[2026] Recommended Jazz Tracks to Enjoy in Summer: From the Latest Hits to Timeless Classics

In your everyday playlists, are there any jazz numbers you find yourself wanting to hear as the hot summer approaches?

Whether it’s a soothing melody that eases the muggy heat or a passionate groove that makes summer even more exciting, jazz offers many benefits in the warmer months.

This time, under the theme of “Jazz Classics to Listen to in Summer,” we researched and curated a wide-ranging selection of tracks.

Focusing on the latest jazz numbers while also including well-known standards, we’re bringing you a diverse lineup spanning fusion, Latin jazz, and rare groove!

Playlist

[2026] Recommended Jazz Tracks to Enjoy in Summer: From the Latest Hits to Timeless Classics
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	God Gave Me Feet For Dancing (ft. Yazmin Lacey)Ezra Collective		A soulful song themed around a dance of faith
2	Cinnamon SugarGerald Clayton		An experimental summer-appropriate track by a jazz pianist
3	Forgive the DamagesGoGo Penguin		A piano trio releases its first vocal track
4	Everybody Loves the SunshineRoy Ayers Ubiquity umbrella		Roy Ayers’ 1976 landmark jazz-funk work
5	VortexKamasi Washington		Kamal Washington’s anime opening theme song
6	ArabutaAzymuth		Azymuth releases a new song themed around environmental protection
7	Red MoonTom Misch		Nashville-recorded ballad, summer chill-out
8	Black RiceZaccai Curtis		Latin jazz masterpieces from Grammy-winning albums
9	Found A Light (Beale Street)BADBADNOTGOOD, V.C.R		A collaboration song by BBNG and V.C.R
10	SweetieKokoroko		A charming track that pays homage to West African disco
11	RisingJasmine Myra		Jasmine Myra New Release
12	AjalaEzra Collective		An Afrobeat fusion track by a young London jazz band
13	TatomaniaChucho Valdés, Royal Quartet		Chucho Valdés’s masterpiece of Afro-Cuban jazz
14	Sempre (feat. Djavan)Eliane Elias		A collaboration between Eliane and Djavan
15	Protest With LoveLonnie Holley		A message song calling for peaceful protest, with love as its weapon
16	GREEN LIGHT (ft. ENNY)Moses Yoofee Trio		A cool summer-ready track fusing jazz and rap
17	Tidal WaveTom Misch & Yussef Dayes		Contemporary music blending jazz and electronica
18	Loving Every MinuteLeandro Lehart		A summer-ready track by a master of Brazilian music
19	End Of InnocenceShabaka		Shabaka's first solo album is amazing
20	EdenLaurent Bardainne & Tigre d’Eau Douce		An album fusing jazz and electronic music
21	The Summer WindMadeleine Peyroux		Introduction to classic covers of Summer Wind
22	SummertimeElla Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong		Summertime is a famous song originating from an opera.
23	A Summer AfternoonStan Getz		Introducing Stan Getz's famous songs
24	My Baby Just Cares For MeNina Simone		Nina Simone’s sophisticated jazz masterpiece
25	Summer Samba（ So Nice）Diana Krall		A song originating in Brazil in 1966 became a worldwide hit
26	A Night In TunisiaDizzy Gillespie		Composition and Characteristics of a Tunisian Night
27	Cheek to CheekFrank Sinatra		Frank Sinatra's jazz masterpieces
28	Begin the BeguineJo Stafford		A song that Cole Porter composed based on the beguine
29	Night and DayCole Porter		Cole Porter's classic song sung by Fred Astaire
30	Stella By StarlightVictor Young		Stella of the Star Shadows is a beautiful song from a horror movie
31	But BeautifulCarmen McRae		Carmen McRae’s jazz classics
32	The Summer KnowsArt Pepper		Movie theme songs have become standardized with lyrics
33	Bli BlipNew York Voices		The sophisticated scat of the New York Voices
34	South Of The BorderFrank Sinatra		A classic summer jazz piece depicting a trip to Mexico
35	When The Morning ComesThe Moments		A jazz classic by Moments. Suitable for summer.
36	On the Sunny Side of the StreetBillie Holiday		Introduction to the classic song “On the Sunny Side of the Street”
37	Cantaloupe IslandHerbie Hancock		Harvey’s Summer Fruit Song Becomes a Worldwide Hit
38	I Could Write A BookDinah Washington		Dinah Washington’s popular jazz classics
