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 commercial songs. Popular commercial songs.
- The Royal Road of Jazz: Classic modern jazz masterpieces. Popular tracks you should listen to at least once.
- [Autumn Jazz] Classic and Popular Jazz Songs to Enjoy in the Fall
- Jacques Ibert Popular Song Ranking [2026]
Jazz Popular Songs Ranking (41–50)
Blue TrainJohn Coltrane43rank/position
“Blue Train,” which also became the title of John Coltrane’s 1957 album, is a celebrated classic in Blue Note’s popular 1500 series and a track where you can truly experience the essence of jazz.
Centered on the groove laid down by bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Philly Joe Jones—who played with Coltrane in the Miles Davis band—the superb interplay between the horns of John Coltrane and Lee Morgan is a major highlight.
My Back PagesKeith Jarrett44rank/position
This is a track from Keith Jarrett’s 1969 live album “Somewhere Before,” and it’s his rendition of a song originally released by Bob Dylan in 1964.
Jazz albums sometimes feature pieces from other genres, and among them, this one can surely be called a deeply moving masterpiece.
RivedertiMario Biondi45rank/position
Hailing from Italy and known for the deep resonance of jazz in his music, Mario Biondi’s warm voice shines on the track “Rivederti.” Expressing lost love and a longing for its rekindling, the piece was released in 2018.
Biondi’s deep vocals and rich expressiveness earned high acclaim in the Italian music scene.
Featured on the album “Brasil” and performed at the Sanremo Music Festival, this work can be considered a standout that highlights Biondi’s versatile musicality.
Its lyrics, which cling to a glimmer of hope, and the emotionally charged vocals seem to gently caress the listener’s heart.
Twisted TrackNucleus46rank/position
This is a track from Elastic Rock, the debut album released in 1970 by the British jazz fusion band Nucleus.
Showcasing a pioneering blend of jazz and rock, the album was highly acclaimed at the time, even taking first place at the Montreux Jazz Festival.
The diverse performances by Ian Carr and others are also intriguing in that they were inspired by Miles Davis’s pre-electric works.
It’s a great listen to enjoy quietly at home on a cold winter’s day.
Highly recommended for those who want to experience a free musical spirit unconstrained by the bounds of jazz or rock.
FIRST NOTEUehara Hiromi47rank/position
This piece performed by the trio JASS in the film BLUE GIANT is a masterpiece with a dynamic structure that weaves together passionate saxophone, powerful drums, and Hiromi Uehara’s outstanding piano performance over a substantial runtime of about 7 minutes and 50 seconds.
While rooted in jazz, it fully showcases Uehara’s signature musicality through a fusion of diverse genres such as classical, rock, and fusion, delivering expressive power that deeply moves listeners even without lyrics.
Included on the film’s original soundtrack released in February 2023, it stands out as one of the most striking works among the 30-plus new compositions Uehara wrote for the project.
It’s great as background music for studying or working, and is also recommended for those who want to feel the depth of jazz or immerse themselves in the film’s world.
Work SongCannonball Adderley Quintet48rank/position
Composed by Nat Adderley and released in 1960, this piece may be familiar to many in Japan, as it was also used in a commercial for an energy drink.
In terms of jazz subgenres, it is classified as funky jazz, and lyrics were later added.
The lyrics depict a prisoner lamenting the hardships of a severe prison sentence.
Fly Me To The MoonBart Howard49rank/position
Known as a jazz standard, Fly Me To The Moon is a classic that continues to be performed in a variety of arrangements, from Frank Sinatra’s vocal version to instrumental covers by jazz artists.
It was also used as the ending theme for Neon Genesis Evangelion, so many people first discovered the song through Eva.
The chord progression itself isn’t particularly complex and is largely repetitive, making it a good choice for beginners.
If you actually try playing the melody and chords on the piano, you’ll notice how stylish and sophisticated it sounds.
The secret to that stylish feel lies in the sound of seventh chords used throughout the piece.
Even just sticking to the basics—melody in the right hand and chords in the left—lets you enjoy that chic vibe.
So if you’re a beginner who wants to play something stylish on the piano or try a jazz-like tune, definitely give it a shot!
