How diverse is your musical taste?

I'm also a fan of stylistic diversity in music. It seems more common here on Audiogon than in most places, which is one of the joys of this community. While the world seems to be moving inexorably toward catering to narrow tastes, many of the members here seem more likely to embrace the new and different.

As radio and internet station programming has generally (tho not always) gotten narrower over time to accommodate more efficient advertising economics, it's getting harder to find satisfying outlets that wander around genres. The diversety of the material is probably the main reason that I really like American Idol. Even if the performances are sometimes lacking, it's one of the few mass outlets that promotes stylistic diversity in music. In this age of narrowcasting, anything that features stylistic breadth is IMHO a good thing.

On another front, I'm a guitar student and my instructor laughs at some of the ground I've asked him to cover in the 4-5 years we've been doing this. We've touched on rock, blues, jazz, classical, fingerstyle, bluegrass, mainstream country, funk, rockabilly, western swing, etc. He came recommended by a friend who had also taken up the guitar at just about the same time. That student has rarely strayed from Metallica.

OTOH, that guy is a wildly successful hedge fund manager who has just built an insane 18,000 sq. ft. house that includes a performance stage w/PA and lighting in the back yard, a huge ornate theater room, a dedicated guitar room, a dedicated listening room, a video game-pinball room, and an amazing indoor/outdoor pool to go along with the full-blown observatory for computer tracked star-gazing. Hmmm, maybe I should re-focus exclusively on Metallica going forward. Upon reflection, I'm not so sure about this diversity thing after all....

Marty

I am like Marakanetz in that I admire originality more than anything. I tend to go through phases whether it be bluegrass, hard rock, reggae, classical,blues, jazz, or the various sub genres. The joy of having a large diverse physical collection is that you occasionally experience serendipity by playing an old piece you hadn't heard in awhile. It is kind of like revisiting on old friend. Last weekend I played "Seven" by the British group James. They never really took off in the U.S., but what a great band. Sometimes, the simple pleasures in life are the most rewarding.

I like both types of music ... Country and Western (;-)

Over the years I find work (songs) in almost every genre that I like. Does not mean that I have music by the artist however. For example I simply love "I Want you to Want Me" by Cheap Trick Live at Budokan, but I have no music by them. It's their only song I like. I'm primarily a Jazz head (Hard Bop, Modal jazz etc). I love Miles, Trane, Monk etc. I like Grooveshark for example, where I can take out samples from many different artists and genres and save them as a playlist; (like the song by Cheap Trick) also Youtube is great for that. But as far as what I buy, it will be Jazz. My 9 year exposes me to Top 40 music that I would never normally hear. For example, I'm crazy about the FLO rida song that's out now "Wild Ones;" That girl featured in the song, Sia, has a smoldering sound that oozes sexuality as much as any woman can do on a song. Sia is undiscovered by many. Then I used to have something by Patsy Cline; then I have something by Pavaratti or music by Yes, and much music by James Brown. So I too am all over the place with my musical taste. If it touches me, the genre does not matter.

just listened to some peruvian flute ensemble and now back to drive=by truckers. all music is great. er???still trying to figure out the residents and sun ra though....