Ranking of Popular Jazz Songs

Keep OnAlfa Mist22rank/position

Keep On

How about immersing yourself in jazz that blends quietude with a comfortable groove on a long spring night? Based in London, Alfa Mist is an artist with a unique background: after making hip-hop beats, he taught himself piano.

This track is included on the acclaimed 2017 album “Antiphon,” and its allure lies in the wistful keyboard phrases and the spatial ensemble woven by saxophone and trumpet.

The sound—fusing hip-hop-informed rhythmic sensibilities with jazz improvisation—reveals deeper flavor the more you listen, and it’s truly wonderful.

Its introspective melodies will gently accompany the subtle anxieties and expectations that come with a new season.

Be sure to give it a listen during a quiet, solitary moment of relaxation.

Linus And LucyVince Guaraldi Trio23rank/position

Vince Guaraldi Trio – Linus And Lucy

A perfect performance for long winter nights, this lighthearted jazz number by the Vince Guaraldi Trio has long been beloved.

Included on the December 1964 album “Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown,” it has become widely known as music for the Peanuts animations.

Its hallmark style features a lively right-hand melody dancing over a repeating left-hand rhythm, blending elements of West Coast jazz and Latin for an inviting, approachable sound.

Also featured on the classic Christmas album “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” it’s a track that brings warmth to the cold season.

Recommended when you want cheerful background music or to immerse yourself in the nostalgic world of the animated series.

SummertimeElla Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong24rank/position

Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald – Summertime (Audio)

Known as a song from the opera “Porgy and Bess,” this is a famous duet featuring the King and Queen of Jazz.

It’s characterized by a gentle, soothing melody like a lullaby drifting through a languid summer afternoon.

Ella’s crystalline voice, Louis’s warm, gravelly tone, and the wistful trumpet weave a harmony that feels like a pleasant conversation.

Their seamless ensemble singing also highlights the richness of everyday life.

Recorded in August 1957, this piece is included on the classic album “Porgy and Bess.” Frequently used as evening background music in films and commercials, it’s a tune almost everyone has heard at least once.

It’s also perfect for relaxing on a sultry summer night.

Round MidnightThelonious Monk25rank/position

‘Round Midnight

There may be few songs that suit the word “midnight” as perfectly as this one.

So achingly beautiful, its wistful melody seeps into the heart; this work stands as a towering jazz-ballad masterpiece created by modern jazz giant Thelonious Monk.

In the world of its lyrics, it depicts an inescapable loneliness and yearning over lost love.

Monk’s characteristically unexpected harmonies seem to deepen that helpless emotion even further.

You can hear Monk’s own 1947 recording on the album “Genius of Modern Music Vol.

1,” and Miles Davis also featured it on his classic “’Round About Midnight.” It’s also known for the film of the same name released in 1986.

A perfect song for a long autumn night when you want to drift into your thoughts.

Song for My FatherHorace Silver26rank/position

Song For My Father

This piece, included on the classic album Song for My Father released in January 1965, has secured an unshakable place as a jazz standard.

Pianist Horace Silver composed it as a tribute to his father from Cape Verde, inspired by a 1964 trip to Brazil.

Its uniquely Latin-tinged, wistful bass line is unforgettable after a single listen, and it’s also known for being quoted in Steely Dan’s hit Rikki Don’t Lose That Number.

With its simple structure and memorable melody, it’s a perfect choice for those just starting to play jazz.

For piano performance, first stabilize the distinctive left-hand bass pattern; from there, you’ll progress more quickly by developing a feel for letting the right-hand melody sing freely over it.

Left AloneMal Waldron27rank/position

Left Alone

The masterpiece created by Mal Waldron is known as an homage to Billie Holiday.

Though Waldron made his mark as a jazz pianist, this work presents a melancholic jazz ballad suffused with sorrow and solitude.

With its restrained emotional expression and striking improvisational flair, the performance will resonate deeply with listeners.

Recorded in New York on February 24, 1959, this piece has remained one of Waldron’s signature works, beloved by many jazz fans.

It’s a track recommended for those who wish to spend a long winter night in quiet contemplation.

It will appeal not only to those seeking a classic of jazz, but also to anyone who wants to savor a peaceful, reflective moment.

Don’t Know WhyNorah Jones28rank/position

Norah Jones – Don’t Know Why

Norah Jones, a jazz singer who is hugely popular in Japan as well.

Even if you don’t usually listen to jazz, you’ve probably heard her voice at least once.

In one of her signature works, she sings about the bittersweet emotions at the end of a romance, not knowing why hearts drifted apart.

The gentle tone of the piano combined with her warm vocals seems to softly envelop the listener.

This song is included on her debut album, Come Away with Me, released in 2002, which achieved an astonishing worldwide sales figure of over 27 million copies.

It also swept the three major Grammy categories, making it truly a historic masterpiece.

Its calm atmosphere won’t interfere with meals or conversation, so having it play during dinner with someone special might just set the mood.