Miles Davis Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

Swing SpringMiles Davis8rank/position

Swing Spring

Miles Davis is one of the most famous jazz trumpeters in the world and is known in Japan as the “Emperor of Modern Jazz.” His prowess as a trumpeter is exceptional, and he leveraged his advanced performance skills to venture not only into jazz but also into genres like hip-hop and electric jazz.

His renowned piece “Swing Spring” is a work themed around spring, characterized by a buoyant, springlike, and smooth melody.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Ryo

Report a problem

Ascenseur pour l’échafaudMiles Davis9rank/position

MILES DAVIS – Ascenseur pour l’échafaud

The improvised music created for the film “Elevator to the Gallows” is a masterpiece that showcases Miles Davis’s talent to the fullest.

The trumpet’s wistful tone brilliantly captures the film’s tension and sense of tragedy.

Recorded in just two days at a Paris studio in December 1957, this work became an important page in jazz history.

Produced using the innovative method of freely improvising to the film’s scenes, it radiates a unique allure that foreshadows the later shift toward modal jazz.

It’s a perfect record for a winter night when you want to sink into music at a relaxed pace.

On Green Dolphin StreetMiles Davis10rank/position

Miles Davis – On Green Dolphin Street (Audio) (Official Audio)

A beloved classic cherished by jazz greats who defined modern jazz—such as Sonny Rollins, Bill Evans, and Oscar Peterson—On Green Dolphin Street has been widely covered by many artists, from instrumental versions to vocal renditions.

Among them, Miles Davis’s performance left perhaps the most powerful impression on listeners.

The piece also became a film.

If you’d like to immerse yourself more deeply in its world, be sure to watch it as well.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Ryo

Report a problem

Round MidnightMiles Davis11rank/position

Miles Davis Quintet – ‘Round Midnight

A jazz standard composed by pianist Thelonious Monk.

The piece was used as the title track for the fictional film “Round Midnight,” which stars veteran saxophonist Dexter Gordon and centers on an American jazz musician living in Paris.

Monk himself recorded the tune in various versions, and its chord progression also appears in multiple variants, making it a curious piece for which it’s hard to determine which performance should be considered the standard.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

HATSUMI

Report a problem

SummertimeMiles Davis12rank/position

Summertime

This piece was composed by George Gershwin for the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess.

Although it is a lullaby in content, it has been performed by many artists as a jazz standard up to the present day.

It’s short with a simple progression, so it’s a song enjoyed in a variety of arrangements—from ballads to funk.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

Report a problem

What It IsMiles Davis13rank/position

Miles Davis “What it is” (Decoy) 1984

This track is from Miles Davis’s 1984 studio album Decoy.

You can enjoy Miles’s funky sound as he continues to pursue one new musical experiment after another.

The lineup includes Daryl Jones, Branford Marsalis, and Mino Cinelu, who would later also play in Sting’s band.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

Report a problem

All of YouMiles Davis14rank/position

Miles Davis – All of You

Composed by the great songwriter Cole Porter, this piece has been covered by numerous vocalists, but in terms of instrumental performances, Miles Davis’s version is probably the best known.

Lyrically, it conveys a desire to love everything about you and to have control over you.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

Report a problem