Acoustic Guitar

Update: Instead of starting a new "acoustic guitar" thread, I'm just updating this one to be about more than just classical guitar.

I've been super into classical guitar recordings lately. Andres Segovia and John Williams are great examples of the style I'm looking for, but most of the recordings of them are pretty mediocre.

William Carter Le Calme: Fernando Sor Late Works is a perfect example of what I'm after. Excellent recordings, well-played, and enjoyable music to listen to.

A couple of the Rodrigo y Gabriela albums are good, including Rodrigo y Gabriela and 11:11.

Milos Karadaglic Mediterraneo is just good enough as a recording that I still enjoy listening to it.

Does anyone have any other recommendations for classical/acoustic guitar music that is well-recorded?

 

If you can find it (and I think it's only in vinyl) Julian Bream - Guitar Concerto by Malcolm Arnold is among the best I've ever heard recorded both in sound and performance. I am unsure if it's part of the repackaged LSCs in Cd.

 

Not sure entirely about the recording, but Christopher Parkening, In The Spanish Style is worth a listen

 

Try this one too:

 

I'm a little late to the party but I'll suggest a few things:
1. Pablo Sainz Villegas - Villegas: Guitar Recital (Naxos)
Great modern recording by great artist. I've seen him live as well. Duly impressed with his skills and professionalism. Other albums also good, but this is my fav.

2. Mario Escudero - Mario Escussero and his Flamenco Guitar
Good older analog recording and unparalleled performance. I prefer Escudero to Segovia (have seen both live). There's some garbage in his discography, but performances are virtuoso. I once saw him play in a small venue in Santa Barbara amplified through a set of Magneplanars. Amazing intimate performance at the end of his performance career and unique sound equipment

3. Check out acoustic guitar company signature artists (e.g. Martin, Taylor...) for great artists who get sponsored to do great recordings to show off their wares.

4. Peruse and taste of Blue Coast Records for some amazing guitar recordings. Cookie really really knows how to master acoustic recordings like no other. I don't buy into the DSD is the only way garbage, but she clearly does outstanding work in recording, DAW and mastering.

If you're still wanting more, reply with feedback and I can get more specific.

 

Looks like Christopher Parkening's In the Spanish Style is up on youtube (the whole thing), see if you like it in attenuated youtube form and get the cd if you do.


first track


whole cd
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVVxCsn_em3XMtjFcEdh1jMaiI2B7z-Ls


I mean just listen to this:

 

This dude is my brother:



He's always uploading stuff to his youtube channel and has a couple of CDs.

 

This album by Charlie Byrd has some luscious acoustic guitar... it sounds outrageous on headphones.

 

One of the first recordings in DSD256...

FERNANDO SOR - GUITAR SONATAS (2014)
RICARDO GALLEN
Digital Converters: Merging Horus AD/DA
Mastering Engineer: Gonzalo Noqué
Mastering Equipment: Neuman KH120A
Microphones: Sonodore, DPA
Producer: Gonzalo Noqué
Recording Engineer: Gonzalo Noqué
Recording location: Iglesia de SanMiguel, Cuenca, Spain
Recording Sampling Frequency: DSD 256fs
Recording Software: Merging Pyramix Workstation

Link: https://eudora.nativedsd.com/albums/fernando-sor-guitar-sonatas

Stereo, Multi-Ch, ST + Mch on DSD64, DSD128 and DSD256

 

A binaural dummy head recording:



http://www.ottmarliebert.com/music/album/up-close

More like flamenco guitar fusion, though.

 

Andrés Segovia transcribed J.S. Bach magnificent masterpiece ...

Chaconne in D Minor (from Violin Partita No. 2 BWV 1004)

Here's the piece recorded in 1959 - the change from minor to major key after 8 minutes is so beautiful and different from the violin renditions.

The guitar's plucked notes humbly project Bach's music dedicated to his wife after her untimely death.

Segovia's manages to capture the spirit of Bach's Chaconne with unique dexterity, rhythm and dynamics ...

 

Bach's Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D minor BWV 903 arranged and played by Jorge Caballero



His take on Mussorsky's Pictures at an Exhibition

 

Ottmar Liebert is a very cool guy; he used to come into the nightclub/restaurant I worked at in Santa Barbara and we had no clue who he was until he said "you know that is my music you're playing" Very German, very chilled character. (plenty of other big names used to come in for dinner regularly too, but I really liked his music)

 

Nils Lofgren's Acoustic Live is an excellent and well documented example.

Personally I think anything from Candy Rat has been done well, and especially Blue Coast Music. Andy Mckee and Calum Graham are a couple favorites from CR I like.

Montreal Guitar Trio

Jesse Cook

Alison Krauss and Union Station - Paper Airplanes

I'll try to think of more. I play a lot of acoustic guitar so it's easy to tell what sounds like shit from mainstream stuff lol