Amazing Solo Piano Recordings

Really? A MAC truck? Hmmm... I've found him (in live performance, at least) to be rather sensitive and humble. However, I can imagine the MAC truck analogy being applied to his "Pictures from and Exhibition," although I might also call it "magisterial." His Scarlatti is a little strong, I would say, but you might like the Liszt. Not sure if it's still in print.

I can think of quite a few that I consider amazing, at least in the classical repertoire. (By "amazing", I mean
giving the sense that the instrument is in the room with me. Perhaps the original premise had more to do with the musicianship of the performer[?]).

Lately I've been trying to broaden my musical horizons, to the extent of buying some bluegrass, primarily AKUS, TBGT, Nickel Creek, etc. At the urging of one of my sons, I also bought a CD by Norah Jones: "Come Away With Me". (Not bad, but AKUS is still my "new favorite", heh heh.)

Back to Amazing Piano: track 14 on the Norah Jones CD, "The Nearness of You", contains some of the most natural piano sound I've heard. (Sure wish I could get used to her voice, with its characteristic hoarse whisper! First time I heard it I thought something in my system had gone south.)

Speaking of which:
Question for anyone familiar with this particular CD: What in hell is the noise 16 seconds into track 13,"The Long Day Is Over"? I can't determine if it's a cymbal, dubbed guitar distortion, or perhaps someone knocked the trap set over! Doesn't sound to me that it should be there.

Your thoughts, please?

914nut. I have the Norah Jones LP and its definately not your system. The recording of the instruments are great (even though the piano mix is spread across both channels instead of from a particular spot on the soundstage.

Norah's voice however is processed to hell. The sound effects added make it sound like she's singing through a toilet bowl.

I'll have to listen to track 13 again and see if I can figure it out.

I've got 3 or 4 worthy classical candidates for most amazing solo piano recording:

1. Chopin, Etudes, Murray Perahia. Sony CD. Recorded in 2001; engineered by Andreas Neubronner. Dazzling. The best playing I've ever heard from Perahia (and I've heard a lot of him, both live and recorded), the best version of the Chopin Etudes, and the best piano sound ever heard from Sony. (The sound is exceptionally vivid, close-up, and full-range; if you don't like close-up piano sound, you won't like this one.)

2. Piano Transcriptions, various composers, Arcadi Volodos. Sony CD. Recorded in 1996; engineered by Richard King. Simply astonishing playing, and first-rate piano sound. If you like virtuoso piano transcriptions, you'll love this one. Great fun.

3. Nojima Plays Liszt. Reference Recordings CD. Recorded in 1986; engineered by "Profesor" Keith Johnson. This one is already well known to many audiophiles and piano buffs, but it won't hurt to recommend it again. Breathtaking pianism and superb sound. The companion volume, Nojima Plays Ravel, also on RR, is also excellent. (I have reviews of both on Amazon.com.)

Well, since this subject has been revived - here's one:
Gershwin - Fascinating Rhythms - Clive Lythgoe, piano on Tioch Digital 1006 (LP - not sure if this is issued on CD.)

Beautiful recording and very, very nice interpretation - and I am by no means a Gershwin fan.