Perfect Soundtrack for Stylish Sunday Lunch?


As much as I love a wide variety of music, I seem to have great difficulty matching music while entertaining guests.

This weekend, I am hosting a lunch for a few couples, some of whom are visiting from overseas, and I really need to make a good impression.

Perhaps it is because I am more interested in sitting down and really focusing on music than having it in the background, I find this so difficult.

Things that immediately come to mind are usually pretentious, overplayed, distracting and/or just plain wrong -- ie if I showed up at lunch and heard ein klein nachtmusik, the Four Seasons, or Diana Krall, it might put me off my food.

Then again, I dont want some cutting edge, underground, just pirated in from a night club in Paris kind of vibe unless I am intoxicated or non monogamous.

Now I have NEVER tired of late night dinners at Cafe Luxembourg listening to Kind of Blue, but since my house is not off Amsterdam Avenue at 2AM, they might not quite fit either?!

So any help would be greatly, greatly appreciated.

1:00 PM, in the country, rack of lamb, Bloody Marys, and ______ on the stereo.

Thank you very much.

PS

And maybe an iTunes compilation run through the computer would simplify things as well?
cwlondon
P.S. no comercials or DJ'S and no excusing yourself to change the LP/CD, you dont want to be interupted or interupt others to play music, you may seem more interested in music than in them..........we all know its most likely true though, and we wont tell!!!!!!!!
From experience, this one is perfect. Jim Hall and Bill Eavens, Intermodulations. I am, in general, wrong about everything. This moment is my one shining exception to that rule!

Chris
I find it's often better to let guests select the music. I wouldn't burden them with playing DJ during your event, but any non-offensive iTunes playlist should be fine. From here inform your guests as they arrive that they are free to play whatever they like - I suppose this all requires a computer/iPod near the system.

Many times I've deliberated with friends/family/etc over what music to play for an event. From my experience it's best not to fret too much over it - to each his/her own.

Good luck with the party.
How about some good classical spanish guitar. John Williams for example. For Jazz, I would suggest Pat Methany and Charlie Hayden's Beyond the Missouri Ski. This is a cd that has excellent quality and can either make good background or focussed listening. For classical, Richard Goode's Mozart might do the trick, or perhaps some cello such as Yo-Yo Ma Plays Bach or Janos Starker's Bach Suites fo Solo Cello. When entertaining, I like to have music that is not overwhelming and which has one or two instrument(s) so it doesn't compete with with the conversation.

Might I also suggest that you put some of the suggestions on during dinner a few time this week and see which of this threads suggestions allows for good conversation and does not get in the way.