[2026] Jazz piano masterpieces: from standards to recent favorites
Jazz piano, where the piano takes center stage, has enjoyed enduring popularity in Japan for many years.
We often hear standard numbers performed in legendary recordings by classic jazz pianists, as well as their own original masterpieces, and many of us grow familiar with them naturally—even without consciously thinking of them as jazz.
This article shines a spotlight on jazz piano, presenting a curated selection that includes not only standards but also outstanding original compositions.
While topics like this tend to highlight the strength of classic tunes, this piece also features popular tracks by pianists and piano trios who debuted in the 2000s and beyond, making it enjoyable for both beginners and dedicated jazz fans.
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[2026] Jazz piano masterpieces: From standard tunes to recent favorites (91–100)
What is love?Glenn Close
Composed by Cole Porter for the musical Wake Up and Dream.
Performed by the Glenn Rose Piano Trio.
It begins by taking slight pauses between phrases, then shifts into a lively swing.
Dat DereBobby Timmons
Bobby Timmons is known not only as a jazz pianist but also as an outstanding composer.
While “Moanin’,” which he wrote for Art Blakey, is probably the most famous, “Dat Dere” is likewise part of Art Blakey’s band repertoire.
Overflowing with quintessential lines, it’s a track that truly embodies hard bop.
Take the A TrainDuke Ellington
Take the A Train, written by Billy Strayhorn about the New York City subway line to Harlem.
Duke Ellington’s orchestra recorded it in 1941, and the record became a huge hit.
It’s a fun standard with a familiar, signature intro and ending, and it’s widely used not only by big bands but also as a vocal number and a common tune at jam sessions.
In Japan, it also appeared in the film Swing Girls as the first piece the students practice, right?
Makin’ WhoopeeEarl Hines
This standard number, often performed as a vocal tune as well, is Earl Hines’s lively, swinging rendition of “Makin’ Whoopee.” He is considered one of the pioneers who laid the foundation of modern jazz piano, and is said to have influenced Bud Powell and Herbie Hancock.
The song has a simple chord progression, and its lyrics humorously depict marriage and what follows.
It’s also frequently performed at a slower tempo.
Blue in GreenEliane Elias
Eliane, who hails from Brazil, was active in the 1980s jazz group Steps Ahead alongside Peter Erskine and Mike Mainieri.
Blue in Green is famously known for Bill Evans’s masterful performance on Miles Davis’s Kind of Blue.
Eliane’s rendition expands that world with a gentle touch.
Her husky-voiced vocal numbers are also truly wonderful.
Looking UpMICHEL PETRUCCIANI
Michel Petrucciani was a French pianist who battled a congenital, severe illness and passed away in 1999 at the age of 36.
“Looking Up” is one of his signature pieces, and despite the hardships of his illness, his music conveys optimism and remarkable inner strength.
True to its title, it’s a track that evokes the refreshing feeling of gazing up at a blue sky.
Blue BossaRay Bryant
From Ray Bryant’s commemorative album recorded in 1992 for his 60th birthday.
The playing is very refined and beautiful.
His performance exudes intelligence and elegance.
In “Autumn Leaves,” his touch is powerful, grooving, and gives a masculine impression.
Every track feels free and confident, and the ease of listening is likely why it’s so popular.
Its unpretentious, relaxed feel is part of its charm.