Catchy Jazz Music to Get Your Feet Tapping

This article is a collaborative effort, crafted and edited by a team of dedicated professionals.

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

Looking for some catchy jazz tunes to get your feet tapping? Look no further! Here are 10 of our favorite jazz songs that are sure to get you moving.

The Best of Jazz

Jazz is a style of music that was born in the early 20th century in New Orleans. It is characterized by a strong rhythm section, improvisation, and a wide variety of influences. Jazz has been called the “sound of America” and has been influential all over the world. If you’re looking for some catchy jazz tunes to get your feet tapping, you’ve come to the right place.

Miles Davis

Miles Davis was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th century music. Davis adopted a variety of musical styles throughout his career that encompassed influences from European classical music, bebop, hard bop, and post-bop. His revolutionary approach to composition and performance placed him at the forefront of several major developments in jazz over his five-decade career.

In addition to his mastery of the trumpet, Davis was also a skilled pianist and composer. He composed many pieces that have become standards in the jazz repertoire, including “So What” and “All Blues”. His 1959 album Kind of Blue is one of the best-selling jazz albums of all time, having sold over four million copies in the United States alone.

Davis won eight Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1991. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2008, Davis was included in Rolling Stone’s list of greatest musicians of all time.

John Coltrane

One of the most influential saxophonists of all time, John Coltrane was at the forefront of the jazz world for over two decades. His unique style – characterized by its deep passion and technical mastery – has inspired generations of musicians and continues to be a major force in jazz today.

Born in North Carolina in 1926, Coltrane began playing saxophone at an early age. He first made a name for himself as a member of legendary jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie’s band in the 1940s, but it was his work with Miles Davis in the 1950s that really put him on the map. Coltrane’s solos on Davis’ landmark albums ‘Kind of Blue’ and ‘Giant Steps’ redefined what was possible on the saxophone and established him as one of the most innovative and exciting young talents in jazz.

In the 1960s, Coltrane began to explore new directions in his music, incorporating elements of Eastern religious music into his compositions. This period saw him produce some of his most acclaimed work, including the albums ‘A Love Supreme’ and ‘Meditations’. His final years were marked by poor health, but he continued to perform and record until his untimely death from liver cancer in 1967.

John Coltrane was a true giant of jazz who left an indelible mark on music history. His deeply felt performances and fearless exploration of new ideas continue to inspire musicians all over the world.

Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer with a career spanning nearly thirty years. Nicknamed “Lady Day” by her friend and music partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz music and pop singing. Her vocal style, strongly inspired by jazz instrumentalists, pioneered a new way of manipulating phrasing and tempo. She was known for her vocal delivery and improvisational skills, which made up for her limited range and lack of formal music education.

Holiday’s recordings were popularized by white audiences and critics alike, though she herself was unable to profit from their initial success due to racial discrimination in the American music industry. In the years following her death, she was celebrated as one of the greatest jazz singers of all time, while her earlier work with Lester Young in particular was hailed as innovative and influential.

The New Wave of Jazz

Jazz has been around for over a century, and it seems to only be getting more popular. New artists are constantly emerging with their own unique style, and there are now more subgenres of jazz than ever before. Whether you’re a fan of traditional jazz or looking for something new, there’s sure to be something for you. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at some of the best new jazz music around.

Kamasi Washington

Kamasi Washington is one of the most famous jazz musicians of the modern era. Hailing from Los Angeles, Washington’s unique brand of jazz has won him critical acclaim and a huge following among jazz fans.

Washington’s debut album, The Epic, was released in 2015 to great fanfare. The three-hour-long album was met with positive reviews, with many critics calling it a masterpiece. The Epic featured a large ensemble of musicians, including a full orchestra and choir, and was recorded over the course of two years.

Washington has continued to release new music since The Epic, including the albums Heaven and Earth (2018) and The NOW Now (2019). He has also collaborated with other artists, such as rapper Kendrick Lamar and singer-songwriter Solange Knowles.

If you’re looking for some catchy jazz tunes to get your feet tapping, Kamasi Washington is definitely worth checking out!

Robert Glasper

A classically trained pianist, Glasper began his career playing in rock bands before finding work as a session and touring musician with the likes of Mos Def and Kanye West. It was while working with rappers that he began to experiment with hip-hop and R&B elements in his own music, resulting in the formation of the Robert Glasper Experiment. The group fuses jazz with a wide range of genres, including soul, funk, hip-hop, and rock. Their sound is both fresh and accessible, making them one of the most popular acts in contemporary jazz.

Glasper has won three Grammy Awards for his work with the Experiment, including Best R&B Album for 2012’s Black Radio. He has also collaborated with a number of high-profile artists outside of the band, including Herbie Hancock, Kendrick Lamar, and Maxwell. In addition to his work as a performer and producer, Glasper is also an accomplished educator, teaching at the Manhattan School of Music and Berklee College of Music.

Trombone Shorty

Orleans native Trombone Shorty, real name Troy Andrews, is a trombone and trumpet virtuoso who has taken the jazz world by storm. Raised in the Tremé neighborhood, he began playing in brass bands at a young age and quickly rose to prominence. He has collaborated with some of the biggest names in music, including Lenny Kravitz, Brad Paisley, and Eric Clapton. His 2010 album, “Backatown,” won rapturous reviews and a Grammy nomination.

Up-and-Coming Jazz Artists

Jazz music has been around for over a century, and it shows no signs of slowing down. Every year, new and exciting jazz artists emerge on the scene and bring fresh sounds to the genre. In this article, we’ll introduce you to some of the most promising up-and-coming jazz artists. These artists are sure to get your feet tapping and your head nodding.

Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah

Few artists in any genre have had as big an impact in such a short period of time as trumpeter Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah. His distinctive approach to the instrument—which includes open-horn playing, quarter-tone pitches, and liberal use of electronics—has won him legions of fans, not to mention a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album. On his latest album, Ancestral Recall, Scott continues to push the boundaries of jazz, creating a sound that is both deeply rooted in tradition and refreshingly modern.

Ambrose Akinmusire

Akinmusire’s composed works are mainly concerned with the overthrow of unjust regimes and the struggles of black Americans. He often draws on his own upbringing in Oakland, California as well as on news stories and historical events. His best-known composition is “The Dreamer”, which was inspired by the death of Trayvon Martin.

Makaya McCraven

Makaya McCraven is a drummer, composer and producer based in Chicago. He’s originally from Boston and began playing drums at the age of four. McCraven has toured and recorded with a who’s who of jazz luminaries, including Archie Shepp, David Murray, Henry Threadgill and Steve Coleman. He’s a member of the experimental collective International Anthem Recording Company and has released several solo albums, most recentlyIn the Moment (2016).

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