10 Jazz Music Examples You Need to Hear

Looking for some great examples of jazz music? Here are 10 essential tracks that every fan needs to hear. From Miles Davis to John Coltrane, these classics will give you a taste of the genre’s history and diversity.

Introduction

Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, United States, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It emerged in the form of independent traditional and popular musical styles, all linked by the common bonds of African-American and European-American musical parentage with a performance orientation. Jazz spans a period of over 100 years, and incorporates elements of West African musical traditions, Western harmony, and improvisation.

In its earliest form, jazz was based on the music of blues singer/guitarist W. C. Handy and ragtime pianist Scott Joplinand two-, four-, or eight-bar shout choruses punctuated by improvised solos. These work songs were often sung by groups of workers as they went about their daily tasks, such as loading cargo onto ships or digging ditches. The first jazz recordings were made in 1917 by the Original Dixieland Jass Band, which featured cornetist Nick LaRocca, trombonist Eddie Edwards, clarinetist Larry Shields, pianist Henry Ragas, bassist Bill Johnson, and drummer Tony Sbarbaro.

What is Jazz?

Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, United States. It originated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and developed from roots in blues and ragtime. Jazz is seen by many as “America’s classical music”. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, jazz has become recognized as a major form of musical expression. It then emerged in the form of independent traditional and popular musical styles, all linked by the common bonds of African-American and European-American musical parentage with a performance orientation. Jazz is characterized by swing and blue notes, call and response vocals, polyrhythms and improvisation. Jazz has roots in West African cultural and musical expression, and in African-American music traditions including blues and ragtime.
Over the past century, jazz has been described as “the sound of America”,[1] a “melting pot” where just about everything thrown into it–from African rhythms to European Harmonic structure–eventually gets mixed up into something new and distinctly American.[2][3][4] Jazz makes frequent use ofbent notes(notes that are flattened or sharpened slightly). The preferences for bent notes explains why so many instruments (including guitar, saxophone, trombone, trumpet) are used in jazz: each instrument can naturally play more than one note at a time (chords), which gives rise to interesting countermelodies.

Jazz Origins

It’s almost impossible to overstate the influence of jazz music. This unique style of music emerged from the African-American community in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and has since gone on to have a huge impact on popular culture all over the world.

The origins of jazz are often traced back to New Orleans, Louisiana, where the music was first developed by communities of African-American musicians living in close proximity to one another. These early jazz musicians would often gather in informal settings to play their instruments and improvise new melodies together.

Over time, the popularity of jazz began to spread beyond New Orleans and other parts of the United States. Jazz musicians began to tour internationally, exposing people all over the world to this new style of music. By the mid-20th century, jazz had become a truly global phenomenon, with musicians such as Miles Davis and John Coltrane becoming household names.

Today, jazz is more popular than ever before, with new artists constantly experimenting with the genre and pushing its boundaries. If you’re new to jazz, or simply looking for some good examples of the genre, check out our list of 10 essential tracks below.

Jazz Instruments

One of the things that makes jazz so unique and interesting is the wide range of instruments that can be used. While most people think of piano, drums, and brass when they think of jazz, there are actually a wide variety of instruments that can be used to create this style of music.

Piano – The piano is one of the most common instruments in jazz. It is often used as the lead instrument, providing the melody and main harmonic interest.

Drums – The drums are essential in providing the rhythmic foundation for jazz music. Without a strong drummer, the rest of the band would often fall apart.

Brass – Trumpets, trombones, and saxophones are all commonly used in jazz bands. These instruments provide a lot of the melodic interest in jazz, as well as some of the more complex harmonies.

Guitar – The guitar is sometimes underestimated in jazz, but it can actually be a very important instrument. It provides both melody and harmony, and can add a lot of texture to a band.

Bass – The bass provides the low-end foundation for the rest of the band. It keeps time and helps to define the harmony with its walking bass lines.

Woodwinds – Flutes, clarinets, and other woodwind instruments are sometimes used in jazz bands. These instruments can provide both melody and harmony, and often add a lot of color to a band’s sound.

