Dinner Music (Encore! Encore!)

[Natasha]

Hi everyone.

Eons ago I started a thread asking for dinner music suggestions. I enjoyed the responses and my music collection was enriched as well. I see that we have a large number of new members, so figured I would recycle this topic. I m sure there are many gems that have not yet been recommended. Thanks in advance. Good music makes all food and wine more enjoyable http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Here is the link to the original thread, BTW (though this link seems to be a bit wonky). http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/redface.gif
http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/Archives/Archive-000002/HTML/20010301-1-000375.html


[This message has been edited by Natasha (edited 04-29-2001).]

[LGBurns]

Okay, this is so weird I had to share. When I clicked on the link in your post, Natasha, I got the second page of that thread. When I clicked on the link for the first page, I got the first page of a thread on Holiday baking. ?! I have no idea why.

Anyway, I can't remember if I said this on the last thread so forgive me if I am repeating myself, but I love the music from A Charlie Brown Christmas for dinner music (obviously only around the holidays). Other times, I love to hear nice jazz, but I don't have any recommendations of albums.

[Kristilyn1]

Hi Natasha! I must have missed the first thread--but I saw two of my new "faves" on there.....

Ottmar Liebert and Jesse Cook. My husband and I had the great fortune to hear Jesse Cook play here in Providence a couple weeks ago. It is a mixture of Rhumba and ? (I have drawn a blank--perhaps someone can help me out?) it's lovely guitar music that if I closed my eyes--I swear I can picture bottles of wine, warm sun and the smells of Spain.....quite magical. Highly recommend.

Kristi

[BosunsWife]

DH's sister bought us a box set of Carly Simon - 1965--1995, for Christmas a couple of years ago. Great for listening to a dinner. We also will put on some good rockin blues if we are bbqing outside. I also enjoy listening to anything by Chris Isaak during dinner.

[woodsl]

My DH is so addicted to TV that the only dinner music I hear is theme music from TV shows. I haven't picked a favorite yet.

[KValley]

LGBurns- I just ran into the same quirk in rereading the original thread! Ah well, still got some great ideas.

Our choice for dinner music is most often jazz- generally bebop, small combo, west coast or vocal- Coltrane, Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Charlie Parker, Stan Getz, Paul Desmond, Billie, Cassandra Wilson, Diana Krall.

This time of year, though, as spring warms into summer, I'm all about samba, bossanova and Cuban son Jobim, Gilberto, Eliane Elias, Buena Vista Social Club, Chuco Valdes. My new favorptie is the soundtrack to Woman on Top which stars Penelope Cruz as a Brazilian chef who creates a hit cooking show on public tv in San Francisco. Adorable movie, fabulous music.

Also love Cape Verde morna like Cesaria Evora.

Van Morrison- can never get enough. Van is summer evenings on the patio, drinking wine, watching the moon rise. Also Chris Isaak's Baja Sessions

A special recommendation for Toots Thielemans's Chez Toots It will take you to a bistro in Paris- listening to it makes my heart ache for France. Same with any Django Rheinhardt

When it comes time to do dishes, however, we break out the Priscilla, Queen of the Desert soundtrack, or Saturday Night Fever http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[AD]

For dinner music, I first recommend David Foster's "Theme from St. Elmo's Fire" and "Flight of the Snowbirds." I also love Russ Freeman & the Rippingtons. David Benoit is excellent, especially "Kei's Song." John Nilsen is also a great pianist. I recommend "Sometimes Paris." Steve Haun is perfect for dinner music and has a mellifluous style. His best work is "Birth of Dreams."

A musician friend of mine, Beth Michaels, wrote some excellent albums not available in stores. They are on her website www.bethmichaelsmusic.com. (http://www.bethmichaelsmusic.com.) I really love her "Celebrate Now!" album. Her music is WONDERFUL!

[newsomz]

Wow. There have been so many suggestions. I'll have to head on over to amazon.com later and listen to a few selections. I'd have to second squirrel nut zippers for a funky, fun album to play. Also, I'd like to suggest Edith Piaf since I hadn't seen her mentioned. She's a great French singer.

Carrie

[Foodie49]

Diana Krall - this is very smoky jazz perfect for dinner. We have 4 of her albums. For a start, I would recommend "When I Look into Your Eyes". You won't be disappointed. (PS She is Canadian and raised on Vancouver Island, where I am also from - but I would still love her music).

