Your reference piano recordings

ack

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May 6, 2010
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Let's start a thread on this. Here is the only album I could find in my collection that qualifies as my reference, and I have used it for about 15 years now (and what I demonstrated for Frantz at Goodwin's during his Spectral/Q7 audition).



If your system cannot accurately reproduce this piano you have work to do, as I do. If you are not startled by many of the tracks, like track #5 @6:33, you have work to do; thankfully, no problems there for me.

Nojima Plays Liszt on Reference Recordings RR-25 would be my second-best.

So what are your reference piano recordings?
 

RogerD

VIP/Donor
May 23, 2010
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Keith Jarrett...what can you say,I think he is one of the best ever. His Carnegie concert is just wonderful. I read he tunes his own piano,the recording captures all of his artistry and I never tire of this album.

 

Bill Hart

Well-Known Member
May 11, 2012
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Amina Claudia Myers Tribute to Bessie Smith- the piano has weight and lot's of overtones- i find the voice overloaded on recording but the piano sound is sublime. You need to get the original Leo records pressing the 'audiophile' reissue sounds dead and lifeless.
 

LL21

Well-Known Member
Dec 26, 2010
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FIM 32-bit Remaster Ltd Edition: Loussier Plays Bach
Angela Hewitt Beethoven Piano Concertos
Glenn Gould Bach Goldberg Variations...NOT a superb recording, but one I know well and have been surprised how great it can really sound
Occassionally:
- Oscar Peterson Recordings (many, many, incl the FIM Remaster of We Get Requests)
- MA Recordings Goldberg Variations
- Chopin Nocturnes Moravec
- Scarlatti Sonata - Pletnev
 

garylkoh

WBF Technical Expert (Speakers & Audio Equipment)
Sep 6, 2010
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Another solo piano I played today while flipping through my solo piano recordings:

Dick Hyman plays Fats Waller direct to CD. The story is pretty interesting:
http://www.technofileonline.com/texts/hyman-rr90.html

Because they recorded a Bosendorfer 290SE reproducing piano, they could edit Hyman's playing before "recording live".
 

jazdoc

Member Sponsor
Aug 7, 2010
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If by "reference" you mean solo piano and excellent recording, the one I use is this one on MA Recordings:

http://www.marecordings.com/main/pr...id=14&osCsid=4830c4e0668e19d7fe6fdd6532f5f638

View attachment 12631

Milcho Leviev is a great pianist. He has some terrific sounding jazz recordings on Japanese labels in the 70's and 80's and is featured on Art Pepper's great recordings at Ronnie Scott's re-released on Pure Pleasure Records in 2011 (originally released on the Mole label).
 

garylkoh

WBF Technical Expert (Speakers & Audio Equipment)
Sep 6, 2010
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Seattle, WA
www.genesisloudspeakers.com
Milcho Leviev is a great pianist. He has some terrific sounding jazz recordings on Japanese labels in the 70's and 80's and is featured on Art Pepper's great recordings at Ronnie Scott's re-released on Pure Pleasure Records in 2011 (originally released on the Mole label).

Thanks, Mark. I'm going to hunt down some of those.

Bulgarian Piano Blues was recorded by Todd in a Japanese hall.....
 

MylesBAstor

Well-Known Member
Apr 20, 2010
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moravec 1.jpg moravec 2.jpg

Wonderful playing and sound. Audiophile before audiophile was a word.

Oh yes, cheesecake cover as were a few others on the label :)
 

MylesBAstor

Well-Known Member
Apr 20, 2010
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moravec4.jpg moravec5.jpg moravec 6.jpg

Another Moravec, one of the "select" 45 rpm recordings on the Connoisseur Society label. Warning: there seem to be a higher defect rate among the 45 than 33 rpm reissues (though not piano, don't miss Ali Akbar Khan, Master Musician of India @45 rpm!)
 

Bill Hart

Well-Known Member
May 11, 2012
2,683
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Milcho Leviev is a great pianist. He has some terrific sounding jazz recordings on Japanese labels in the 70's and 80's and is featured on Art Pepper's great recordings at Ronnie Scott's re-released on Pure Pleasure Records in 2011 (originally released on the Mole label).

I have one of these with Milcho and Art Pepper- Blues for the Fisherman, can't remember the label, I've had it a long time, it is not a recent issue. Did Linn release these at some point?
 

drunkenrabbit

New Member
Dec 1, 2013
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Sydney, Aus
View attachment 12639 View attachment 12640 View attachment 12641

Another Moravec, one of the "select" 45 rpm recordings on the Connoisseur Society label. Warning: there seem to be a higher defect rate among the 45 than 33 rpm reissues (though not piano, don't miss Ali Akbar Khan, Master Musician of India @45 rpm!)

Yes - I love Moravec, and many of his recordings on Connoisseur and Supraphon. I also like Brendel & of course Claudio Arrau. I was directed to Moravec by Kal R. and shall be forever grateful. Thanks Kal :) and a happy New Year to you.
 

LL21

Well-Known Member
Dec 26, 2010
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Chopin Nocturnes played by Moravec is great. Favorite version though I've not heard that many.
 

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