Masterpieces of crossover. Recommended popular songs.
Here are some classic and popular tracks recommended by our studio staff from among the world’s leading crossover music.
It’s also a perfect playlist for those new to crossover.
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Crossover masterpieces. Recommended popular songs (1–10)
Astral TravelingLonnie Liston Smith
Ronnie Liston Smith is a pianist and keyboardist from Richmond, Virginia, USA, recognized as a fusion and crossover musician.
He is a popular pianist in the rare-groove scene.
Even the album titles—such as Astral Traveling, Cosmic Funk, Love Is the Answer, and Magic Lady—convey crossover and fusion elements.
Black GoldEsperanza Spalding
Esperanza Spalding is a jazz-oriented bassist and singer-songwriter from Portland, Oregon, who debuted in 2008.
Her crossover jazz music—spanning jazz, fusion, bossa nova, and neo-soul—has been highly acclaimed.
She won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2011, and her album Radio Music Society won the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album.
City of Roses was nominated for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s).
Breezin’George Benson
A delightful guitar piece that breezes through like a refreshing wind, this is a standout instrumental.
Performed by American guitarist George Benson, the track from his classic album “Breezin’” captivated many listeners upon its release in March 1976.
Even without lyrics, its flowing melody vividly paints scenes in the listener’s mind and imparts a gentle sense of freedom.
The album topped Billboard’s Jazz, R&B, and Pop album charts, and the track also earned a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.
Perfect for a relaxing afternoon or as a driving soundtrack, it adds a touch of color to everyday life.
Crossover masterpieces. Recommended popular songs (11–20)
Space CowboyJamiroquai
Jamiroquai is an acid jazz band from the UK fronted by vocalist Jay Kay.
With a high degree of freedom in arrangements across acid jazz, jazz-funk, pop music, and rock, they are also among the musicians who fused jazz-funk with disco, delivering a powerful impact on the UK club scene.
Tracks like Space Cowboy, Virtual Insanity, Cosmic Girl, Picture of My Life, and Feel So Good feature futuristic vibes and groovy sounds that remain popular across eras.
The Right TimeMonday Michiru
Mondo Grosso’s Monday Michiru, a Japanese American artist who has led Japan’s acid-jazz scene by skillfully weaving together a wide range of genres—jazz as a foundation with touches of soul and Latin—crafted a house music track in 2007 that blends a comfortable beat with the essence of jazz and soul, embodying the very spirit of crossover.
On this song, Monday Michiru’s smooth, emotionally rich vocals align beautifully with the sophisticated arrangement, vividly evoking life’s moments of opportunity and the exhilaration of starting something new.
The track appears on the compilation album “Summer Love 2007,” and Jephte Guillaume’s remix, “Jephte’s King Street VoKal,” has also enjoyed popularity in the club scene.
Give it a listen when you want an urban, sophisticated moment or a shot of invigorating energy.
Keep It Steady (Brecker Bump)The Brecker Brothers
The Brecker Brothers are a U.S.-born sibling duo who helped lead the jazz fusion scene.
The opening track of their second album, Back to Back, released in 1976, fuses a funky groove with vivid horns that naturally get your body moving.
Alongside the tight call-and-response between Randy’s trumpet and Michael’s saxophone, the track features a virtuoso guitar solo by Steve Khan, with soulful vocal arrangements by a then up-and-coming Luther Vandross adding extra flair.
The album reached No.
82 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Its energetic yet meticulously crafted ensemble is sure to captivate listeners looking to add some spark to their day.
BirdlandWeather Report
Weather Report, the American band that dramatically opened up new horizons for jazz fusion.
The track they included on their April 1977 album Heavy Weather is an homage by keyboardist Joe Zawinul to a New York jazz club that held special memories for him.
Though it’s an instrumental with no lyrics, Zawinul’s synthesizers, Wayne Shorter’s saxophone, and Jaco Pastorius’s singing bass vividly evoke the heat and sparkle of the club in its heyday.
Transcending the bounds of jazz and radiating a pop appeal, the piece was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2010.
It’s a timeless performance—perfect for lifting your spirits or sparking creative inspiration.