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
Try this one on for size:

Pat Metheny's soundtrack to the Italian film "Passagio Per Il Paradiso"

Very different from his PMG and solo stuff.

Absolutely beautiful and heartfelt music.

I think it will fit the mood of your gathering perfectly.
Possibilities:

Edvard Grieg: Lyrische Stucke - Lyric Pieces
- Emil Giles, Piano

Parkening Plays Bach

John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman

Tord Gustvsen Trio: Changing Places

Blossom Dearie: Blossom's Own Treasures
Guarenteed to fit your bill - Brian Bromberg - "You know that feeling". Light (but not insipid) jazz - great tunes.
Absolutely unobtrusive, but at some point some or all of your guests are going to ask what that is - I use it for the same purpose all the time - always works.
Also real good for the purpose - Doyle Dykes, Fiingerstyle Guitar and / or Gitarre 2000.
Are you trying to show off your rig or have unoffensive (enjoyable) background music that will not hamper conversation?
To me entertaining a small group is all about the conversation.

Dave Grusin - "The Gershwin Connection"
Doc & Merle Watson - "pickin the blues"
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