? blame the memories of the parties?

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61I8-sMTxyL._SS500_.jpg)

XXHE can do that to you.

PS: I gave Rain a listen tonight, drank a pint and blinked heavily, but couldn't provoke any tears. Guess I miss the memory factor...
BUT through XX and NOS1 it sounds very good, with lots of instrumental details and acoustical information from the recording session. Must be one of the better LZ albums, soundwise.

A small remark about Houses of The Holy;

I never considered this (5th) album as sounding as good as the first four. So I dug in my "collection" on hard disc, and found two versions. One is denoted as "remastered by Barry Diament" and the other says nothing.

The Diament version is, as far as I know, never a remaster, because he did the digital transfer in the first place.
In addition, this Diament version is 1.5dB lower in volume than that other one I have (with the idea that real "remasters" will be more compressed hence show a higher volume).

And to add to the confusement ... that perceived Diament version sounds way strange to me (not good also) compared to that other one. The other one sounds more like the "Diament versions", knowing that Barry did the digital transfer of all of the first 5 albums (there he stopped as far as I know).

The denotation I have with my respective albums most probably is wrong, but the message is : a version exists which does not sound as good as the other.

Peter

Progressive rock jam as its best...

(http://static.musictoday.com/store/bands/469/product_medium/UY39COMBO.JPG)

Dear jazz lovers, say hello to Radka Toneff (http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radka_Toneff), Norway’s greatest jazz singer. Her career was short. She committed suicide in 1982 at age 30, after the end of a turbulent love life with Arild Andersen (famous bassist who played on most of her records. He’s on ECM, too, BTW).

Some of you might know her from the classic Fairytales album with pianist Steve Dobrogosz, considered to be THE best recorded piano/singer jazz album in the world. (It’s been frequently listed/namedropped in Stereophile, Hi-Fi News, etc).

But today I had a wonderful evening with Radka from one of her other albums. I want to turn your attention to the posthumous album Butterfly, released as late as in 2008.

-First of all the album carries several of her best performances. Secondly, these songs were recorded (individually) by the national broadcasting systems of Norway, Sweden and Denmark. They are practically live recordings, with and without audience. There are few, if any, overdubs or post production. –In short, the sound quality is stunning and with good consistency from song to song, in spite of being recorded on different occasions. You can hear an unusual freshness and directness, not common with regular studio recordings. I guess the honor goes to the TV/Radio broadcasting staff, trying to capture the moment rather than mixing for selling. –This is one of my top ten most realistic recordings. (None of Diana Kralls albums are close to this level of performance or sound quality).

Here is an appetizer from the album on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QAQIWgWesg

It’s a rare album, so hurry up if you wanna buy it: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001O12TIA/ref=dm_dp_cdp?ie=UTF8&s=music
 

(http://www.audioaffair.co.uk/images/uploads/MFSLCD_EDO.jpg)(http://img12.nnm.ru/2/0/8/8/8/208888d20a878da6a1dd8e07d6da0539_full.jpg)

Earlier i mentioned the Brahms 1st pianoconcerto with Pollini and Thielemann.
I'm a bit dissapointed by the result. Main reason is the lack of chemistry between Pollini and Thielemann. I can't describe what the lack off chemistry is all about. Pollini sounds and plays very good, Thielemann conducting good as expected but somehow they don't fit together. Though the Dresden Orchestra is playing beautifull with their distinct sound. The recording is also very good. For the latter worth listening.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41u4kNtG4yL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)

When boleary wants to listen to another new fine Bach keyboardconcerto cd i have 1 more.
The pianist David Fray is new to me also. I've got this cd from my local library to give it a try and i was amazed by the energy wich it was played with.
The only minor thing in this very good sounding recording is perhaps the balance between piano and strings wich not very lucky. Alexandre Tharaud does this better. But Frays youthfull energy and enthousiasm is striking. There is also a dvd available where Fray is in the recording studio preparing recording and playing the concertos.
Both are worth listening/watching. Lately i listen this cd more than Tharaud.
The complete set from Murray Perahia still is first choice overall.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51WLkjRKzgL._SS400_.jpg)

The Bach cd however made me curious what David Fray did more.
The Schubert pieces on this cd is played by every known and unknown pianist on earth.
Like i must play a piece off Bach everyday so one of the Moments Musicaux is on my daily musical diet. Their not very difficult to play for the amateur pianist. But don't makethis mistake. They're easy for the amateur but very difficult for the proffesional. Schubert keeps singing in the deepest misery.
Maybe David Fray does not fully let me hear the inseparable unity between the singing and misery but this was the first time i thought; So, this is how to play this pieces.
Frays formidable technique is capable to show how to play all the fine details hidden in this music. A must have to play daily 1 or 2 pieces.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/415MlQJKtZL._SS400_.jpg)

Because of the Beatifull Bruckner 4 from Haitink i stuck with his late Bruckner for a while. With symphony Nr.5 with the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks Haitink is
surpassing every known recording for me both performance and recording. In the fifth the only competitors are maybe Gunther Wand with the Berliner philharmoniker and Christian Thielemann with the Munich Philharmonic.
I like the Bavarian orchestra in this repertoire even more than the Berlin orchestra. They sound warm and the Munich acoustic is very good.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41VwSUGhb%2BL._SS400_.jpg)
Despite the same level of performance and very, very good orchestra the Bruckner 7 with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is because of the sound a bit disappointing. Despite that a must have.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41gotS8ryTL._SS400_.jpg)

Last few weeks i've listen quite a bunch Mahler also.
Haitinks late Mahler performances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra are also wonderfull but the same problem with the sound make me listen to his older performances with the Berliner Philharmoniker and even his early cycle with the Concertgebouw Orchestra from the sixties/seventies.
His recordings with the Berliner are a must have for Mahler enthusiasts. I still regret he couldn't finisch this cycle. If you're looking for a good Mahler cycle with a good orchestra and good sound the cycle with the Concertgebouw Orchestra and Riccardo Chailly is a good choice for repeated listening. Bernstein on DG sometimes exaggerates to much though is is a must have next to the Chailly box.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51EJiNBFkcL._SS500_.jpg)
A new cycle with the Concertgebouw Orchestra and Maris Jansons is still in process.
But u can enjoy symphony nr.1,2,3,5,6. This performances are top notch with the very well caught Concertgebouw accoustic while the orchestra is playing better than ever before and proofing they are the best orchestra there is.
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PeTLTDEcKWo/TcLtaxiM5II/AAAAAAAAAZw/0HjRJ3o86t8/s1600/Mahler_RCO10004.jpg)

It's hardly to imaging there is an even better performance from the complete cycle.
But there is..!! Claudio Abbado with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra. A star orchestra coming together each summer on vacation from their duty with orchestras like; Berliner philharmoniker, Wiener philharmoniker, etc. and on first instruments top soloists from all over the world. Only on DVD/blu-ray. Unfortunately dvd's will not play on XXHighend but in return you'll see Abbado and the orchestra in action. Symphony Nr.9 is not in this box but available separately. Symphony nr.8 will appear later this year because it has still to be performed in schedule this season.
(http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2011/Oct11/Mahler_sys_2058574.jpg)
A warning is in place here. It's not healthy to listen to much Mahler like i sometimes do. Mahlers' music is a rollercoaster of emotions.

Every year on eastern tradition i'll go to 2 or 3 performances of the Matthäus Passion (st.Matthew passion) This year last friday 23 march was the first of 2. That's why i don't listen the Matthäus Passion on cd very little. In stead i listen very often to the Johannes Passion (st.John Passion)
Bach - St John Passion:
John Elliot Gardiner, soloists, Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists
Everybody allready has his first performance from the late eighties. Considered the best there is. But the best can only be surpassed by Gardiner himself in this performance i've bought april 2011. The compelling direction from Gardiner, outstanding singing, beautifull choir and orchestra makes this Performance is a thrilling experience.
It's a live performance from 2003. Why it's released 8 years later is a mystery to me.
Sound quality; superb.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31JoLnLYY-L._SL500_AA300_.jpg)

