Sunday at the Village
Vanguard
Riverside OJCCD 140-2 (RLP 9376)

Live recordings from 1961, capturing the essence of chamber music in its purest form, with the legendary bass player Scott LaFaro. I always come back to this one.

BACH

Six Suites for Violoncello
Solo BWV 1007-1012
Anner Bylsma
Sony Vivarte S2K 48047

Bylsma plays the Smithsonian's "Servais" Stradivarius cello, which seems to have a life of its own and he lets it live.

MILES DAVIES

Kind of Blue
Columbia CK 40579

Who could be stranded without this classic?

MILES DAVIES

Biwa. Traditional
Japanese Music
King Records Tokyo
KICH 2004

These are excerpts from Japanese epic songs, performed with Biwa (a plectrum instrument of the lute family), a rigorous and formal instrument which requires the performer to achieve great inner quiet, even when the story is describing a furious battle scene. Much to learn here for Western performers.

SATIE

Danses gothiques, Quatre Preludes, etc.
Reinbert de Leeuw
Philips 454 048-2