Today's Jazz: Tunes for today! A selection of timeless classics and contemporary jazz

Buono TimeH ZETTRIO

H ZETTRIO / Buono Time [MUSIC VIDEO]

A heart-pounding jazz sound woven from a light, nimble piano touch and a groovy rhythm section.

Released in February 2025 as H ZETTRIO’s milestone 100th digital single, this track brims with playfulness and positive energy—just as its unique title, blending Italian and English, suggests.

The group’s trademark blend of H ZETT M’s weightless, virtuosic technique and the rhythm section’s muscular sound is in perfect harmony.

Performed at BLUE NOTE TOKYO in February 2025 to an electrified crowd, the song also serves as the CM track for NEC’s LAVIE Note NEXT laptop.

It’s a must-listen not only for jazz aficionados but for any music fan seeking a sophisticated, urban sound.

Car 16 15 AKuroda Takuya

Takuya Kuroda – Car 16 15 A

This striking instrumental track with a forward-leaning groove was crafted with contemporary hip-hop and marching bands in mind, delivering the kind of groovy, cutting-edge jazz sound that is quintessentially Takuya Kuroda—a tour de force.

Born from his encounter with drummer and co-creator David Frazier, the piece is an ambitious work that vividly reflects Frazier’s track-making sensibilities.

It appears on the album “EVERYDAY,” released by Universal Music in February 2025, with a music video unveiled the same month.

The album also features genre-defying tracks like “Must Have Known” and “Off to Space.” Brimming with the exhilaration of racing through a city at night and rich in improvisation that captures the essence of jazz, this is the perfect track for a nighttime drive.

“Medley of Tracks from ‘Deluxe★Tea’” HIBI★Chazz-K at Shibuya JZ Brat Sound of Tokyo

"Luxury★Tea" Recorded Tracks Medley — HIBI★Chazz-K at Shibuya JZ Brat Sound of Tokyo

This is a jazz medley by the saxophone ensemble HIBI★Chazz-K.

It’s incredible how powerful it sounds with just four saxophones and percussion! The sound has real depth, and I was amazed to realize how many different roles the saxophone can play.

Each performer is insanely skilled…!

Christmas Song, Piano Jazz – The Jazz Christmas CollectionBuddha Tribe

Christmas Songs, Piano Jazz – The Jazz Christmas Collection

A piano solo jazz medley of Christmas songs.

It runs about 30 minutes—neither too long nor too short—making it perfect for easy listening.

It’s an ideal medley for Christmas party background music.

It has a mature yet fun vibe, and it’s exactly what you want to hear when the weather turns cold.

Anpanman’s MarchTokyo Burasu Sutairu

Anpanman's March

Tokyo Brass Style is a Japanese brass band made up of female members.

They perform famous songs—such as anime themes—in jazz arrangements, and this one is the universally known Anpanman theme.

Weaving in phrases that jazz fans will recognize—like something out of the jazz classic In the Mood—they turn Anpanman’s March into jazz with a swing rhythm.

The must-hear highlights are the mid-section ad-lib session between sax and piano, the solos handed off to trumpet, and the trombone backing that joins in.

PrologueKamasi Washington

Kamasi Washington – Prologue (Official Music Video)

Kamasi Washington, a rare genius ushering in a new era of jazz.

His new work is a grand opus where an overwhelming groove and emotional playing stand out, born from a fusion of multiple genres.

This piece, which could be called a foray into dance music, is sure to bring fresh perspectives and moving moments to everyday life.

The much-anticipated album featuring this track, “Fearless Movement,” is slated for release on May 3, 2024, and we can look forward to his visit to Japan after the album drops!

VortexKamasi Washington

Kamasi Washington – Vortex | Lazarus (Adult Swim Original Series Soundtrack)

The opening theme for director Shinichirō Watanabe’s new anime, LAZARUS, woven from a grand jazz ensemble and a powerful saxophone solo.

Skillfully blending the elements Kamasi Washington excels at—jazz, funk, and soul—this piece harmonizes beautifully with the series’ world, which depicts a crisis threatening humanity’s very survival caused by the miracle drug “Hapuna.” Released in March 2025, the track brims with chaotic energy and exhilaration, further elevating the universe of the anime LAZARUS.

Evolving the innovative sound showcased on the album Fearless Movement, this work ambitiously opens new horizons in contemporary jazz.

A gem born from the encounter with the distinct art form of animation—be sure to experience it together with the visuals.