[Natasha]

Thanks, everyone, for all the recommendations to date! MUCH appreciated. I have some listening to do and then doubtless some purchasing will be in store - pun intended (my apologies) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif I love discovering new artists!

Hey Kristi, how are ya? Hope all is well with you!


[This message has been edited by Natasha (edited 04-29-2001).]

[Alisa]

Anything by Ella Fitzgerald - Etta James is a close second.

[SandyM]

Gosh, seeing so many jazz lovers here warms my heart! Diana Krall is awesome (and sooooo easy on the eyes, for you guys!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif). I also love the Rippingtons, Acoustic Alchemy, Fourplay (earlier recordings with Lee Ritenour), and for a more upbeat gathering, Pat Metheny.

I also think the Squirrel Nut Zippers ROCK!

[philamark]

I love matching up my dinners (and even weekend breakfasts) to great music. I, like others here, LOVE Diana Krall, and yes, she is easy on the eyes :-) I have 4 CDs of her too, and can't wait for her next one! I saw her in concert here in Philadelphia a few years ago and just found her singing and music to be so enjoyable.

I have wonderful compilations from Williams Sonoma and Starbucks has great CDs too.

I love cocktail party CDs, and one of my favorites is an artist called Lavay Smith. Does anyone know of her? She has a couple CDs out but I only have one, and it's a winner!
This is a great topic to exchange!

[This message has been edited by philamark (edited 04-30-2001).]

[KValley]

Originally posted by browneye:
KValley- You are a woman/man???
LOL Generally, a woman http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

I was going to ask you if you shopped at Bud's Jazz Records in Pioneer Square? Close to heaven, Bud's is, but I always get so overwhelmed!

I love jazz- 30's-mid 60's primarily, or contemporary artists who do standards/classic jazz, or in that genre, like Joe Lavano, Christian McBride. A few notable exceptions in modern jazz with Pat Metheny, George Benson, Al Jarreau, Cassandra Wilson.

I will have to look for Marcia Ball. Is she anything like Nina Simone? I love Nina!

DH and I took up ballroom dancing about two years ago. We haven't been since returning to the NW last summer (no dance classes in town), but I am aching to get back into it. We were just starting to get really good at the waltz, swing, and our favorites- the Latin dances, when we moved.

Oh, there's a great Northwest singer you should look for -Kelley Johnson. I saw her perform here at the Jazz in the Valley concert series, held at the end of July in Ellensburg. She has several CDs out- they should be available just about anywhere in the Seattle area. She does the classics a la Diana Krall.

Anyway- it's great to meet another jazz fan! Keep those recommendations coming! Cheers, Julie

[browneye]

Julie-
Thanks for all the recommendations, I love those jazz standards too, in fact, I am currently in piano lessons, learning to play some- so far I have learned simplified versions of " A Foggy Day" and "I've Grown Accustomed to her Face" etc... very challenging.
Did you know Diana Krall is coming to the Chateau St. Michelle winery for a concert this summer? In fact, I have got to call for tickets soon. We love to go to the winery concerts on the grass.
I will watch for Kelley Johnson, must see!
I can't tell you if Marcia Ball is like Nina Simone or not- looks like I'll have to check her out!
As far as Bud's in Pioneer Square - oh what a place. I get just overwhelmed, too, so much good stuff.
Nice to see the jazz fans here!
Food and music- my two favorite things!
Ciao
Paula

[Wendy w]

My sister just LOVES Diana Krall, I like her too. Last summer we were in an art gallery in Niagara-on-the-Lake when we first heard her. We make fun of her when she sings along with "Popsicle Toes" http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif .

[SusieO]

[quote]Originally posted by browneye:
[b]Another bluesy and boogie/woogie lady is Marcia Ball. She does some really slow, sultry 1

[browneye]

KValley- You are a woman/man??? after my own heart! I second many of your recommendations.. I see that we have many similar taste in music, and I must try some of the music that you recommended that I am unfamiliar with...(you posted on another thread about romantic dinners too, that I noticed)

I also love Charlie Byrd/ Stan Getz and Laurindo Almeida with or without Stan Getz. Diana Krall is soooo lovely. Another bluesy and boogie/woogie lady is Marcia Ball. She does some really slow, sultry blues songs that I just LOVE.
After dinner, my DH and I sometimes roll up the persian rug to one side of the room and dance the jitterbug on the hardwood floor to swing music. It is really fun. Sometimes we get a knock on the door from the neighbors complaining that our music is too loud. No sense of humor.
I don't feel too bad since I think it keeps us young-we're 40++.. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif