Amazing Solo Piano Recordings

Kissin playing Liszt Transcendental Etudes. He really captures the magic, fire and poetry of this fantastical composer. And I'm not a Kissin fan either. Incredible virtuosity in the truest sense of the word.

Thanks, Buxter, for the DG/Schumman comments. Very helpful. As for your second post regarding Kissin, I'm not a huge fan of his, either, but will give him a listen. What do you think of Pletnev's Liszt?

In general, I like Pletnev, he's a great pianist, and an excellent all around musician, a huge sound, a solid and individual approach to things, but I'm not totally sold. There's an underlying MAC truck thing going on that I find taints everything he does a little. But... that is why he is having a thriving and successful career in this current "marketplace/environment".
And I haven't heard his Liszt. I'll look for it.

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?