The Royal Road of Jazz: Classic modern jazz masterpieces. Popular tracks you should listen to at least once.

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.

Have you ever wondered what exactly people mean by “modern jazz,” a term you often hear within jazz? If you’re new to jazz and have that question, you’re not alone.

Modern jazz generally refers to the period spanning from “bebop,” which emerged in the mid-to-late 1940s, to modal jazz, which appeared in the late 1950s.

You could even call modern jazz the classic, mainstream form of jazz, and many of the genre’s most iconic albums and songs were created during the modern jazz era.

In this article, we’ve put together a selection of great modern jazz tunes.

If you’re thinking of giving jazz a listen, this is the perfect chance to check them out!

The Royal Road of Jazz: Modern Jazz Masterpieces. Popular Songs You Should Hear at Least Once (51–60)

BebopDizzy Gillespie

Dizzy Gillespie – Bebop

BebopDizzy Gillespie

A tune by the other father of bebop technique, “Professor Frog,” Dizzy Gillespie.

Back then, players who belonged to big band swing ensembles would, after finishing their gigs, start small-combo jam sessions at bars to test their chops against one another.

That’s the origin story of what we now call modern jazz.

Everything began with this style.

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Lotus BlossomKenny Dorham

Kenny Dorham Quartet – Lotus Blossom

Lotus BlossomKenny Dorham

“Read the room, create the room.

That’s Kenny.” He isn’t very popular in Japan, but he’s well-liked back in the U.S.

He’s a highly musical, talented player who’s adept at presenting a dramatic arc—like a story with a beginning, development, twist, and conclusion.

I think you’ll understand when you listen to him perform: Kenny, as the frontman, is the one creating the groove—the flow.

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In conclusion

Many jazz beginners who listened to the gems introduced this time probably thought of them as the quintessential, archetypal image of modern jazz.

As mentioned at the beginning, many standard numbers were born from works classified as modern jazz, and legendary players who left their mark on history emerged.

Listening to modern jazz is, in other words, experiencing the very heart of jazz itself!