BLUE GIANT is a hugely popular jazz-themed manga that ran in Big Comic from 2013 to 2016.
After the European arc, its third American arc is currently being serialized as of 2023.
Many people first learned about the series thanks to the theatrical anime adaptation released on February 17, 2023, which received rave reviews and sparked such a response that it created repeat viewers.
Praised as a work where you can “hear the sound from the drawings,” BLUE GIANT features powerful artwork and, befitting its jazz theme, includes many classic jazz standards throughout the story.
In this article, we’ll introduce the jazz masterpieces loved by the characters—especially with jazz beginners in mind!
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Summary of Jazz Masterpieces Featured in the Popular Jazz Manga “BLUE GIANT” (1–10)
This I Dig Of YouHank Mobley
The classic “This I Dig of You,” often performed as a saxophone solo assignment piece.
This work is characterized by a quirky rhythmic feel—like abrupt stops and sudden starts.
The swing that unfolds within that distinctive rhythm is clearly different from the conventional kind.
Many listeners have likely been captivated by this unique sense of swing.
A supreme track that showcases Hank Mobley’s compositional brilliance.
If BLUE GIANT sparked your interest in jazz, be sure to give it a listen.
MosaicArt Blakey & The Jazz Messengers
Shunji Tamada, a friend of Dai Miyamoto from high school and something like the leader of their friend group.
In high school he devoted himself to soccer practice as a member of the team, but after they entered university, he let Dai crash at his apartment, which sparked his awakening to jazz.
Watching him dive so deeply into the drums that he ended up repeating a year, those of you with similar experiences might have found yourselves reminiscing about your own youthful days.
Tamada is the type who pursues things to the very end once he’s hooked, and the album he listened to while practicing drums was Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers’ classic Mosaic, released in 1962.
Its title track features a drum solo in the latter half that’s thrilling and incredibly cool; it’s a must-listen for anyone aspiring to be a jazz drummer—so be sure to check it out!
My Favorite ThingsJohn Coltrane
People say Rodgers & Hammerstein have few famous songs.
That’s true, but there is one standard that became an enormous hit: “My Favorite Things.” It’s used frequently in Japanese commercials, so you’ve probably heard it at least once even before knowing BLUE GIANT.
There are major differences in the arrangement between the original Rodgers & Hammerstein version and the modern standard version of “My Favorite Things,” so if you want to enjoy this work more deeply, be sure to listen to both and compare.
N.E.W.Uehara Hiromi
Hiromi Uehara, who is in charge of the music that forms the core of the feature film BLUE GIANT, not only composed the pieces but also performed all the piano parts in the film.
On saxophone is Tomoaki Baba, selected through auditions, and on drums is Shun Ishiwaka—formerly a member of Srv.Vinci, the predecessor to King Gnu, and a participant in Daiki Tsuneta’s other projects.
Their powerful performance as a formidable trio is truly outstanding, and the fact that many viewers have purchased the soundtrack speaks to its appeal.
The track N.E.W.
is an original piece by the protagonists in the film, of course composed by Uehara, with the aforementioned three performing.
The thrilling ensemble, where saxophone, piano, and drums unite as one, is just incredibly cool!
Newk’s FadeawaySonny Rollins
Newk’s Fadeaway, renowned as one of Sonny Rollins’s early masterpieces.
If you’re a jazz fan, it’s likely a tune you’ve heard at least once.
Despite being an early work, his style is already fully formed, and the distinctive “Rollins-isms” appear throughout the piece.
The lineup is packed with heavyweights of the jazz world, so each performance is exceptionally strong.
It’s also a popular track featured in BLUE GIANT, making it a must-listen for anyone just getting into jazz.
Waltz For DebbyBill Evans
Arguably the most beloved jazz album in Japan is Waltz for Debby, the live album released in 1961 by the great jazz pianist Bill Evans.
His style—delivering delicate, intellectually beautiful sounds influenced by classical music—earned him the nickname “the poet of jazz piano,” and Waltz for Debby is especially famous in Japan, where piano trios are popular, for having become a major hit.
The title track, composed by Evans himself, has been covered by many musicians as a standard number, and even now in the 2020s it remains an enduring masterpiece.
In fact, Waltz for Debby is also one of the three jazz CDs that the protagonist Dai Miyamoto first borrows from a friend in BLUE GIANT.
It’s an ideal first album for getting into jazz, and if, like Dai, you first encountered jazz through this work, you may feel a certain sense of familiarity with it.
On Green Dolphin StreetMiles Davis
A beloved classic cherished by jazz greats who defined modern jazz—such as Sonny Rollins, Bill Evans, and Oscar Peterson—On Green Dolphin Street has been widely covered by many artists, from instrumental versions to vocal renditions.
Among them, Miles Davis’s performance left perhaps the most powerful impression on listeners.
The piece also became a film.
If you’d like to immerse yourself more deeply in its world, be sure to watch it as well.