Suggested Listening

(by Miroslav Tadic)

Although my students keep me updated on what the latest developments are, I find myself going back to the same old records for inspiration: Junior Wells and Buddy Guy, Mississippi Fred Mc Dowell, Robert Pete Williams, Captain Beefheart, Glenn Gould, Camaron de la Isla, Paco de Lucia, Jimi Hendrix, electric period of Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Johnny Hartman with John Coltrane, James Brown, Joao Gilberto, Guitar Slim, Muddy Waters, Concentus Musicus from Vienna... Wait a minute, I could go on and on. But here are a few records that I consider real treasures. Check them out if you have a chance:

• ROBERT PETE WILLIAMS: "Free Again" - this amazing blues musician plays and sings some of the deepest stuff you will ever encounter in this world.
• CAPTAIN BEEFHEART: "Lick My Decalls Off, Baby" - a must.
• LELA FAMILY of Permet: "Music of Albania" this CD may be difficult to find, but it is available. It was put out by the French Label Bleu (LBLC 2503), and it contains truly breathtaking music from a country that was, until recently, completely cut off from the rest of the world.
• VICENTE AMIGO: "De mi corazon al aire" - some of the most elegant and soulful guitar playing you can hear. (CBS/SONY COL468932 2)
• GLENN GOULD plays J.S. Bach: "The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2" - any musician can learn from these two supreme masters. (Columbia)
• THOMAS MAPFUMO: Chimurenga Forever - an excellent compilation by the great composer/bandleader from Zimbabwe. (EMI)
• TALIP OZKAN: The Dark Fire - the music of this great Turkish saz player and singer, deeply rooted in ancient tradition, is intimate and infinite at the same time. (Axiom)
• TERJE RYPDAL and DAVID DARLING: Eos - this is a little known jewel, which combines one of my very favorite electric guitarists with cellist David Darling to produce the sound from the deep, dark side. (ECM)
• GERGELY SARKOZY: Lute music by J.S. Bach - this practically unknown Hungarian lutenist plays some of the wildest, most convincing and most unique Bach you can hear today. He also plays a bunch of other instruments really well, and builds his own instruments. (Hungaroton)
• TURQUIE: Musique traditionelle - this collection of Turkish Classical Music contains beautiful, graceful music which breathes with the universe. (Ocora)

As far as I know, all of these are in print and available on CD, and definitely worth the search.

This is just the beginning, I'll be adding a bunch of other suggested recordings to the list. Happy listening, drop me a note and let me know how you like this stuff!