39	Give Me A ReasonDominique Fils-Aimé		Introduction to Dominik’s Love Theme Song
40	Hello Bright SunflowerDonald Byrd		Donald Byrd's experimental jazz music
41	Ponta De AreiaEsperanza Spalding		I recommend Esperanza Spalding’s cover songs.
42	Dream State (feat. André 3000)Kamasi Washington		Kamasi Washington’s new song: a grand journey of jazz fusion
43	Swimming in the SkyKinga Glyk		Kinga Glyk's jazz-funk fusion track
44	Sweet Honey BeeLee Morgan		Introducing Duke Pearson’s classic in two versions
45	The Girl From IpanemaStan Getz & Joao Gilberto		The Girl from Ipanema, a masterpiece of jazz and bossa nova fusion
46	The Things We Did Last SummerDean Martin		A piece of music composed by Kahn-Stein in 1946
47	You’d Be So Nice to Come Home ToHelen Merrill with Clifford Brown		Helen Merrill's signature song
48	Stormy WeatherLena Horne		Sung by Ethel Waters and Lena Horne
49	Mack The KnifeLouis Armstrong		Louis Armstrong Jazz masterpiece
50	On FireMichel Camilo		Recommend the summer jazz track “On Fire.”
51	SummertimeNorah Jones		The lullaby that is an inserted song from Porgy and Bess
52	Stepping StonesPATRICE RUSHEN		Patrice Rushen’s jazz-funk
53	Black MarketWeather Report		Weather Report’s songs influenced by African music
54	I’ll Still Love YouKing James Version		A jazz classic with a floating feel and moody allure
55	Summer NightsLonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes		Introducing Ronnie Liston Smith’s classic summer-ready tracks
56	SummertimeMiles Davis		Jazz standard composed by Gershwin
57	SummertimeMiles Davis		Miles Davis's sophisticated jazz masterpiece
58	Georgia On My MindRay Charles		Ray Charles's sophisticated jazz masterpiece
59	Blue SkiesElla Fitzgerald		Ella Fitzgerald's jazz vocals
60	The Girl From IpanemaAstrud Gilberto & Stan Getz		Astrud Gilberto's Bossa Nova
61	Body Language (En La Carretera) ft. Sasha KeableEzra Collective		Jazz from London: a multicultural fusion
62	Come Fly With MeFrank Sinatra		Frank Sinatra's smash hit song
63	Manha De CarnavalJoe Sample		Joe Sample's acid jazz classic
64	We Give ThanksKokoroko		Introducing Kokoroko’s debut single
65	MisdemeanorAhmad Jamal		Ahmad Jamal’s elegant jazz
66	Aged Eyes (feat. Kaya Thomas-Dyke)Alfa Mist		An irregular jazz piece by Alpha Miss
67	Mapinguari (Encantado da Mata)Amaro Freitas		Amaro Freitas expresses Amazonian myths through music
68	Moanin’Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers		Art Blakey’s funky jazz
69	What Is This Thing Called Love?Art Pepper		Cole Porter's representative jazz standard song
70	Beach SambaAstrud Gilberto		Introduction to Samba Songs by the Queen of Bossa Nova
71	Once Upon a SummertimeAstrud Gilberto		Astrud Gilberto summer song
72	Speak LowBillie Holiday		A story about a statue of Venus coming to life and falling in love
73	MontaraBobby Hutcherson		Sophisticated jazz masterpiece by Bobby Hutcherson
74	Hot HouseCharlie Parker		Charlie Parker's bebop jazz masterpiece
75	SummertimeCharlie Parker		The 'Summertime' that Parker beautifully performed as a ballad
76	Fair WeatherChet Baker		A song introduction inspired by a dark summer night
77	What’ll I DoChet Baker		Chet Baker’s bittersweet summer night song
78	Blue SandsChico Hamilton		Chico Hamilton’s classic summer tune
79	Indian SummerChris Botti		Dubin wrote lyrics to Harvard's tune.
80	A Fuego Lento (feat. Vicente García)Daymé Arocena		Dáime Arocena’s cool summer album
81	Mood IndigoDoris Day		A classic composed by Duke Ellington.
82	Sophisticated LadyDuke Ellington & His orchestra		Duke Ellington's Songwriting
83	At LastEtta James		A song that celebrates the joy of reuniting with the person of your dreams
84	Wintered HeartFKAjazz		FKAjazz's winter-themed fusion music
85	Smooth it outGreg Spero		Introduction to Greg Spero’s jazz-and-funk fusion tracks
86	Bye Bye BlackbirdJulie London		Julie London’s moody jazz classic
87	Hot TodayJulie London		Julie London's scat song
88	Something CoolJune Christy		June Christy’s End of Summer
89	SummertimeLambert, Hendricks & Ross		Sing 'Summertime' with a light, lively touch
