What We Listen To! | Part 1

In our new segment, "What We Listen To", Adrian list a few tracks that had us tapping our feet throughout the week. If you think we should continue this series, perhaps with others as well, let us know!
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Audio Excellence Inc. is a high-end audio/video store in Markham, Ontario, Canada, a suburb of Toronto. We've been in business since 1991.
Check out our interviews with designers and audio luminaries like Daryl Wilson of Wilson Audio, Paul McGowan of PS Audio, Paolo Tezzon of Sonus Faber, Wendell Diller of Magnepan, John Atkinson of Stereophile, Dan D'Agostino of D'Agostino Master Audio Systems, Nelson Pass of Pass Labs and others.
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[@carlstineman274]

I was surprised and happy to see you start off this series with an album of classical music. I take it that this series will be about music you simply enjoy and like to hear rather than test tracks you use when evaluating equipment. I don't hear classical pieces mentioned much in equipment reviews which I find odd as I think well recorded classical music can be very revealing of equipment performance.

[@adrianlow2114]

Yes, at least for me, the series will be firstly about music I love, and then the sound quality. I will try to recommend music that is also well recorded so that they might also be enjoyable to both music lovers and audiophiles

[@photoipster]

Adrian, i am so glad you are doing this. Hopefully the beginning of a series? The music is more important than the playback, and I’m not aware of a youtube that introduces me to new music. Well, john Devore’s record reviews are priceless! I’m currently listening to Stacey Kent, in Love Again…

[@adrianlow2114]

Hi! Yes, we hope to continue this as a series

[@theredboneking]

What's the difference between a conductor and God? God doesn't think he's a conductor.

[@savagefrieze4675]

Wow! Wonderful suggestions. As a photographer I’ve had the joy of working in classical music venues and practice rooms and have heard multiple Stradivari instruments in the same room. When you talk of Yo-Yo Ma and Rachmaninov you are speaking to my heart.

[@adrianlow2114]

Thanks!

[@pswitzeny]

Great series!! I really hope this keeps up and great suggestions!

[@adrianlow2114]

Thanks Paul

[@dpwrightjr109]

Great idea! I would recommend almost anything by Martha Argerich- her playing is astonishing. Her 1965 Legendary Recording is worth a listen. I don’t how you feel about other genres, but Allison Krause has a live album that musically sounds as good as studio work. Her voice on the a cappella song Down By The River to Pray is excellent.

[@adrianlow2114]

Great suggestions! Martha Argerich was going to be one of my selections in future. Allison Krause and Robert Plant had a wonderful album together

[@DJ_BROBOT]

ABOUT DAMN TIME!!!!!! IM HERE FOR THIS!!!

[@adrianlow2114]

Great!!!

[@davidlindsay6600]

thanks for recommendation Racmaninoff i forgot about cd's my mon had. he was buried in old home town she used to walk the cemetary for exercise its all about music

[@adrianlow2114]

My pleasure!

[@psyphonyxaudio]

I have another idea ... Give some of the patreon or donation folks the chance to recommend a song ..and each week you can comment on the song recommeded that week. ?

[@adrianlow2114]

Great suggestion. We don't have a patreon option, but I do like your suggestion

[@danijel-c]

Thank you for such great suggestions. 🙏

[@adrianlow2114]

My pleasure

[@SpeedySen]

Great initiative Adrian! Can u please create a playlist on Tidal so that we can also listen to these tracks?

[@goodsound4756]

Check the video description to find how to get their playlists.

[@MaestroSeven]

Pictures at an exhibition with the Chicago symphony and neeme Jarvi on a chandos label

[@carlstineman274]

Got a couple for you: Mendelssohn Midsummer Night's Dream and Symphonies 3 and 4: Short version: MND suite + #4: Yoel Levi Atlanta Symphony on Telarc Longer: MND and symphonies: Paavo Jarvi Tonhalle-Orchestra Zurich on Alpha Classics - best sound. Holst Planets Dutoit Montreal on Decca Mussorgsky Pictures + 1812 - Solti Chicago on Decca Copland Appalachian Spring, Rodeo, Fanfare Dorati Detroit on London - great sound and a magnificent Fanfare - demo worthy.

