Classical Aficionados: Please Suggest Debussy Solo Piano recordings

@antigrunge2 , @edcyn 

Thanks to you both  -- I will explore !

@newbee 

Thanks for your suggestions!  I'm just starting my Classical journey. Having grown tired of Rock in the late 70's, I began a long exploration of Jazz that is still ongoing. However, at this point, I think I've pretty well found what I like in terms of Jazz. I need to plumb a different well. 

Listening to Debussy solo piano is somehow "familiar". Perhaps this can be explained by his influence upon some my favorite Jazz piano players (Hancock, Corea, Evans, for example).  I don't know that I'll ever enjoy a wide range of Classical Music but at this point, I'm excited to discover whatever might appeal to me within the genre. 

@gg107 

Unfortunately, "cocktail pianist" is for me, off-putting rather than enticing.  

Perhaps, once I've digested the Bavouzet, I will explore other Debussy interpreters. For now, I'm more interested in finding other composers who might appeal to me as a Jazz lover. 

@mahler123 

OK-- second vote for Michelangelo. I will keep him in mind. Don't recall having heard Ciccolini's name, before. Will investigate them both. Thanks!  

@gg107 

I apologize for the curt tone of my response -- it was unwarranted. I do appreciate your having taken the time to make a suggestion. 

stuartk, A suggestion for you in your search. Rather than trying to find a composer which might prove difficult as their body of music can be vast and very different piece to piece, if you pick a sour one it might be least representative of his other works, you can try getting compilations of works by pianists and labels in which you will discover a lot of diversity which would otherwise elude you. I would recommend if you chose this method to start with recordings from Steinway & Sons (and Jenny Lin). For some other current pianists who do compilations, i.e. programs as you would hear in concert, you could try Stephen Hough, Imogen Cooper, and Yuja Wang. BTW, Beethoven’s music for solo piano is profound and worth some listening effort, and if interested, Bavouzet has a worth while set out that I like. This is meat that sticks to the bones! but maybe for a bit later perhaps.

BTW, I love Jazz - I got started exploring this by listening to side men on recordings that I liked (as well as other recordings by the principle performer. Started with Evans, Peterson, Getz, Previn, etc. My only complaint about a lot of jazz from the 50’s thru 70’s is ’drums’. I like them live but not so much in my home. Jones, Jamal, and Jarrett, Peterson are my go to pianists. And I love Charlie Haden’s recordings, all of them!

Have fun.

@newbee

Great idea! This has occurred to me but I haven’t had a clue re: how to go about it. Also, forays on Spotify have made me aware that listening to groups of any short form in one sitting can test my patience, especially if the differences between each track are subtle. As a Jazz fan, I’m simply accustomed to more variation/contrast in mood, tempo, etc. from track to track.

When you say: "My only complaint about a lot of jazz from the 50’s thru 70’s is ’drums", do you mean you simply don’t enjoy the sound of a trap set?

My brother dislikes the sound of sax, which is, needless to say, quite an impediment when it comes to Jazz listening.

Similarly, I’ve never warmed to the sounds of the Classically-trained voice or full orchestra. I prefer smaller groups in Jazz as well -- you'll find no Big Bands in my collection. Even if this were not the case, I suspect my monitor-based system is not up to the task of presenting an orchestra in a convincing manner. 

In terms of Jazz vocalists I like, Sarah Vaughan is the one who most closely approaches the sound of a Classically-trained singer. Hopefully, despite these limitations, I’ll still be able to discover plenty of Classical music to enjoy.

Thanks again for your generous responses.