[Autumn Jazz] Classic and Popular Jazz Songs to Enjoy in the Fall
When it comes to music you want to savor on a long autumn night, jazz is surely at the top of the list.
As the scorching summer fades and a unique sense of melancholy begins to drift through the air, jazz fits the season perfectly.
In fact, there are many jazz standards themed around autumn, a testament to just how well the two go together.
In this article, titled “Jazz Masterpieces to Enjoy in Autumn,” we’ll showcase a generous selection of autumn jazz classics—not only songs that explicitly take autumn as their theme, but also pieces that evoke an autumnal mood.
Whether it’s a reflective afternoon moment or a quiet night when you want to feel a bit more grown-up, please enjoy!
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[Autumn Jazz] Classic and Popular Jazz Songs to Listen to in Autumn (41–50)
ConstellationsBladverk Band
Bladverk Band’s “Constellations” is a perfect match for autumn, with its wistful trumpet tone.
It appears as the second track on their 2019 EP, Laponia.
The brushwork on the drums and the transition from piano solo to bass solo deliver a classic jazz ballad feel.
The whole album has a rich atmosphere, so give it a listen on a long autumn night!
Pithecanthropus erectusCharles Mingus
This is the title track from American jazz bassist Charles Mingus’s 1956 album Pithecanthropus Erectus.
It was the first album that made his talents as a bandleader widely known, and it’s a wonderful work where a satirical theme about civilized society coexists with thrilling, free improvisation.
SkylarkLinda Ronstadt
“Skylark” is a popular song with lyrics by Johnny Mercer and music by Hoagy Carmichael, written in 1942.
It is also renowned as a jazz standard that has been covered by many artists.
Its graceful yet wistful melody, paired with lyrics said to have been written by Mercer for his then-lover Judy Garland, create a deeply poignant effect.
Today, I’d like to introduce the version included on American singer-songwriter Linda Ronstadt’s 1984 jazz album “Lush Life.” It’s a perfect mood for a long autumn night, so please enjoy.
Old Devil MoonMary Stallings & Trio
It was written as a song for the 1940s musical Finian’s Rainbow, with a script by Harburg.
Harburg is said to have written the lyrics on the fly while thinking of the witchcraft of Vodou, the religion of Black people in the West Indies, so it’s a bit of an unusually structured song.
So WahtMiles Davis
This is a piece by Miles Davis, the trumpeter from Illinois known as the King of Jazz.
It’s included on his 1959 masterpiece Kind of Blue, a work that perfected modal jazz, enabling improvisation that doesn’t rely on chord progressions.
Beyond its innovative theory, the performance itself is superb, making it a timeless classic.
Please Don’t StopRichard Bona
This track is from Tiki, an album by jazz fusion bassist Richard Bona from Minta, Cameroon.
His exceptional technique and expressive phrasing have earned him a reputation as a talent reminiscent of the late Jaco Pastorius.
This song is a collaboration with R&B singer John Legend.
NostalgiaFats Navarro Quintet
A great autumn recommendation from the genius trumpeter Fats Navarro, who passed away at 26, is the piece “Nostalgia.” It’s the title track from his highly acclaimed 1947 album Nostalgia.
The performances by tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon and drummer Art Blakey, who appear on the recording, also shine.
The upbeat, easy-to-groove mid-tempo feel, paired with Navarro’s wistful muted trumpet tone, makes it perfect for a nostalgic autumn.