Nice reviews mowa.  Time to get back to serious music listening and find a couple of your albums.


http://www.amazon.com/The-Complete-Studio-Recordings-Zeppelin/dp/B000002IWP/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1332820995&sr=8-2
Not that we should be nit picking over SQ of Led Zeppelin albums hehe but, to be clear,,,
The Houses of the Holy album I was listening/referring to is from a 1993 box set remastered by Jimmy Page & George Marino @ Sterling Sound NY.  Got good reviews when it came out.  I also have the Diament version and gave it a listen tonight :/, for one thing the rt/lt channels are reversed, and it sounds more bland & compressed to me. ... I also have a third version,,, but thought it silly to keep comparing.  I'll stick with my box set... which I'll probably listen to in another 10 years.

Going back over some of my early rips reminds me that I didn't always scan info ... just found various pictures from the internet.

A truly modern Pearl of an album .
A masterpiece of contents , songwriting and mixed sounds .

Some quiet hirez jazz on my playlist today.

Jimmy Cobb, Jazz In The Key Of Blue, 24/192, Chesky Records(2009). https://www.hdtracks.com/index.php?file=catalogdetail&valbum_code=HD0090368034465
Beautifully recorded natural sounding ballad jazz. Stressed, play this album.
(http://)
Tord Gustavsen Ensemble, Restored, Returned. 24/96, ECM (2009), http://www.gubemusic.com/album_18954
()

Well, here I go again.

Saw this guy at the Troubadour a week ago.  omg I was blown away.  wow just a wall of guitar sound... wish my system could sound like this live performance... but really, it does pretty well.  Thank you Peter.  Does distorted guitar sound need SQ... yes... yes it does.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzOHGE_dxVo

I have always said that;
It will sound impossible to most, but when a distortion guitar is played with some real decent SQ, it is so beautifully full with air. Like ZZ Top's guitars.

I´d like to post here some of the albums of my collection that I like most . Some are well known, others probably not so.
It's a classification based and rated just on personal taste. I rate the list for sound and music as:
S*: Good
S**: Very Good
S***: Excellent
Same for music but with the letter M.

They are in the list in no special order.

Zoot Sims. Smooth and Intimate.
S***. M***
http://www.amazon.com/Quietly-There-Plays-Johnny-Mandel/dp/B000000YZG (http://www.amazon.com/Quietly-There-Plays-Johnny-Mandel/dp/B000000YZG)

Boulevard des slows Vol.1
S***. M**
Recopilation from different artists.
http://www.musicme.com/Compilation/Boulevard-Des-Slows-(Vol.1)-5099746692124.html (http://www.musicme.com/Compilation/Boulevard-Des-Slows-(Vol.1)-5099746692124.html)

Man in the long black coat - Barb Jungr sings Bob Dylan
S***. M**
http://www.linnrecords.com/recording-man-in-the-long-black-coat.aspx (http://www.linnrecords.com/recording-man-in-the-long-black-coat.aspx)

La Passione. Chris Rea
S***. M***
http://www.amazon.co.uk/La-Passione-Chris-Rea/dp/B00000AOSY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1334748529&sr=8-4 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/La-Passione-Chris-Rea/dp/B00000AOSY/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1334748529&sr=8-4)

Cristina Branco
Murmurios
S**. M***
http://www.amazon.com/Murmurios-Cristina-Branco/dp/B0000253HZ/ref=sr_1_13?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1334750865&sr=1-13 (http://www.amazon.com/Murmurios-Cristina-Branco/dp/B0000253HZ/ref=sr_1_13?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1334750865&sr=1-13)
S**. M***

Cristina Branco
Canta Slauerhoff
S***.M***
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canta-Slauerhoff-Cristina-Branco/dp/B00006691P/ref=sr_1_10?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1334751025&sr=1-10 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Canta-Slauerhoff-Cristina-Branco/dp/B00006691P/ref=sr_1_10?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1334751025&sr=1-10)

Frank Zappa. The Yellow Shark
S***.M**
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Yellow-Shark-Frank-Zappa/dp/B0000009VU/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1334751197&sr=1-1 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Yellow-Shark-Frank-Zappa/dp/B0000009VU/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1334751197&sr=1-1)