90	Feeling GoodMandrill		Mandrill is a hot band you want to listen to in the summer.
91	Too Darn HotMel Tormé		A song that makes the romantic mood fade because of the heat
92	Brazilian SuiteMICHEL PETRUCCIANI		Michel Petrucciani's jazz piano
93	MoveMiles Davis		There are two kinds of summer jazz: cool and hot.
94	There’s a Boat That’s Leaving Soon for New YorkMiles Davis		Toward a joyful life on a ship bound for New York
95	LoveNatalie Cole		Natalie Cole's jazz classic
96	Carry Me (ft Seun Kuti)Nubiyan Twist		Nubiyan Twist’s new summer song
97	IyawoOmar Sosa		Introducing a masterpiece by Cuban genius pianist Omar Sosa
98	Remind MePATRICE RUSHEN		Harmony of Rhodes piano and melody
99	Let’s work! ~Where Passion Leads~PE’Z		Get hyped with PE’Z’s songs
100	Summer In The CityQuincy Jones		Quincy Jones does a jazz arrangement of a Lovin' Spoonful song
101	Sound And SenseRoy Ayers		Enjoying summer with the complex melodies of modern jazz
102	Body&SoulSarah Vaughan		Sarah Vaughan's jazz classic
103	St. ThomasSonny Rollins		Sonny Rollins’s signature tune derived from a folk song
104	All I Do Is Dream Of YouStacey Kent		A famous song made for a 1934 film
105	Mysterious VibesThe Blackbyrds		The Blackbyrds’ jazz classic
106	Take FiveThe Dave Brubeck Quartet		A famous jazz tune, a cool performance in 5/4 time
107	Do Do DoThe Hebbe Sisters		Introducing the perfect tracks for a summer party
108	Blue MonkThelonious Monk		Thelonious Monk’s jazz masterpieces
109	I Love YouWeldon Irvine		Weldon Irvine’s jazz masterpiece
110	Spanish GreaseWillie Bobo		Introduction to Willie Bobo’s Latin jazz masterpieces
111	forgive me myganavya		A meditative piece themed around death and loss
112	StardustMisora Hibari		A famous piece arranged from ragtime into a slow ballad
113	NebulosaAndrea Pozza		Tenorio Jr.’s jazz classics
114	Thema From a Summer PlaceAndy Williams		A film theme song wins a Grammy Award for the first time
115	Sweet Georgia BrownAnita O’Day		A film featuring Anita O’Day’s memorable singing
116	ManhattanBlossom Dearie		Blossom’s classic jazz tunes, summer-friendly
117	PiLOTDOMi & JD BECK, Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, Anderson .Paak		Domi and JD Beck’s “PiLOT” is a fusion of jazz and hip-hop
118	I Feel PrettyDave Brubeck		A classic song from West Side Story
119	Summer SongDave Brubeck		A cool summer classic by Brubeck
120	Get HappyFrank Sinatra		Harold Arlen’s debut composition becomes a big hit
121	The Cape Verdean BluesHorace Silver		Horace Silver’s funky jazz piano
122	Speak To MeJulian Lage		Julian Lage’s 2024 guitar album
123	A Garden Of PeaceLonnie Liston Smith		The jazz masterpiece by Lonnie Liston Smith
124	God Is LoveMarvin Gaye		Marvin Gaye, healing jazz.
125	PoincianaMichel Camilo		A song originating in Cuba becomes a hit in the United States
126	L.O.V.ENat King Cole		Nat King Cole, a jazz classic
127	Feeling GoodNina Simone		Express joy with a dark melody
128	WaveOscar Peterson Trio		Performing a bossa nova piece composed by Jobim in a jazz arrangement
129	FeverPeggy Lee		Peggy Lee’s classic jazz song. Great for summer.
130	Soul Bossa NovaQuincy Jones		A soulful bossa nova song composed by Quincy Jones
131	Everybody Loves the SunshineRAMP		RAMP covers a Roy Ayers classic
132	CollageRamsey Lewis		Ramsey Lewis summer jazz track
133	Mystic BrewRonnie Foster		Ronnie Foster's jazz classic
134	More More AmorWes Montgomery		Wes Montgomery’s Octave Technique and Jazz
135	CaravanUehara Hiromi		A masterpiece composed by Duke Ellington
136	Surf RideArt Pepper		Art Pepper's Surf Ride
137	Mas Que NadaAl Jarreau		Sergio Mendes becomes a worldwide hit
138	Sweet Love Of MineJackie Mclean		Introduction to Woody Shaw's classic 'Sweet Love Of Mine'
139	When You’re SmilingMichael Bublé		Michael Bublé’s cheerful jazz standard song
140	Agua De BeberSophie Milman		Bossa nova songs released by Jobim
141	Samba Dees DaysStan Getz, Charlie Byrd		Getz and Byrd's Samba Jazz
142	Watermelon ManHerbie Hancock		A song inspired by Herbie Hancock’s watermelon seller