Music recommendations

my favorite pianist is thelonius monk. he was a genius. others: dave brubeck keith jarrett - brilliant improvisationist herbie hancock the list goes on...just follow the trail of recommendations at amazon, listen to some clips. violin: stefan grapelli (sp?) is one of the most popular jazz violinists. here's a few modern bands that play instrumental stuff that's great for just vegging: tortoise do make say think explosions in the sky four tet brokeback godspeed you black emperor sigur ros (has vocals but you can't understand them) rachel's <- particularly recommended by me. give them a listen at amazon. /andrew - knows that words get in the way, sometimes

He was indeed. Nobody can argue with this list. I will say that many of these artists had very different sounds throughout their careers, so I'm going to recommend specific albums. Thelonius Monk - Brilliant Corners. You could also pick up some of his compilations, but this album is widely considered a masterpiece. Dave Brubeck - Time Out. Another masterpiece; you'll recognize some of the tracks from commercials and whatnot. When you get it, pay attention to the meter. Some tracks are played in 5/4, some in 9/8 (I think). It's amazing how smooth it sounds, even with the strange meter. Herbie Hancock - Takin' Off. As a huge funk fan, it's difficult for me not to recommend some of his albums in the 70s, but this one is more in line with what I think you're looking for. With Freddie Hubbard on trumpet and Dexter Gordon on tenor, it's hard to go wrong. Caution - stay away from anything after 1980. Personally, I think Herbie's best work was with Miles, so... Miles Davis - Miles Smiles. Herbie's just great on this album. However, Miles's earlier quintet had some great piano work too, so... Miles Davis - Relaxin' (Steamin', Workin', Cookin&#39 with the Miles Davis Quintet. It's amazing how consistently good these four albums are. Red Garland is great and on tenor, the immortal John Coltrane. Miles Davis - Kind of Blue. Had to mention it. Bill Evans - Tony Bennet Bill Evans Album. Bill Evans was a herion addict, a wife beater, and one of the most hauntingly beautiful pianists of our time. Coupled with Bennet, this album is silk. Art Tatum - 20th Century Piano Genius. A true virtuoso. Every time I listen to Art Tatum, I get the distinct feeling that he's fucking with me. He works melodies into songs you'd never think possible; he plays runs that you swear he'd have to cross his hands for. He was inventive, joyous and funny. OK, I'm done.

I'll second Faustian's recommendations (minus godspeed) and add a couple: Blockhead DJ Signify

VersaceMan, instrumental music: The Soft Machine - late 60s spacy psych-jazz. It has vocals, but it's VERY ahead of it's time. I mean VERY. Manitoba - one of my favorite bands. Up In Flames is unassailably awesome. It's upbeat, but definitely cool. Mogwai - inventors / gods of post-rock. Very emotionally arranged instrumentals. Minimal vocals. Very relaxing. Bardo Pond, Max Richter, Rachel's - other post rockers. Great bands. My Bloody Valentine - Inventors / gods of shoegaze. People started calling it shoegaze because guitarists for said genre would be using so many effect pedals they would practically be staring at their feet, messing with the effects. Subdued vocals on this one. * Kevin Shields, songwriter / singer of MBV arranged and wrote most of the Lost in Translation OST. Other shoegaze - M83, On.Air.Library. Four Tet - laid back, slightly jazzy electronic. Ulrich Schnauss - On the same label as Manitoba (DOMINO). Loud, relaxing electronic. Very downtempo, and very beautiful. Since you sound like you are looking for some relaxing music, I'll give you a nice list you can start hacking away at and find what you like. The Microphones - Experimental Lo-Fi Folk, very soothing, catchy, ambiguous pop music. Most songs are generally about being happy. Phil Elverum, singer/songwriter (it's a one-man band but other artists guest on nearly every song) is a genius. He is also the drummer for Old Time Relijun, a band which shares nearly no aspects with the Mics. I recommend Mt. Eerie, and The Blow, pt. 2. Mirah - Woman singer/songwriter who guests on most Microphones songs. Beautiful airy voice. If you are into this stuff, check out Liz Janes , Keren Ann and Cat Power as well. Brian Eno - specifically Another Green World. Very relaxing, full, ambient music recorded in the 70s. William Basinski - The Desintegration Loops I-IV. This guy made tapes of ambient noise loops in the 80s, and started putting them together on CDs at the same time that 9/11 occurred. He noticed his loops started to slowly die and deteriorate, and these albums are a beautiful metaphor for human life and the earth. You MUST listen to this, even if only once. Download it and listen to it. He is so undercredited for these albums. Cyann & Ben - folk group that is on the same label (GOOOM) as M83. Awesome stuff. Panda Bear - Young Prayer. Only if you're feeling adventurous and open minded should you listen to this. It's incredible, but you have to have an open mind to accept it. It's not as accessible as the other bands I've listed. If you want more, I would be more than happy to list you out great bands for you. You can even specify exactly what you want and I bet I can find you it. Say you want, "Really raunchy lo-fi punk, but slower paced, with more space in between instruments, preferrably from the 80s... and uh.. with a beat I can dance to." I'll hook you up.

Hey, great to see that some people are listening to good stuff. Mogwai, Explosions, Four Tet, Do Make Say Think; yowzers a good selection. My Recommendations: The Soft Boys Neu. De La Soul Modest Mouse Quickspace Stereolab Fridge Boards Of Canada Plaid Aphex Twin Felix Da Housecat Joy Division Lazyboy Lemon Jelly Monster Magnet Gong My Bloody Valentine Slowdive late Radiohead Alfie Belle and Sebastian The Go. Team Scratch Perverts The Plump DJ's Soulwax AND 2ManyDJ's Laika Kings of Convenience Tindersticks DJ Yoda Folk Implosion Hood The Kills and finally Syd Barrett. If your going to have a party, I strongly recommended 2ManyDJ's - As Heard On Radio Soulwax (Part Two). It is a classic.

Jazz pianists: Oscar Peterson, Oscar Levant, Art Tatum, Bill Evans, Jelly Roll Morton, Thelonius Monk violinists: Grapelli (for jazz..he's amazing) classical: Heifetz, Milstein, Kogan, Oistrakh, Rabin (oldies) Josefewicz, Hahn, Shaham, Vengerov (new guys) And if you want something truly 'different', check out Mr. Bungle. koji

Classical violinists Would also suggest: Renaud Capucon--who, with his brother on cello, have made some outstanding recordings.   Joshua Bell--plays with a nod to an older school of expression.  Bell is one violinist who plays perfectly in tune.  His playing is so clear. Go rent the DVD to "The Red Violin".

Spiritualized Radiohead (Kid A) Sigur Ros Elliot Smith Nick Drake Eric

For something beautiful and mellow try Morcheeba. Try Birkenhead's finest "Half Man Half Biscuit" for something unusual, their output it is like a musical version of the Simpsons, packed with sometimes obscure cultural references which it is quite fun to spot. (The British members would find this more accessible, they cover everything from Trumpton and Kendo Nagasaki to Lev Yashin and CAMRA) For something thought provoking try Roger Waters, especially "Amused to Death."

Try some Tristeza out.. Click Here MP3 They are just..amazing. Just click on skip to skip registration.

Joshua Bell plays like a girl. Also, just about every major concert violinist plays very well in tune, and on recordings nowadays, poor intonation just doesn't happen.

jazz piano: mingus nice call on the brian eno, brianSD relaxing contemporary: mum, sigur ros, mogwai, aphex twin's selected ambient works volume 2

Listen to Matthew Shipp. Amazing jazz pianist.