a little dinner music

Jaybo Yes, my approach is usually: Would you like some music on during dinner or do you prefer silence? What kinds of music do you like? If they say classical or jazz or something mellow, I will be armed and ready. Usually in their politeness they say anything you'd like me to hear. Once I start a CD, I say how about that? And they say wonderful.

. . . some good suggestions above, I aspecially like Jond's recommendation of Bill Evans.

Jaybo also makes a good point - I actually know some people who don't like music playing during dinner.

Finally, I have always liked Ralph Towner and Gary Burton - "Matchbook" for dinner music.

Agree w/Sogood re Houston Persons. Most any of his recent recordings on Blue Note. My wife prefers these when we have guests.

Also there are recordings by Charlie Haden that are not only good dinner stuff, but outstanding performances 'Beyond the Missouri Sky', and 'Night and the City'. Additionally, Andre Previn has three recordings on Telarc - piano trios with Ray Brown, Mundell Lowe and Joe Pass (on one disc).

While I love classical, especially piano, its hard to make a recommendation - I just don't think of it as good background music. But, having said that, the Jacques Loussier Trio has several lite jazz transcriptions of Satie, Vivaldi, Bach, etc, which might fit the bill.

Try The Damned, "Damned, Damned, Damned". It is perfect.

Curtis Stigers/ Secret Heart
Sparx/Reflections