Jazz a Saint-Germain. Various Artists
S***. M**
http://www.amazon.com/Jazz-Saint-Germain-Angelique-Kidjo/dp/B000009RNT (http://www.amazon.com/Jazz-Saint-Germain-Angelique-Kidjo/dp/B000009RNT)

Mi Buenos Aires Querido. Barenboim
S***.M***
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Piazzolla-Mi-Buenos-Aires-querido/dp/B001EZDIWW/ref=dm_cd_album_lnk_alt (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Piazzolla-Mi-Buenos-Aires-querido/dp/B001EZDIWW/ref=dm_cd_album_lnk_alt)

Michel Petrucciani. Both worlds
Sound***.M***
http://www.amazon.com/Both-Worlds-Michel-Petrucciani/dp/B0000061VC (http://www.amazon.com/Both-Worlds-Michel-Petrucciani/dp/B0000061VC)

Joan Manuel Serrat. Cansiones
Sound***.M***
http://www.amazon.com/Cansiones-Joan-Manuel-Serrat/dp/B00004YLN8/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1334752495&sr=1-1 (http://www.amazon.com/Cansiones-Joan-Manuel-Serrat/dp/B00004YLN8/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1334752495&sr=1-1)

Smooth Jazz Festival
S***.M**
http://www.amazon.com/Smooth-Jazz-Festival-Various-Artists/dp/B0009G3B1U/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1334752602&sr=1-1 (http://www.amazon.com/Smooth-Jazz-Festival-Various-Artists/dp/B0009G3B1U/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1334752602&sr=1-1)

Tony Rich. Words
S***.M***
http://www.amazon.com/Words-The-Tony-Rich-Project/dp/B0000013GL/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1334752724&sr=1-1 (http://www.amazon.com/Words-The-Tony-Rich-Project/dp/B0000013GL/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1334752724&sr=1-1)

Sadao Watanabe. Elis
S***.M***
http://www.amazon.com/Elis-Sadao-Watanabe/dp/B000002H6G (http://www.amazon.com/Elis-Sadao-Watanabe/dp/B000002H6G)

I´ll post some more of my favorits once in a while.

I hope you like it!

Best regards,
Juan

I post here a list of some of my favorits classical music albums:

Schubert - The Final Sessions Volume 1 - Claudio Arrau
Powerful D.894. You can listen Arrau breathing while playing the piano.
S**.M***
http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/2465499/a/Claudio+Arrau+-+The+Final+Sessions+Volume+1+-+Schubert.htm (http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/2465499/a/Claudio+Arrau+-+The+Final+Sessions+Volume+1+-+Schubert.htm)

Jan Sibelius. Symphonies 1 & 4. LSO. Sir Colin Davis
No 4 is my favorit Sibelius symphony. Enigmatic, can be relaxing or threatening.
S***. M***
http://lso.co.uk/page/3313/Sibelius-Symphonies-Nos-1-and-4/138 (http://lso.co.uk/page/3313/Sibelius-Symphonies-Nos-1-and-4/138)

Chopin: Etudes Op.10 and Op.25. Maurizio Pollini. Testament
Great performance and piano sound
S***.M***
http://www.testament.co.uk/shop/product/sbt1473.aspx (http://www.testament.co.uk/shop/product/sbt1473.aspx)

Schumann, Grieg: Piano Concertos. Murray Peraia. BRSO Colin Davis.
S**.M***
http://www.amazon.com/Schumann-Grieg-Concertos-Murray-Perahia/dp/B0000026PL (http://www.amazon.com/Schumann-Grieg-Concertos-Murray-Perahia/dp/B0000026PL)

Mozart: String Quintets K 515 & 516. Tokio String Quartet
Pace and rythm
http://www.allmusic.com/album/mozart-string-quintets-k-515-516-w56694 (http://www.allmusic.com/album/mozart-string-quintets-k-515-516-w56694)

