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)
Kurdish DanceYamashita Yōsuke
Yosuke Yamashita is, needless to say, one of Japan’s leading jazz pianists.
He is a globally renowned free jazz performer, yet his playing is driven by energy that bursts forth from within.
Kurdish Dance is a later-period piece themed around the Kurdish people, and its exotic melodies are rendered in an accessible, listener-friendly way.
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.
