Famous Western jazz classics. Recommended popular songs.
Jazz has a longer history than rock or pop and encompasses many subgenres, so it’s no surprise that many people feel it’s a bit intimidating to get into.
Some may have a mental block because of the image they have of jazz, but in fact, there are countless famous jazz tunes you’ve probably heard somewhere—whether as timeless standards loved across generations, or as songs used in commercials and film scores.
In this article, we’ve gathered recommended classics and popular tracks that even jazz beginners can enjoy.
Focusing on vintage jazz numbers while mixing in standout tracks from contemporary jazz artists who’ve been attracting attention in recent years, we present a richly varied selection.
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Classic jazz songs in Western music. Recommended popular tracks (91–100)
Work SongCannonball Adderley Quintet
This is the song Work Song by Cannonball Adderley, the saxophonist who played with the King of Jazz, Miles Davis.
It’s a track where you can fully enjoy his eccentric and highly technical solos.
In fact, his younger brother, cornetist Nat Adderley, also plays on this tune.
Enjoy the perfectly synced performance of the two!
Night And DayFrank Sinatra
Here is a song Cole Porter wrote for the 1932 musical The Gay Divorcee, first performed by the tap-dance master Fred Astaire.
It was later released as a record and became so popular that it reached number one in the United States.
His songs often have long verse sections, and their distinctive qualities, including unique chord progressions, have made them beloved jazz standards for both vocalists and instrumentalists.
The lyrics are passionate, expressing how the singer thinks of their beloved night and day.
Red TopErroll Garner
A piece by the American jazz pianist Erroll Garner.
He started playing the piano at the age of three and taught himself, though it’s said he couldn’t read sheet music throughout his life.
Being left-handed, his left-hand rhythm and right-hand melody were slightly off from each other.
As a result, this became part of his unique groove and found its way into his music.
The freedom in his playing, unbound by convention, is also part of the appeal.
This piece, too, stands out for its brightness and a light, quintessentially jazzy feel!
Black GoldEsperanza Spalding
This woman, who looks incredibly cool singing while playing the bass, is Esperanza Spalding from Portland, Oregon, USA.
She’s a multi-instrumentalist who plays not only the bass but many other instruments, and her talent extends far beyond the confines of jazz.
Undoubtedly one of the most important artists on the jazz scene since the 2000s, she released “Black Gold” in 2012— a track included on her acclaimed album Radio Music Society, which won the 55th Grammy Award.
Although the theme it explores is quite serious, the melody is beautiful, and it’s a song I highly recommend to pop and soul fans as well.
You And The Night And The MusicMal Waldon trio
It’s a song composed by Arthur Schwartz, with lyrics, that is often performed by jazz vocalists.
Of course, many instrumentalists have featured it as well, so many of you have likely heard it.
As the title suggests, it evokes the atmosphere of a nighttime jazz club.
Spanish KeyMiles Davis Sextet
As jazz evolved, he incorporated a wide range of genres, and his 1970 album Bitches Brew—representative of the period often called his “electric Miles” era for its bold use of electric instruments—is no exaggeration to call a work of great importance in jazz history.
Among its tracks, Spanish Key stands out as a masterpiece characterized by a powerful performance that even evokes funk and rock.
A Lover’s ConcertoSarah Vaughan
“Lover’s Concerto,” sung by Sarah Vaughan, one of the three great female jazz vocalists.
It originally comes from a famous classical piece, to which lyrics were added and the arrangement given a jazz flavor.
It has a somewhat nostalgic feel, doesn’t it? Curiously, it shares something in common with Japanese kayōkyoku.
It might even be fun to sing it with Japanese lyrics!