Verdi: Messa da Requiem /Quattro Pezzi Sacri. Giulini
Magnificent
S**.M***
http://www.amazon.com/Verdi-Messa-Requiem-Quattro-Pezzi/dp/B00005AVMO (http://www.amazon.com/Verdi-Messa-Requiem-Quattro-Pezzi/dp/B00005AVMO)

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 " Emperor ". Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli. Guilini. W.S.
Imho the best "Emperor" ever. Michelangeli sensibility is pure emotion.
S**.M***
http://www.amazon.com/Beethoven-Piano-Concerto-No-Emperor/dp/B00000E3FN (http://www.amazon.com/Beethoven-Piano-Concerto-No-Emperor/dp/B00000E3FN)

Strauss: Four Last Songs. Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. Solti. L.S.O.
I´m never tired of listening Im Abemdrot. Schwarzkopf, one of the best voices ever.
S*.M***
http://www.amazon.com/Strauss-Songs-Orchestral-Recordings-Century/dp/B00000GCAE (http://www.amazon.com/Strauss-Songs-Orchestral-Recordings-Century/dp/B00000GCAE)

I hope you enjoy it!

Best regards,
Juan

Title no 4 - MILESTONE -

I was very astonished to hear such a tune from Miles Davis.

 http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B00704U5JA/ref=dm_mu_dp_trk4

Saw Tommy Emmanuel live last night. Unbelievable performer. He is a must see, if he's ever in your neighborhood.

Most blokes that come from the land down under are unbelievable performers  :grin:

If you enjoyed Tommy's style of finger picking, try and find the few albums available from young protege Joe Robinson. Very talented young man and will become a huge international success like Tommy in a few years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Robinson_%28musician%29

Cheers,

Russ

Thanks Russ. Will give him a listen.

Brian

another cool band from Norway - Airbag   ....they reproduce pink floyd sound amazingly and guitar solos are great too!

http://www.airbagsound.com/

I also found it somewhere for 5 bucks and I have to say it really sounds great.   Highly recommended.

Of course I am putting this out as a teaser, but Animals from Pink Floyd is a great album to me. It will be about my age when it came about and what I did and such, but it's just that great album.
But the stupid thing never sounded other than "dull". Unlistenable because too many blankets over it. I talked about it before and even referred to an Australian live version of the whole album because now finally I could listen to it with some cymbals and snap. But it's not the same thing of course.

So yesterday I thought to try it once again. Maaany things have changed, so who knows. I didn't have much hope though. Still, since a few days I have this once again other setting engaged, which I made but never used. It told me that it could work ...

But do people agree that this album lacks all the highs which normally are there ?
Maybe not. It must depend on something strange. But for me with all the amps and speakers I used through life it was always the same.
But now it suddenly works !! Wow. Slam is there, bass is there, it is the most snappy, and cymbals I never heard from it before.

So this is what I do it all for.

By the time you can try it yourself, SFS=2,  Ph - Strength=1, Monitor physically off, remote controlled.
These should be the key parameters.

For those who may wonder, this is from my own Audio PC, and thus not the dedicated one we built. That will add more slam and possibly will put away the attention from the snare drum hits of which so many are in there (I only hear now). Should be for the better again.

:teasing::teasing::teasing::teasing::teasing::teasing::teasing::teasing::teasing::teasing::teasing::teasing::teasing::teasing::teasing::teasing::teasing::teasing::teasing::teasing:

Peter,
what does "Ph - Strength" mean?

Cheers,
Eric

That is my secret Eric !
:seeyou:

Bill Nelson

Live in Concert at Metropolis Studios, London

Check out this great composer, performer, guitarist.

In this recent live double CD and DVD Bill performs songs from his Bebop DeLuxe and solo periods from the early seventies until now.

Website: http://www.billnelson.com/

Cheers,
Stanley

I'll have to check this out.  I'm a big fan of Bill Nelson. He is prolific; always coming out with new material.  I saw BeBop Deluxe in Long Beach back in the 70s... was a great concert.

I'm guessing we are going to be pouring various mixtures of bases and acids over our PCs.

hehe ... that was my initial thought path also. Perhaps it actually stands for "Peter's Handiwork"  :grin:

Cheers,

Russ