[Start Here] Jazz Masterpieces: A Must-Listen Album Selection

Someday My Prince Will ComeBill Evans

Bill Evans　”Someday My Prince Will Come”

Bill Evans, a master of classical piano who also absorbed Bud Powell’s revolutionary jazz piano techniques, further evolved the harmony of jazz improvisation, and his harmonic approach has become the prototype for modern jazz piano.

Even this theme song from a Disney film turns into jazz when Bill plays it.

Take the A TrainDuke Ellington & John Coltrane

Duke Ellington, “Take the A Train”

A song written by Billy Strayhorn.

It has been used in many films, including Paris Blues starring Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, the romantic comedy The Pallbearer, and Catch Me If You Can starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

Moonlight SerenadeGlenn Miller & His Orchestra

Moonlight Serenade

Big band jazz has the power and impact of a large ensemble, and among the white big bands, some produced elegant ensembles influenced by classical music.

Glenn Miller’s big band performance of “Moonlight Serenade” is a representative example.

Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing)Benny Goodman

Sing Sing Sing – Carnegie Hall 1938

If you want to explore “swing jazz,” which sparked a boom from the 1930s to the early 1940s and is sometimes called prewar jazz, a must-know artist is Benny Goodman, the American clarinetist and famed bandleader.

His life was depicted in the 1955 film The Benny Goodman Story, and Goodman is indispensable when discussing the history of jazz.

Pieces performed by his orchestra—such as Sing, Sing, Sing, whose drum intro leaves a powerful impact—continue to be beloved as quintessential works in wind ensembles today.

The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert, as its title suggests, documents Goodman’s orchestra performing at Carnegie Hall in 1938.

It was a historic event: the first jazz concert ever held at Carnegie Hall, the hallowed hall of classical music.

Admittedly, the recording is old and retains some surface noise, but that, too, adds to its charm.

If you want to enjoy good old jazz, this is a must-listen.

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Giant StepsJohn Coltrane

John Coltrane – Giant Steps (2020 Remaster) [Official Audio]

Giant Steps, a signature work by American saxophonist John Coltrane, who rewrote the history of modern jazz.

Released in 1960, this monumental album was the first in which he presented an entire set of original compositions.

Its complex harmonies—known as the “Coltrane changes,” his hallmark—are like a labyrinth of sound that sent shockwaves through the music scene of the time.

While the dazzling displays of virtuosity are thrilling, the album also includes tender pieces dedicated to his wife and daughter.

It’s a record brimming with profound appeal, where you can savor both his passion for exploring new musical possibilities and a deeply human warmth.

My Favorite ThingsJohn Coltrane

My Favorite Things (Stereo) (2022 Remaster)

My Favorite Things, known as a landmark album by saxophonist John Coltrane.

Originally a song from a musical, in Coltrane’s hands it is reborn as passionate jazz that shifts its character like a kaleidoscope.

The work is famous for marking his full-fledged use of the soprano saxophone, and it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Its structure—leading listeners from a melody everyone knows into the profound world of modal jazz improvisation—is one reason it captivates so many.

It’s a perfect first listen for anyone who wants to experience the free spirit of jazz.

Old Devil MoonAnita O’Day

Anita O’ Day & O. Peterson Quartet – Old Devil Moon

She is a singer who is even more popular than Helen Merrill among white female jazz vocalists.

Jazz, in contrast to the beauty of ballads, is also captivating for the comfort of its up-tempo numbers, and Anita O’Day—considered a model of jazz singing—delivers one of the finest performances conveying that appeal in her rendition of “Old Devil Moon.”