[@adrianlow2114]

Very good list!!

[@PCM-mc5xy]

Good stuff!!

[@adrianlow2114]

Thx!

[@paullemmens9056]

Hi Adrian, once again, an excellent video. Thanks for the nice song recommendations. Here sone tips, good for testing low heavy frequencies: "Jazz Variants", a song by O-Zone Percussion Group. Second recommendation is one from Wim Mertens, who is a renowned Belgian pianist and composer, the song is "Close Cover". Waiting for your next video. 😀

[@hyzeronhisrizer]

That whole album is killer, but in particular Jazz Variants! Excellent.

[@adrianlow2114]

Thanks!!

[@shanestephenson8423]

Hi Adrian, here's a couple for you, Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini & Poulenc Organ Concerto. By Cameron Carpenter This gets my Wilsons pushing some serious air around in the room. And another track When You Wish Upon a Star by Kat Edmondson. This track has amazing soundstage depth and width and she has such an old fashioned voice. Hopefully they are new to you and I hope you enjoy them. 🎧👍🙂

[@adrianlow2114]

Thanks I'll check these out

[@Ricky-cl5bu]

Brilliant I’m going to try them out 😊

[@adrianlow2114]

Excellent!

[@Michael-xz1nk]

Check out some Matthew Halsall tunes like “Falling Water “ or “Joyful Spirits Of The Universe”, among others. This is Alice Coltrane meets Miles in recent times. Fabulous, modern day cool!!!

[@adrianlow2114]

Thanks!!

[@carminedesanto6746]

GM ☕️🍩 I enjoy going to audio shows and visiting KZbin reviewers vids ..to hear what’s new (or new to me anyway ) and unusual pieces of music . Everything from movie OST , indie releases along with modern and classical jazz . Your selections are very interesting and definitely worth checking out! Have a great week.

[@adrianlow2114]

Thanks!!

[@alaincayer8999]

Thank you, I like very much Le due corde vocali from Musica Nuda with Petra Magoni. It’s minimalist and extreme at the same time.

[@adrianlow2114]

Love Musica Nuda

[@stimpy1226]

I’d like to throw my two cents in. Have you ever heard the 1938 wire recording remastered of Pablo Casal’s Bach Cello Suites? I can hear a small amount noise from the poor quality storage of this wire recording but Casals incredible Cello and his legendary playing is sheer ecstasy. In terms of vocals, there is an album by Al Jarreau, Tenderness in which he sings an incredible duo of intertwined voices with the one and only Kathleen Battle. The recording quality is quite good but these two incredible vocalists singing together is beyond belief. Like you Adrian, this is only my opinion.

[@adrianlow2114]

Wow, didn't know about the Casals. Yes love the Al Jarreau and Kathleen Battle

[@BillDouglass-m9d]

Lemmy is God and he's a metalhead!😊

[@ugottalovett6519]

My go to song for evaluating speakers is Joe Satriani’s Super Colossal album, a Cool New Way. The delicate layers of guitars in the background on both channels is amazing, imho

[@adrianlow2114]

Nice!

[@zizendorf]

Here are some recent purchases - both vinyl and CD. All are great recordings! Vinyl: The Original Source Beethoven's 7th, Berlioz Symphony Fantastique, Talking Heads "Stop Making Sense" re-master of 1984 live album, from the film by Jonathan Demme and Talking Heads, re-issue 2024 (amazing recording!), and Tom Petty and the Heartbreaker "Pack Up The Plantation Live. Amazing CD's: The Wailin' Jennys "Live at the Mauch Chunk Opera House" (only on CD from 2009), Jeff Buckley "Grace", and a new release - Joe Bonamassa "Live at the Hollywood Bowl" (with a 40 piece orchestra). Love 'em all!

[@adrianlow2114]

Thanks so much for adding to the list!

