I like the Guitar and find it is relatively easily reproduced with my smaller speakers so the "sound" is generally very acceptable. I am hoping to find albums versus best of compilations(still welcome); whether on vinyl or CD. I'll start out with 2 CD's I enjoy. Easy listening. 1. Music of the Brazilian Masters, Concord Picante label from Concord Jazz. CCD-4389. Laurindo Almeida, Carlos Bosa-Lima, Charlie Byrd. It's nice to hear the different guitars,playing styles and even strings. 2. Portrait of John Williams. CBS Records Masterworks. MK 37791. John Williams. I hope someone enjoys these and has suggestions for other treasures. More to follow.
Andre Segovia: Spanish encores. Awesome playing (of course)and sound. Not sure about the cd if any, but the LP is simply amazing. Just him, solo. My guitar reference for cable or component evaluation. Check it out, nobody wouldn't love this one.
Spanish guitar I love Manitas De Plata anything on Columbia.Brazillian, Baden Powell (Tristeza On Guitar,Aquarelles du Bresel,Images on Guitar) Joao Gilberto self titled on Atlantic.How could you go wrong with Bola Sete?
Norbert Kraft is an excellent classical guitarist and has released a number of albums, all well recorded. It is well worth your time to run down copies of his work.
California Guitar trio makes an excellent arrangement on acoustic/electric guitars. The beautiful Anna Vidovic (check her tubes!) Her teacher Emanuel Barrueco has his own few albums but his main work is teaching. If you can find Augustin Barrios(most of his stuff in on 78rpm) you're luckiest on earth.
Sharon Isbin - Latin Romances for Guitar, Dreams of the World
David Russell - Aire Latino (wonderful South American music), Reflections of Spain
Try very high quality recording: David Russell - Art of The Guitar.
Sharon Isbin is simply amazing while David Russell is perhaps the most technically advanced guitarist. Guitarist made big progress and achieved technical perfection. Andrea Segovia and many others play occasionally squeaky tones, missed notes etc. Segovia was, on the other hand great teacher and ambassador for guitar music.
The other name and particular album is Stephan Schmidt - Bach Lute Works (played in original keys on 10 string classical guitar). If you like Lute music try Nigel North
Manuel Barrueco: Albeniz/Granados LP on Vox, now available as part of very affordable 3-CD set. It's called something like "400 years of the Guitar" and I think it is also on Vox. Many players consider this the greatest recording of Spanish guitar music ever (if not the greatest classical guitar recording ever).
John Williams: Albeniz, recorded in the early 80's.
Andres Segovia: The EMI recordings, 1927-1939. Amazing playing, many Spanish and Latin composers included.
Oscar Ghiglia: The Guitar in Spain LP or The Spanish Guitar of Oscar Ghiglia LP. Regularly found on Amazon.
Bream: Granados, Albeniz--Music of Spain. Sublime playing, wonderful colors and pacing from the English master.
Thanks everyone. On my Cd now: David Russel. Art of the Guitar. Telarc SACD-60672. I play it stereo.(System limitation ;). I am hoping some of you have the record / CD you mention and can provide Artist, album/CD name + importantly, catalog number. It makes finding the album easier, more sure. Cheers.
More detail for those into it. The Brazilian Masters CD I mentioned is 'phase correct' on my Spectral system-which is wired so that Reference Recordings & Chesky albums/CD's I own play correctly when phase correct position is selected on my Spectral DMC20 preamp. The John Williams plays correctly when phase reverse is selected. Those w/o a phase reverse switch may want to experiment; listening to a cut and then reverse the red & black leads, either at the amp OR speakers and listening again. You will then know the way your system is oriented and can mark your Cds/albums if you find it beneficial/worthwhile. Mine are marked (out of laziness) even though I hear the difference in moments and make the change that "improves the dynamics, clarity and musicality of the album". That phase reversal ability was an essential feature in choosing a preamp. Hifiharv. I have some Segovia I like but not that. It sounds like one I would enjoy. I have the feeling Schubert would agree.. Casey33. I will check him out. If I like him, his playing on other labels will probably appeal even though the sound may not be up to the Columbia standard. I can listen through inferior reproduction (within limits-and I guess I am fussy/spoiled somewhat) if the music/playing engages me. Gsm1849. I appreciate hearing of these obscure gems and will try to check it out. we can't find them all ourselves-but this venue provides a great opportunity for those who like to share. Mlsstl. Couldn't agree more re Norbert. He's also a nice guy and does technical recording work for Canada's CBC and has co-ordinated and produced Cds for the Naxos label- Cavatina for one. I will look up his catalog but appreciate recommendations on particular albums very much. I can't afford to buy every album/CD (but wish I could), heck, i don't even have time to find what I like-hence this thread.
+1 on Paco De Lucia, he's the real deal! Perhaps slightly more contemporary but very tasty would be the duo Strunz & Farah. Check out 'Live' and be prepared to be dazzled!
