Depending on what type of event you are hosting, dinner music should try to match the event or the personality of the event.  When I DJ weddings, some of my favorite artists I play before the cake cutting include:

Local: David Carr Jr.

Traditional: Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble, Diana Krall, Sade, Norah Jones, Steve Tyrell, Somewhere in Time soundtrack

Eclectic: Thievery Corporation, Gypsy Kings, Natalia Clavier, Enya, Suzanne Vega

One of my favorite CDs is "Nectar" by Natalia Clavier. I believe she is from Buenos Aires. I saw her sing last October with Thievery Corporation and I just bought the CD, assuming it would be good since she was affiliated with Thievery Corporation. There is a song called Azul (for the non-spanish speakers that means blue) that just sounds right and gives you that cold chill in your spine.  Very beautiful song.

Just some of my thoughts around cool dinnertime music.

Nick