The Royal Road of Jazz: Classic modern jazz masterpieces. Popular tracks you should listen to at least once.
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!
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[The Royal Road of Jazz] Masterpieces of Modern Jazz: Popular Songs You Should Hear at Least Once (21–30)
Body and SoulColeman Hawkins
Known as one of the most iconic performances in jazz history, this piece is a masterpiece of improvisation by tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins.
Recorded in a New York studio in October 1939, it opened up new horizons for jazz improvisation.
Hawkins’s powerful sound and exploratory approach to harmony have continued to influence countless musicians.
While the song is a jazz standard with lyrics expressing deep love and longing, Hawkins’s version is instrumental, showcasing the full extent of his technique and expressiveness.
It’s a must-listen for anyone who wants to savor the essence of jazz or experience the allure of the saxophone.
It Never Entered My MindStan Getz
Stan Getz, the prince of the jazz world.
This work features a strings arrangement paired with jazz saxophone.
It seems likely that artists like Yuji Ohno of Lupin the Third were greatly influenced by it.
In any case, it fits perfectly with a sunset.
Look, the sun’s about to set.
Let’s leave it for tomorrow.
The Royal Road of Jazz: Masterpieces of Modern Jazz. Popular Tracks You Should Listen to at Least Once (31–40)
Road SongWes Montgomery
Wes Montgomery is famous as a jazz musician who couldn’t read sheet music.
Yet he was a genius melodist, and this track lets you fully savor his unique sound featuring octave playing (plucking two strings).
It’s perfect for when you want to take a solo, aimless drive out into the countryside.
That restless feeling that pushes you to hit the road matches beautifully with the superb melody.
DesafinadoStan Getz feat. João Gilberto
Warm and refined tones, like the sunshine of spring, gently envelop the heart.
The graceful melodies woven by American jazz saxophonist Stan Getz and Brazilian guitarist João Gilberto skillfully express the beauty of dissonance in love.
Born as a rebuttal to criticisms of bossa nova, this piece was included on the 1964 album Getz/Gilberto, captivating listeners with a distinctive sense of weightless drift created by syncopation and complex chord progressions.
Getz’s silky tenor saxophone, Gilberto’s delicate guitar, and the whisper-like vocals blend beautifully in a track that is perfect for a morning walk that heralds a new season or for a calm afternoon tea time.
Lament For A Fallen Matadorjim hall
The original piece is Albinoni’s Adagio from Baroque music.
I’m not sure whether jazz has an affinity with Baroque music, or whether at the core of Western people there exists “sin,” “sorrow,” “melancholy”—a kind of deeply serious sense of dejection.
But melancholy does move the human heart.
It’s a strange thing.
And the tone of Art Farmer’s flugelhorn, as if gently placing a hand on your shoulder, brings tears to the eyes.
Goodbye Pork Pie HatCharles Mingus
This piece, included on the jazz landmark album “Mingus Ah Um,” is a composition Charles Mingus created in 1959.
Written as a tribute to saxophonist Lester Young, the song has come to be widely recognized as a jazz standard.
Through Mingus’s bass playing and his ensemble arrangements, it pays respect to Young’s life and legacy.
The track opens with a delicate piano introduction by Horace Parlan, and saxophone solos by John Handy and Booker Ervin add emotional weight.
This instrumental, expressing deep sorrow and a sense of loss, has captured the hearts of many jazz fans.
As a pivotal work in the evolution of jazz, it stands as proof of music’s power to capture the essence of humanity.
Five Spot After DarkCurtis Fuller
The harmony of the trombone and tenor sax really captures a rugged, masculine vibe.
With no alto instrument taking the lead, it has a subtly burnished, old-silver quality.
Even so, it swings properly and doesn’t feel heavy.
Dads out there are doing their best.
And of course, they drink.