Igor Stravinsky’s Le Sacre du Printemps
Estradasphere
Zoe Keating
I recommend one of the coolest bands of all times whose stuff is exclusively instrumental (if they are not backing up others): Booker T. & the M.G.'s.
Henry Mancini has to fit in there somewhere.
Just want to add: Mix up the styles to stay creative. I’ve found that my art will change style based on what I’m listening to.
I have a playlist called “Draw, pardner” – lots of minimalist vocals, like Sigur Ros. But if I stick with one style, I get in a rut.
Thanks for this thread, which reminded me to finsh a long overdue task and make a playlist out of all my instrumental music. So I can perhaps add a few names for you.
I don’t see any Big Band music listed. Check out Glen Miller, Count Basie and Woody Herman.
Let me echo Jackmannii about surf music. Mostly instrumental, mostly pretty high energy, surprisingly complex but very melodic. The King of Surf Music is Dick Dale – the most recognized surf songs are probably Miserlou, Pipeline and Wipeout
Some other groups worth checking out - Buckwheat Zydeco, Deodato, The Chieftains, The Ventures
Some individual song suggestions -
Also Sprach Zarathustra by Deodato
Hoedown and Fanfare for the Common Man by Emerson Lake and Palmer.
Peter Gunn - There are several good versions of this. I have one by Emerson et al and by Duane Eddy. (Actually, kind of surfy too)
Birdland - Weather Report
Take Five - Quincy Jones
Rock It - Herbie Hancock
I Robot - Alan Parsons Project
Pick Up the Pieces - Average White Band
Raunchy - Bill Justis
Guitar Boogie - Les Paul
Love’s Theme - The Love Unlimited Orchestra
These are all over the map stylistically, but I’d bet you’ll recognize most of them.
My favorite is the David Grisman and Stephane Grappelli Live album.
When I was going to school, I listened to a lot of Kitaro while studying. Lyrics distracted me as well.
Thumbed-up Tracks from my Instrumental station on Pandora:
‘S Wonderful by Artie Shaw
A Banda by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
A Path With Heart by David Lanz
A Summer Breeze by James Scott
Ace Of Spades by Link Wray & His Ray Men
Adventure No. 8 by Jim Chappell
Afrikaan Beat by Bert Kaempfert
Apache by Link Wray
As Time Goes By by Tim Callicrate
Axel F by Harold Faltermeyer
Baby Elephant Walk by Henry Mancini
Black And White Rag by Ralph Sutton
Black Eyed Susie by The Cliffhangers
Bowery Buck by Mimi Blais
Butterball by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
Cabaret by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
Casino Royale by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
Cataract Rag by Claude Bolling
Chariots Of Fire by Richard Clayderman
Corner Pocket by Count Basie
Cotton Mouth by Duane Eddy
Cuckoo’s Nest by Nickel Creek
The Day I Met Marie by Hank Marvin
Day Tripper by Booker T. & The MG’s
Dill Pickles #1 by Luckey Roberts & Ralph Sutton
Driving Guitars (Ventures Twist) by The Ventures
E.T. The Extra-terrestrial, Film Score: Adventure On Earth by John Williams (Composer)
East Tennessee Blues by Mac Martin & The Dixie Travelers
Easter Parade by Liberace
Efficiency Rag by James Scott
El Condor by Maurice Jarre
The Entertainer by Scott Joplin
The Entertainer (live) by Floyd Cramer
Eternal Father (The Navy Hymn) by Lorie Line
Forty Miles Of Bad Road by Duane Eddy
Frog Legs Rag by James Scott
Georgia On My Mind by Floyd Cramer
The Godfather, Part 3, Film Score: Marcia Festa by Nino Rota / Carmine Coppola
The Great Escape, Film Score: March by Elmer Bernstein
Heartbeat by The Tempos
I Was Kaiser Bill’s Batman by Whistling Jack Smith
I’m In The Mood For Love by Erroll Garner
Idle Dreams by George Gershwin (Performer)
In A Mellow Tone by Duke Ellington
The In-Crowd by The Steampacket (Or The First Supergroup)
Instrumental #1 by Lonnie Mack
James Bond Theme (Live) by Brian Setzer
Java by Al Hirt
John Henry (Without Over Dub) by Duane Eddy
Jungleaya by Los Straitjackets
Lay Down Your Arms by The Sadies
Linus and Lucy by Vince Guaraldi
Little Old Money Maker by The Meters
Love Light In Flight by Joe Gilman Trio
Matinee Idol by Yellowjackets
Meters Jam by The Meters
The Minor Drag by Fats Waller
Mr. Eliminator by Dick Dale
Mister Magic by Grover Washington, Jr.
Movin’ ‘N’ Groovin’ by Duane Eddy
Music Box Dancer by Floyd Cramer
Night On Bald Mountain by Bob James
Night Train by King Curtis
Old Joe Clark by Bill Monroe
Old Rebel by Arizona Smoke Review
Outer Space by Roberts, Luckey
Perfidia by The String-A-Longs
Peter Gunn by Art Of Noise
Peter Gunn Suite by Ray Anthony
Peter Gunn Theme by Duane Eddy
The Peter Gunn Theme by Ray Anthony
Pick Along by Flatt & Scruggs With Doc Watson
Pipeline by The Ventures
Pipeline by Chantays
Power Packed by The Fireballs
The Prisoner’s Song by The Kentucky Colonels
Raiders Of The Lost Ark, Film Score: March by John Williams (Composer)
Rawhide by Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell
Rebel Rouser by Duane Eddy
Red River Rock by Johnny & The Hurricanes
Rhapsody In Blue by Glenn Miller
Rodeo, Selections From The Ballet: Hoe Down by Aaron Copland
The Scalphunters by Elmer Bernstein
She’s A Woman by The Charles River Valley Boys
Slum Baby by Booker T. & The MG’s
Song Of The Volga Boatmen by Glenn Miller
Surfs Up by The Original Surfaris
Swanee by George Gershwin (Performer)
Third Street by Spyro Gyra
Twilight Rag by James P. Johnson
Ventures Medley: Lullaby Of The Leaves/Walk, Don’t Run/Perfidia by The Belairs
Wabash Cannonball by Chet Atkins
Walk Don’t Run by The Ventures
Whip-Poor-Will by George Gershwin (Performer)
Wild Weekend by Rockin’ Rebels
The Wild Westerners by Duane Eddy
Winchester Cathedral by The Bob Crewe Generation
Yellowstone Morning by Mannheim Steamroller
It just might too…depending on your definition of “destroy”.
I think it might have some lyrics…but they are certainly not invasive…more like Radiohead’s lyrics are just an instrument which happens to have vocal cords.
Not only a treat to listen to, but to see her play these pieces live is unbelievable. I saw her in NY and was mesmerized.
Obligatory youtube link… Zoe performing “Escape Artist”
+1.
An incredibly talented musician who died way too damn young.