Jazz Styles

There are many different jazz styles that have evolved over the years. Here are ten examples of different jazz styles that you should listen to:

1. Traditional Jazz
Traditional jazz is the kind of jazz that was played in the early part of the twentieth century. It is often referred to as New Orleans jazz or Dixieland jazz. The music is characterized by a strong rhythm section, solo improvisation, and a feel-good atmosphere.

2. Swing Jazz
Swing jazz is a style of jazz that developed in the 1930s and 1940s. The music is characterized by a swinging rhythm and lots of solo improvisation. The best-known swing jazz bands were led by Duke Ellington and Count Basie.

3. Bebop Jazz
Bebop was a style of jazz that developed in the 1940s. It was characterized by fast tempos, intricate melodies, and lots of solo improvisation. Bebop was named after the sound that some people thought it made when it was played quickly – “bebop-bebop-bebop”!

4. Hard Bop Jazz
Hard bop is a style of jazz that developed in the 1950s as a reaction against bebop music. It is characterized by a hard-driving rhythm, bluesy melodies, and solos that are less complex than those found in bebop music. Hard bop was also influenced by gospel music and rhythm and blues.

5. Modal Jazz
Modal jazz is a style of jazz that developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The music is based on modal scales, which are scales with a limited number of notes (usually seven). This gives modal jazz its distinctive sound – warm and relaxed, with plenty of space for solo improvisation. Miles Davis’ album “Kind of Blue” is one of the most famous examples of modal jazz.

6. Free Jazz
Free jazz is a style of jazz that developed in the 1960s as an extension of modal jazz and hard bop. It is characterized by extended solos, unusual time signatures, atonal melodies, and an overall avant-garde feeling. Free jazz can be pretty chaotic – but it can also be weirdly beautiful! Some free Jazz musicians you might want to check out include Cecil Taylor, Ornette Coleman, and Sun Ra .

7 . Fusion Jazz
Fusion Jazz refers to any type of Jazz which incorporates elements from other genres of music such as Rock , Funk or Latin Music . In general , Fusion Jazz has a more “jam band” feel to it – making it perfect for live performances . Some well known examples include Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew album as well as groups like Weather Report and Return to Forever .

8 . Afro-Cuban Jazz
Afro-Cuban Jazz refers to any type of Jazz which incorporates elements from Cuban music such as rhythmic clave patterns or percussion instruments . One well known example would be “Manteca” , performed by Dizzy Gillespie . Other notable artists include Arturo O’Farrill , Chucho Valdés , Gonzalo Rubalcaba .

9 . Brazilian Jazz or Bossa Nova
As you might expect , Brazilian Bossa Nova combines aspects from both Brazilian Samba/Batucada rhythms with Cool School era American big band harmonies creating something both unique yet familiar sounding . A well known example would be Stan Getz’ 1963 recording “The Girl From Ipanema” which features João Gilberto on guitar and his wife Astrud Gilberto on vocals . Another great example comes from Antonio Carlos Jobim himself with his 1966 hit “Wave” off the album francis albert sinatra & antonio carlos jobim

10 . Post Bop
Post Bop can be seen as an offshoot or extension from Hard Bop featuring many elements such Asatomical structuresorted chord progressions however with more harmonically complex chord substitutions taking place . A great example would be McCoy Tyner 1964 recording “The Real McCoy” which features John Coltrane on saxophone

Jazz in America

Jazz music is often thought of as being exclusively American, but its origins are actually a blend of African and European music traditions. Jazz first gained popularity in the early 20th century in the southern United States, particularly in New Orleans. From there, it spread to other parts of the country and became a truly national phenomenon.

Over the years, jazz has evolved and changed, but it has always maintained its roots in improvisation and creativity. If you’re new to jazz or just looking for some good examples of the genre, check out these 10 tracks:

1. “West End Blues” by Louis Armstrong
2. “Take the ‘A’ Train” by Duke Ellington
3. “Mood Indigo” by Charles Mingus
4. “So What” by Miles Davis
5. “A Night in Tunisia” by Dizzy Gillespie
6. “All Blues” by John Coltrane
7. “Kind of Blue” by Miles Davis
8. “The Sidewinder” by Lee Morgan
9. “Giant Steps” by John Coltrane
10. “Birdland” by Weather Report

Jazz Greats

Jazz is a genre of music that was born in the African-American community in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is a mix of African and European musical traditions. Jazz is characterized by syncopated rhythms, polyphonic ensemble playing, improvisation, and a swinging feel. Jazz has been a major part of American pop culture for over 100 years.

