Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler Recommendations for ten Classical CD’s?

You win some, you lose some.

I'm thrilled to see that the Janine Jansen album was #1. I simply love that album (I have it on SACD).

If you liked her, check out Nigel Kennedy's albums. He's another violin virtuoso. It's good, just arranged for a larger group so it doesn't have quite the intimacy that the Jansen album does.

You might also like Sharon Bezaly's albums. She's a lot like Janine Jansen, but on the flute.

Sorry to see that the Holst bombed and Gershwin was a dud.

"Jazz" is such a huge genre also that it's hard to nail down exactly who you'll like.

For 'classical' jazz, I'll second the idea of Dave Brubeck. Time Out is one of my favorite albums. If you like Jazz, you've got to have some Brubeck in your collection. Miles Davis is another Jazz legend that you ought to try out. Kind of Blue is often placed as the pinnacle of his work. Again, IMHO, no Jazz collection is complete without a Miles Davis.

But if you want more modern jazz, with vocals, I'm absolutely in love with Jane Monheit (Surrender), Madeleine Peyroux (Careless Love), Norah Jones (Come Away With Me), and Diana Krall (too many good albums to list). I can put their albums on rotation, bust out a bottle of good wine, crank up the Axioms, and the world just dissolves away.

Then if you want to get into 'contemporary' jazz (aka, 'smooth' jazz), that's a whole 'nuther group of artists to talk about.

Thanks again guys. I have more to try. I added a few more of your suggestions to my Amazon Shopping list. I don't have much going on this week, so I'll have more time to listen to the CD's I listed above.

I also have a Rhapsody free trial that came with my Squeezebox. They have virtually every track there is (almost). I can just download a few tracks and give them a listen.

No worries Peter... I expected to not like some, and really like others, which is what happened.

I like some Jazz, but it's not my favorite genre. Seeing how I'm all digital now, I'll buy a few that you note and have them on hand for when the mode strikes me.

Mike - One CD that I really enjoy is http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=1638 . IMHO no classical collection is complete without some Mozart.

If you like the sound of the violin, try a couple of short pieces by Fritz Kriesler called Liebesleid and Liebesfreud. They are usually on a CD with other music, such as the Bruch Vionin concerto.

Listening to a little Fritz on Rhapsody now.... Thanks Shane.

I have some Mozart Dave, but I'll check that one out too...

Katie Melua - nice nice

Awesome thread! I have been ignoring my redbook collection of CDs for too long and this thread inspired me to start replayng my favorites. I will post my top ten once I have reasonably reaquainted myself (I know nothing technical about classical music except that I know what I like). But first I have to share the classical SACD that I keep returning to over and over again. Such a beautiful piece of misic:

Antonio Vivaldi's L'Estro Armonico op.3 Volume II: Concertos Nos. 7-12. Ottavio Dantone.

Please don't buy it on the strength of my appreciation for it - but does anyone else have this disk?

Thanks, Ian

I have a couple new additions. Not the typical classical, but I like the artists (hot looking too).

Vanessa Mae - best of
Lara St. John - Gypsy

U Tube has dozen of their videos. Did I mention these girls are hot, er I mean they play violin well?

Ian, I'm familiar with the concertos in L'Estro Armonico, but wasn't aware of the Dantone disc. From the Amazon samples however, I can appreciate your enthusiasm.

Since you like those concertos, which are second in popularity of Vivaldi's compositions to only The Four Seasons, you probably enjoy those as well and already have them. In any case I'll suggest my favorite Four Seasons, by Gil Shaham , for consideration.

Mike, I hope you've had a chance to listen to the recommended CDs at greater length and that their attractions have become apparent.

From your comment on the female violinists in your new post, I think that I can see one reason that you liked Janine's Four Seasons so much. With the trend going as it is now, there appears to be a possibility that these young violinists will be shown totally nude for some future recordings.