[@CarlVanDoren61]

Atomic Rooster 🐓

[@martlet530]

Always insightful videos from you! Hoping that you have included Eva Cassidy's Songbird album in your library as well as her cover of Over The Rainbow is an exceptional female vocal. Her album Live At Blues Alley also has excellent audio quality.

[@adrianlow2114]

Yes she was going to be one of the recommendations in future

[@ferrisburgh802]

Ditto Rachmaninoff here, especially the Vespers. For something new I would recomment, Schnittke Piano Concerto on Chandos conducted by Valeri Polyansky and Igor Khydolei on the Piano. BTW your channel is the best.. WIll definitely give Yesterday I Had The Blues a listen..

[@adrianlow2114]

Thanks so much

[@perandersson3356]

incase you have missed these: Hubert Sumlin - Sometimes I'm Right and Fausto Mesolella Tulipani

[@adrianlow2114]

Thanks

[@AudioVino1]

Thank you excellent recommendation.. listening to it right now as I type this

[@AudioVino1]

Excellent recommendation

[@revelry1969]

What’s your thoughts on hifi rose products? They have the RA280. Wondering what your opinions are. It’s not uber high end but it is a new and relatively affordable.

[@Exgol2005]

Sheffield Labs: Michael Ruff, Speaking in Melodies. Presence!

[@adrianlow2114]

Nice!

[@simonirvine1628]

Album = Kokoroko - Could We Be More

[@adrianlow2114]

Thanks!

[@woobiecat5631]

The first CD is a Blu-ray disk. What source component are you utilizing to playback Blu-ray discs? Or, are you using a PC? What Blu-ray player are you recommending? Would you recommend a few hundred-dollar Sony or Panasonic? In my case.....would it be possible or beneficial to connect the Blu-ray to the DAC of a CD player such as the RubyKi, or straight to an integrated Mcintosh 7900 Intergrated. I am beginning to notice that there are new BR HiFi offerings that I am interested in. But, I am worried to invest in yet another format. Thank you.

[@bbfoto7248]

That first Rachmaninov recommendation is a combination 2 CD+Blu-Ray disc, so you could simply listen to the CDs rather than the Blu-ray, or simply download this release available from several different Online sources.

[@bbfoto7248]

@adrianlow2114 Michael Daugherty - Tales Of Hemingway | American Gothic | Once Upon A Castle [Naxos Catalog # 8.559798] Zuill Bailey - Cello Nashville Symphony Orchestra (Cond. Giancarlo Guerrero) Paul Jacobs - Pipe Organ (select tracks) Favorite Track: The Sun Also Rises

[@adrianlow2114]

wow great recommendations

[@bbfoto7248]

@adrianlow2114 Clifford Jordan Quartet - Live At Ethell's [Mapleshade Records Catalog # 56292] Tenor Sax, Piano, Upright Acoustic Bass, Drums Favorite Track: 'Round Midnight ^Notes for the Nerds: Recorded Live @ Ethell's, Baltimore, MD, October 16-18, 1987. Engineered by Pierre Sprey/Mapleshade Records. Recorded Live to Two-Track Analog R2R tape @ 15 ips, 18 Hz- 42 kHz +/-3dB. Minimum mic'ing and minimum-length cabling. Omega Mikro Interconnects. Custom microphones & mic cables by Pierre Sprey/Mapleshade. NO Mixing Board, Filtering, Compression, EQ, Noise Reduction, Multi-tracking, or Over-dubbing. Digitally Mastered by Bob Katz, Digital Domain, NYC, using custom A/D converter @ 5,645K samples per second. STEREOPHILE says this about the ''Live At Ethell's'' CD: ''Simply one of the most natural-sounding jazz discs I have heard. The crystal clear ambience (a squeak of the hi-hat, the clink of a wine glass, the audience’s chuckles of delight) make this CD a pristine vignette of jazz as it was meant to be heard: LIVE.''

[@adrianlow2114]

Great recommendation!

[@bbfoto7248]

@@adrianlow2114 Thanks. I'm primarily a jazz drummer & saxophonist, so I take notice when recordings have captured these instruments in a truly lifelike manner. ;)