Need suggestions for a dinner music
 

I’m throwing a small get together this Friday and wanted some nice music for the background, it is semi formal and want the music to match. But I have no taste in music, and need help.

Something classy, soft that will not get in the way of talking, but will cover any awkward silences.

Thanks in advance.

~dil

A couple that spring to mind, although my take on "classy and soft" may be entirely different to yours...


- Ani de Franco - Pulse
- White Stripes - I Want To Be The Boy To Warm Your Mother's Heart
- Tom Waits - Blue Valentine
- Badly Drawn Boy - Magic In The Air
- Ryan Adams - Damn Sam
- Bjork - My Spine
- Jeff Buckley - New Years Prayer
- Nick Cave - The Ship Song
- Coldplay - Green Eyes
- Elvis Costello - I Want You
- Housemartins - Caravan Of Love
- Massive Attack/Portishead - Teardrop
- Natalie Merchant - Thank You
- Van Morrison - Into The Mystic
- Powderfinger - These Days
- Reindeer Section - If Everything Fell Quiet
- Llorando ('Crying' from Mullholland Drive)
- Gary Jules - Mad World
- Split Enz - Message To My Girl


That may do for starters?

oh wow, i was just looking for albums that i would have to sort through, thanks a bundle!

I think the best music for dinner parties is jazz. It's got a beat to it that usually keeps people feeling awake, yet in most cases, you're dealing with instrumentals - meaning there aren't any lyrics that your guests may pick up on and distract from conversation.

My favorite CDs to play during dinner parties are:

Dave Brubeck: The Essential Dave Brubeck (piano based jazz with occasional vocals, horns as well)

Oscar Peterson Trio: Night Train (this is just piano, drums and bass)

Charlie Hunter Trio: Bing! Bing! Bing! (this is more modern jazz, features the horns and even a great jazz cover of Nirvana's "Come As You Are")

Charlie Hunter and Pound For Pound: Return of the Candyman (same as above, except instead of horns, the main instrument is a vibraphone (sounds kinda like a xylophone but without sounding like a toy))

If you are looking for vocals, I'd suggest pretty much any CD by Frank Sinatra (Songs for Swingin' Lovers! is a good one), Norah Jones (a little softer tempo) and today's jazz genius, Diana Krall (I'd suggest "Live in Paris" which has audience ambience, that always keeps the mood light.)

Good luck and let us know what you go with!

I second the motion for jazz for the reasons mentioned.

Try some Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington or maybe some Miles Davis. Those should keep the party classy and provide some mood music as well.

Metallica
*just kidding*
I agree with everyone else, jazz is great dinner atmosphere, also any Sinatra type music played low.

This may be a bad idea if there are any musicians on the guest list. From my own personal experience, I find that jazz will not stay in the background if I'm in the room; I can't help but actively listen to it, and most other musicians are the same way about it.

Honestly, I think it all depends on your guest list. If the guest list is eclectic (and there are no musicians), then light jazz would be perfect. If the guest list is conservative, try going with something retro like Perry Como, Tony Bennett, or Sandler & Young. If the guest list includes tree-hugging hippies, then you're going to need Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young and Joni Mitchell.

If all else fails, Harry Connick, Jr. is foolproof.

Dean Martin.
Louis Prima.
Frank Sinatra.
Hank Williams Sr.

Art Pepper
Stevie Stevens
Yoshimi
Cecilia Bartoli
John Pizzarelli

usually for dinner music, i just turn on "groove salad" (internet radio) via http://www.somafm.com

good mix of ambient, electronica. very sophisticated, mixed tempo, urban.

but yeah, jazz and sinatra are a good mix.

dunno--if i was at this dinner party, the straight jazz would annoy me---personally, i kinda like strange things like glenn gloud playing bach's well tempered clavier or howling wolf's acoustic stuff for this kind of situation. or netradio, like radio darvish (i have been on a persian classical music binge of late--check it out though--it requires no changing on your part and could be just the thing)

Who the hell invites musicians to a dinner party? :D

I'm only speaking for myself here, but as a musician, no matter WHAT music is being played, I actively listen. So if you have musicians at your party, just give up on the music and make sure there are plenty of cocktail weenies.

Who the hell invites musicians to a dinner party?

quadro: that's really funny, thanks....it made me remember a poster i saw in the apartment of a trumpet player i used to work with--the caption went something like

musicians:
they eat all your food
they drink all your beer
they smoke all your cigarettes
they never leave

when our musician friends are here, I just let them put on whatever they like from my collection. They're usually in a mood for some rifs I forget I had and it's nice to see them enjoy my stuff. Though they usually borrow something I own - with promises to return it soon. Then I have to remember who to get it back from but "no worries".........

I really tend to like The Cure alot when I'm doing something relaxing. Like resting or dinner or something...but that's me. I dunno of anyone else who listens to The Cure during something like that...:P

The Cure is great and that's true, but darlin' that ain't dinner music.

Back in Black by
ACDC...

Sarah Vaughan sings the Gershwin Songbook Vols. 1&2
Anything by Frank

Lavay Smith & The Red Hot Skillet Lickers - There is Something About Miss Thing

Ottmar Liebert - Nouveau Flamenco

Steve Stevens - Flamenco A-Go Go

Craig Chaquico - Panorama

(A few favs)