Some of the most famous and influential jazz musicians include Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Billie Holiday, and Ella Fitzgerald. Jazz has also been a major influence on other genres of music including rock, R&B, and hip hop.

Here are 10 essential examples of jazz music that you need to hear:

1. “West End Blues” by Louis Armstrong
2. “Take the ‘A’ Train” by Duke Ellington
3. “So What” by Miles Davis
4. “My Favorite Things” by John Coltrane
5. “Round Midnight” by Thelonious Monk
6. “Now’s the Time” by Charlie Parker
7. “God Bless the Child” by Billie Holiday
8. “Lady Sings the Blues” by Billie Holiday
9. “Summertime” by Ella Fitzgerald
10.”It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” by Duke Ellington

Contemporary Jazz

Contemporary Jazz is a genre of music that combines elements of traditional Jazz with more modern styles. It is generally considered to be a more accessible form of Jazz, as it often features catchy melodies and a less complex overall sound. Contemporary Jazz often features soloing instruments, rather than the entire band playing together at once. This allows for each instrument to shine through and show off their technical abilities. Some well-known Contemporary Jazz artists include Miles Davis, Chick Corea, and Pat Metheny.

Listening to Jazz

Jazz music is America’s own art form, forged in the fire of the country’s history and shaped by the creativity of its people. Jazz has been called the purest expression of American democracy; a music built on individual and cooperative improvisation, on a willingness to take risks, and on an openness to change.

Over the past hundred years, jazz has given us some of the most beautiful and moving music ever recorded. If you’re new to jazz, or if you’re looking for some musical inspiration, here are ten essential jazz recordings that you need to hear.

1. “West End Blues” by Louis Armstrong
2. “Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen” by The Andrews Sisters
3. “Take the ‘A’ Train” by Duke Ellington
4. “Mood Indigo” by Nat King Cole
5. “All Blues” by Miles Davis
6. “So What” by Thelonious Monk
7. “Straight, No Chaser” by Thelonious Monk
8. “Kind of Blue” by Miles Davis
9. “A Love Supreme, Part 1: Acknowledgement” by John Coltrane
10. “The Sidewinder” by Lee Morgan

Further Listening

In order to get started listening to jazz, you need to know where to start. To help you out, we’ve put together a list of 10 essential jazz tracks that cover the history of the genre.

Benny Goodman – “Sing, Sing, Sing”
Considered one of the fathers of swing, Benny Goodman’s “Sing, Sing, Sing” is one of the most recognizable and enduring jazz standards. Recorded in 1937, the track featuresGene Krupa on drums and Lionel Hampton on vibraphone.

Duke Ellington – “Take the ‘A’ Train”
One of the most popular pieces of big band music, Duke Ellington’s “Take the ‘A’ Train” was written by his long-time collaborator Billy Strayhorn. The song became the signature tune of Ellington’s orchestra and was recorded numerous times throughout the years.

Miles Davis – “So What”
Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue is one of the most essential jazz albums ever recorded, and “So What” is its most famous track. The simple but elegant melody has been covered by countless artists across all genres.

Thelonious Monk – “Round Midnight”
One of the most influential figures in jazz history, Thelonious Monk was known for his unique and angular piano playing style. “Round Midnight” is one of his most famous compositions and has been recorded by many artists over the years.

John Coltrane – “My Favorite Things”
A classic from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music, John Coltrane’s version of “My Favorite Things” is a staple of any jazz fan’s collection. Recorded in 1960, it features Coltrane on saxophone backed by a full orchestra.

Ornette Coleman – “Lonely Woman”
Ornette Coleman was one of the most controversial figures in jazz history, known for his avant-garde approach to harmony and rhythm. “Lonely Woman” is one of his best-known compositions and has been covered by many artists over the years.