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Music, new artists, found at HiFi Shows

One of the main reasons I go to shows, is to pick up new artists or recordings, I have'nt heard before. There have been so many over the years, including some mainstream artists, I should have known about. It seems a good place to find new music, the demo's should be with the best sound the manufacturer knows, to show his kit in the best light. Many times of course it's Jazz quartets playing soft, boring, slow ballads. Not that I don't like Jazz.

Maybe the subject won't interest you, but I will start off with a few standouts, for me.

Shawn Colvin "Fat City", heard at a Naim demo 10 years ago. I loved it and have most of her recordings now. Went to a live show and she was so shy, I don't think she said 5 words, great show though.

Nils Lofgren "Acoustic Live", just a great recording and great music.

Rosa Passos "Rosa", again, just a wonderful recording and voice.

Anyone else got any standout memories?
david12
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marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
i lately found youtube is better source to research new artists.
tom6897's avatar
tom6897
1,484 posts
 
Found: Kurt Elling, Keb Mo, Sara K, Eric Bibb, Allan Taylor,
Marc Cohn and Chris Jones just to name a few. Thank you CES, T.H.E. Show and Axpona.
rpeluso
1,048 posts
 
Not exactly at a hifi show; many years ago I went to Lyric and heard, for the first time (not the last) Elly Ameling, An Die Musik, am forever grateful. I ended up purchasing their demo Classe Dr-5 and Dr-8s which I am still using (with5A speakers for the past year)- and a second DR-8, each in mono.
david12 OP
1,454 posts
 
Viridian I can't agree with you. I think they are a good place to hear artist/CDs, you have'nt heard before. They are also a great place to pick up free demo CDs, there is usually at least one, in most shows. Also you find the manufacturers demo CDs, that are'nt sold in the marketplace. I'm thinking here of the Dali 2nd demo CD , I bought recently. Not as good as the first, but still pretty good.
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savjam
48 posts
 
Musica nuda -"live a fip (YG Acoustics); I have since bought four other CDs.
Shelby Lynn - "just a lite loving" (B&W)

These are a couple gems I picked up at the 2012 Axpona show in Jacksonville.
maplegrovemusic's avatar
maplegrovemusic
1,113 posts
 
A great free resource some people overlook or not even know have cd's are libraries. You can grab a stack and bring them home. obviously selection can be hit or miss but i have found alot of obscure names i had never heard of . New to my ears music is always a joyous discovery . How many hundreds of times can one hear the same recordings .
david12 OP
1,454 posts
 
I agree, many do play boring music, which is easy on system reproducton, but as you say, you do pick up the odd gem, at least I do.

I do think recording quality matters to. Compressed, over loud recordings, still sound just that, through a good system.

I find Amazon a good source. Some of the CDs or so cheap, it's worth taking a risk. I listened to a recording I bought recently, I doubt many have heard of, Agnes Obell "Phillharmonics", just a lovely recording. I found my all time favourite CD there too Mark Murphy "Love is what stays". If you don't think recording quality counts, listen to that, just stunning. I don't think I have played it to anyone who has'nt bought it, including 3 dealers.
albertporter's avatar
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albertporter
4,949 posts
 


I found Felix Laband (the South Africa artist) music at the Montreal show a few years ago. Totally electronic and a bit off from the general publics taste for pop but it's a refreshing change for me.

The next Canada show I discovered "I'm New Here," a super album by Gil Scott Heron. Sadly Mr. Heron died May 2011.

Marakanetz is somewhat correct, some rooms play the same old tired audiophile hits, hoping the problems that come with show demos are minimized.

However, the few gems I've found are priceless so I keep looking.
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
I Youtube and don't care how well they're recorded. Only care how well they're played. Lots of well recorded music at HiFi shows either borring or played poor.
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