Cool jazz piano: from classic favorites to hidden gems.

Even within what we broadly call jazz, there are countless subgenres, and it’s fascinating how the sound itself changes depending on which instrument takes center stage.

As the name suggests, “jazz piano,” where the piano is the main focus, is an especially popular style of jazz in Japan.

There are many classic tunes that everyone has heard at least once, and I imagine quite a few jazz beginners start out by listening to a piano trio album.

In this article, we’ve gathered timeless tracks from across eras—including recent jazz—that feature up-tempo, cool, and stylish piano within the realm of jazz piano.

If you usually gravitate toward lyrical, slow jazz piano, this is a great chance to check out something different!