Paco de Lucia is the man for contemporary flamenco. For a more traditional flamenco style you might check out Paco Pena.
I personally would not mention a lot of these other good pseudo-flamenco guitarists in the same breath as them. Their dazzling chops serve up nothing interesting IMO. It's all about the music itself. YMMV.
Azahara. It's what I'm most familiar with. I have much more of Paco de Lucia. My favorite of his is Almoraima, though I do like the newer stuff very much.
I'm no expert, but I am thoroughly enjoying Stunz&Farah "Primal Magic". Maybe not pure traditional Flamenco, a little mix of influences. The guitar playing has an effortless feel I find entrancing.
I have a number of Romeros record but don't remember the labels. I have tended to buy the artist without emphasis on the label; even though I'm well aware of varying sound quality-and very much appreciative good recordings.
Here's one I bought recently that's very nice, "Colores del Sur, Baroque Dances for Guitar" by Enrike Solinis & Euskal Barrokensemle on Glossa.
Another I've really enjoyed is "Images of Metheny" by Jason Vieaux on Azica. All Pat Metheny tunes played on solo classical guitar. Well worth a listen.
Grisha Goryachev, "Alma Flamenca". How about a Russian virtuoso flamenco and classical guitarist doing Spanish works? This is a well recorded, wonderful CD.
Viridian, I agree with los Romeros. I don't think it's possible to discuss great guitar playing without mentioning them. Fabulously musical Father & sons.
Casey, I too appreciate/enjoy Manitas and Baden. I think Joao is in undervalued genius whose work will live on. I love his very elegant playing style. I think very calm and confident.
When I was in music school it was difficult-to-impossible to find Romero fans in the guitar department of either our school or the private school nearby who thought highly of the Romeros, FWIW. But I know younger players who think the world of Pepe and Angel.
Tosta, I can understand that. Many musicians I know don't like Mozart--but I don't think that means he's not good. What do you think of Pepe and Angel?
And Elvis's voice one of the finest;imho. Are there any with that caliber voice today--male or female? "None" that I know of,I'll say it again,-none.... Patsy Cline + Jim Reeves had great voices too. I find too many popular females of the last 20 yrs have been 'screamers'. Yuck. the men have been better (naturally :-).
The difference is that being a good singer used to be a ticket to stardom. Nowadays you might get a star who is also a good singer but its the overall bling and charisma that matters most.
ELvis got his break because he was a white guy who would appeal to the masses in his day. There were many others singing similar music prior that were not as successful commercially. SO really Elvis rode an early wave of pop stardom much like many do today, except today's pop music is much different.
Jim Reeves is almost in a class by himself in terms of longevity, mass appeal and charisma rooted mainly in his vocal abilities, at least from where I stand. Part of that is the timeless appeal of the songs of their day that he and the others mentioned sang. We'll see how well most of the pop stars of today are remembered 50-100 years from now. Some may retain a following but most will be forgotten as has always been the case.
Schubert, you give me too much credit but I thank you. Ptss, I think Pepe is a great player for concertos but he makes a sound with his thumbnail which I just cannot stand. I can even pick this sound out on the car radio when I don't know who the player is. So I can't listen to his solo playing for the most part. I have heard tracks of Angel playing solo which I liked. They are not among my favorite players (Segovia, Bream, Williams, Oscar Ghighlia, Eliot Fisk, Manuel Barrueco of the older set, and Jorge Caballero, Lorenzo Michele and Ana Vidovic from the younger generation).
I'm fan of modern school of classical guitar and like the following current classical artists: Jason Vieaux Ana Vidovic Modern classical guitar school allowes free and comfortable placement of the right hand oppose to Segovia's school of placing it perpendicular to strings thus allowing better possibilities to get clean notes.
For latin and flamenco, I'd pick Steve Stevens(who was performing with Billy Idol) Gerrardo Nunez from los jovenos flamencos (sorry no spanish keyboard for the right spelling) Gipsy Kings -- great gipsy/flamenco acoustic band
Here's one that although it isn't a stereotypical Flamenco/Classical recording I find it interesting, and more importantly, good enough to be included in a guitar thread! Vocalist (Jazz?) Cyrille Aimee's latest; 'It's A Good Day' features her unique band, made up of bass, perc, and 3 gtrs. The gtr players are said to be a Brazilean, a gypsy, and a Jazz player. Good record!
Schubert, Eliot's baroque performances are just unbelievable--more like a harpsichordist than a guitarist. You should check out his Scarlatti (if you haven't already).
Mapman,I agree about the timeless appeal of the songs being a factor with Jim (but I thought his voice and presentation could make most any song acceptable); and the loss of that in today's contemporary music I think guarantees your right- that most songs and singers will be fairly soon forgotten. Hopefully the 'screamers' first. Yuck.
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