critical listening

[dstrimbu]

Hasa,  if you like Avalon, you need Brian Ferry's "Boys & Girls"...

On CD, I especially like Al DiMeola's work.  "Kiss My Axe" is a spectacular recording.
Also, "Friday Night in San Francisco" - DiMeola, John McLaughlin & Paco DeLucia - wow.  I have the CD, the SACD and 180g vinyl versions.  All are spectacular.

Vocals?  Hmmmm... I love Tori Amos, but most people don't swing that way.  :-)

The remastered Talking Heads stuff is also pretty spectacular... the DualDisc releases of "Little Creatures" and "77" are great.

I have a Michael Yee Nova Phonomena phono preamp on the way; migrating from an old Ortofon to a Clearaudio Concept MC.  I'll let you know what I've been missing later this week...  <g>

~don

[dw]

I agree, Getz-Gilberto is a great recording. I've played it so much that my family
groans when I put it on.

Dave

[hasafraker]

I actually have Boys and Girls, good stuff! Bete Noire is also fantastic, sounds to me like you and I enjoy a lot of the same stuff, I just recently picked up Little Creatures, I have the CD and an original release on vinyl that I really love. I will definitely have to check out DiMeola. Thanks for the suggestion!

[Grainger49]

Late to the thread.  Some compilation CDs that I use for evaluation are:

Chris Isac, "Cruel Game" - Liquid guitar work

Jeffereson Airplane, "Triad" (written by David Crosby) - Closely miked young Grace Slick

Kodo Heartbeat Drummers (Sheffield CD), "O'Daiko" - The Taiko drums are dramatic with lots of overtones from the drum heads

Strength In Numbers, "One Winter's Night" - Picks on stringed instruments are well recorded here

The Modern Jazz Quartet, "Festival Sketch" (from Live At Music Inn Vo.. 2) - The drums are rendered in 3D

Sergio Mendez and Brazil '66, "One Note Samba" - Sergio's piano is to the right of the right speaker

Alison Krauss & Union Station, "You Cannot Go Now" - Again, picks on stringed instruments, also deep soundstage, closely miked Allison (you hear her lips part before she sings).  This one doesn't showcase Jerry Douglas (BIG FAN HERE!) like "Let Me Touch You For A While," "New Favorite," "Crazy Faith" or "It Doesn't Matter" which are also highly recommended.

All Rounder albums seem to have exceptional soundstage recorded into them.  I would like to know how it is done, just curiosity.

[John Roman]

Here's what I've been listening too lately:
Chick Corea - Like Minds
Gil Scott Heron - Winter in America
Coleman Hawkins -Night Hawk
Freddie Hubbard - Red Clay
Bill Mays Trio - Live at The Jazz Standard
Herbie Hancock - Third Plane
Cannonball Adderley - Somethin' Else
These are some favorites that I come back to when I'm trying to discern a change I've done to my system. It's nice to see what others in the group are listening too.
Best regards, John
ps now back to the soft start upgrade!

[hasafraker]

my wife is the best...

my bday is coming up... (bless her inability to wait to give me stuff!) she got me a copy of Nojima Plays Liszt ...WOW very cool