Ranking of Popular Jazz Songs
Jazz is a genre of music born in America in the 19th century.
Blending traditional African music with Western music, jazz captivates with its distinctive groove and passionate performances rooted in Black music.
From there, it has influenced a wide range of musical styles, and today its spirit can be felt in countless settings.
In this article, we’ll introduce classic jazz tunes in a ranked list.
In Japan, jazz is often considered “grown-up music,” but I hope the songs featured here inspire many people to fall in love with jazz.
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Jazz Popular Song Rankings (71–80)
Central Park WestJohn Coltrane71rank/position
A gem of a ballad that gracefully captures the gentle mood of spring.
Inspired by the streets of New York, John Coltrane created a serene masterpiece that was included on the 1964 album “Coltrane’s Sound,” and it continues to shine as a monument of modern jazz.
Its elegant world, woven from complex harmonic progressions and a melodious soprano saxophone, achieves a superb balance between urban sophistication and the breath of nature.
McCoy Tyner’s delicate piano touch is equally striking, with a fresh sensibility that evokes the coming of spring at every turn.
It’s a perfect track for a blissful moment—relaxing in a sunlit living room with a favorite book in hand.
CountdownJohn Coltrane72rank/position
Known as a jazz standard, this piece is characterized by its complex chord progression and fast tempo.
Included on the album “Giant Steps,” released in May 1960, it had a profound impact on the jazz world.
Showcasing John Coltrane’s exceptional improvisational skills to the fullest, the work remains a staple of the jazz repertoire and is beloved by many musicians today.
It is also an important work for students studying jazz theory and improvisation.
Highly recommended for those interested in jazz or looking to explore new music, this track offers a full taste of the tenor saxophone’s appeal and provides a compelling entry point into the world of jazz.
My One and Only LoveJohn Coltrane & Johnny Hartman73rank/position
A gem of a jazz ballad woven from a deep, warm singing voice and a saxophone that seems to gently accompany it.
It is known as a miraculous collaboration between John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman.
The song expresses wholehearted, devoted love dedicated to an irreplaceable person, and its romantic worldview is sure to draw everyone in.
This piece is included on the classic 1963 album “John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman,” and, remarkably, the session was recorded in just one day in March 1963.
Perfect for a quiet night alone or for enjoying a special atmosphere with someone you care about.
You can savor the profound allure that jazz has to offer.
Street Fighter MasKamasi Washington74rank/position
Since the 2000s, many jazz musicians with unique talent and sensibility have emerged, and Kamasi Washington, a jazz saxophonist from California, is certainly one of them.
Raised in a musical family, the very fact that Kamasi released his breakthrough 2015 solo work “V” on the label of the genius beatmaker Flying Lotus sets him apart from so-called conventional jazz musicians, making him a symbolic figure of the borderless jazz artists born in the 2000s–2010s.
The track featured here is “Street Fighter Mas,” whose spiritual choral work creates a vast sonic universe.
It appears on the 2018 album “Heaven & Earth,” and he performed it as the opening number during his set at Summer Sonic 2018.
As the title suggests, some listeners will catch the reference: the piece is inspired by the classic video game Street Fighter, which Kamasi was obsessed with in his youth.
The fact that he even describes it as a “theme song” for himself when he plays the game shows his charming side.
Be sure to check out the music video too!
Over the RainbowKeith Jarrett75rank/position
This song is extraordinarily famous as one of the numbers from The Wizard of Oz.
It’s also a well-known jazz standard, and thanks to Keith Jarrett’s solo performance, it may have become widely recognized as a piece of piano jazz.
The simple melody is enriched by jazz-specific harmonies, which further enhance its appeal.
Christmas in New OrleansLouis Armstrong76rank/position
Louis Armstrong, affectionately known as Satchmo and respected around the world, was one of the defining artists of the 20th century, and his work is still used across various media today.
Surely everyone knows “What a Wonderful World,” right? One of his classic Christmas songs is “Christmas in New Orleans.” It’s a track distinguished by Armstrong’s unique voice, and listening to it will warm your heart.
West End BluesLouis Armstrong77rank/position
West End Blues, a jazz masterpiece whose mellow trumpet tone makes you want to surrender yourself to it.
The version performed by the trumpet virtuoso Louis Armstrong is well known and is one of his signature pieces.
The composer of this tune was Joe “King” Oliver, Louis Armstrong’s mentor.
The ensemble’s cheerful timbre evokes, somehow, an afternoon moment spent in a foreign land.
