Your favorite musical performances

[TitoFan]

I am glad a guitarist is in this thread, George Benson is my personal favourite.

What a master, George Benson. Always dug his stuff!

@TitoFan have any great Puerto Rican stuff to recommend?

@vidgil

It's all a matter of taste, my friend. Although there are many musical genres native to Puerto Rico and the rest of the Caribbean, my own personal tastes gravitate toward the salsa that was composed and played by bands back in the 70's and 80's mostly. Some of these groups are still around, and I go see them any chance I get. The musicians are awesome, but again... you have to like that sort of thing. Salsa, remember, is very rhythmic, and given the right musical arrangement and composition, it's almost impossible not to dance to. I however enjoy just listening to it and watching old videos.

I would say most anything from groups like Fania All-Stars, a congregation of great salsa musicians from different backgrounds. There's also the hugely popular Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, formed in 1962 and probably PR's most popular band. One of my personal favorites is La Sonora Ponceña, because of their musical style.

One of my favorite CD/DVDs is from Fania All-Stars' 30th anniversary live perfomance in 1994 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is awesome, and it was gratifying to see so many now older musicians get together for this tremendous event. I saw them live for the first time in 2013, obviously a little long in the tooth by now. ..... but still good.

[El Kabong]

Art fucking Tatum.....somebody cool those keys off

[Gandalf]

If we are going with piano and a bit of voice, I would say this is very nice.

[brocktonblockbust]

That was nice, I wish I could have learn to play. My nieces are learning and it helps with their mental development that play stations/x box do not seem to do for my boys.

yeah but I bet they won in bowling

[Andre]

[Andre]

I love this piece,To me it sings of eras past, times in the sun, rainy days looking out the window and the gain in the height of love, then loss. Like summer from beginning to end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W_G3..._G3xmSGfo#t=20

[vidgil]

I love Frank Zappa. Such an underrated prolific music genius.

I watched a video of Steve Vai talking about him a few weeks ago, it's an interesting little anecdote for any Zappa fan.

[pacfan]

Like most pianists I've fawned over Glenn Gould since I began playing. He was a strange little fellow but he could sure play the hell out of a piano.

I prefer his 1981 Goldberg variations recordings over his 1956 recordings. He slowed it down a bit and played with more UMPH. Maybe my favorite performance!

Yes, my favorite as well and I have both versions. His crisp and rhythmic staccato style is makes this performance very enjoyable to the ears. Definitely, this is one of few classical performances that clearly stands out. Even non-classical music lovers would probably enjoy this recording. Try it, the nice rhythmic flow would please your ears.