The Best Jazz Music Songs of 2015

Find out which jazz tracks made our list of the best songs of 2015.

Introduction

It’s hard to believe that another year has come and gone, but 2015 is officially in the books. In the world of music, it was a year that saw a number of great artists release some truly amazing work. But what were the best jazz music songs of 2015?

While there are plenty of ways to answer that question, we’ve decided to take a look at some of the most popular songs in the genre according to iTunes. From up-and-comers to established stars, these are the tunes that had jazz fans buzzing this past year.

Best Jazz Music Songs of 2015

If you’re a fan of Jazz music, then you’re in for a treat. 2015 was a great year for the genre, with a number of artists releasing amazing tracks. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at the best Jazz music songs of 2015.

So What – 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. His initial modal phase lasted until 1964, after which he recorded a series of highly acclaimed albums in a period that has been labeled his electric phase.

So What is a composition by Miles Davis first recorded on the 1959 album Kind of Blue. On the original recording, pianist Bill Evans plays the melody twice before Davis comes in with his solo followed by Wynton Kelly playing a similar solo. The piece is composed using the chords from “All Blues”, another composition from Kind of Blue, as its base.

Take Five – Dave Brubeck

“Take Five” is a jazz piece composed by Paul Desmond and originally recorded by The Dave Brubeck Quartet on its album Time Out in 1959. It is in 5/4 time, making it rhythmically unusual compared to most popular music of the era, which was almost exclusively in 4/4 time.

Despite its unusual time signature, the melody of “Take Five” is very easy to remember and hum. The main melody is played by alto saxophonist Paul Desmond, with Brubeck’s piano playing a counter-melody during the bridge sections. Joe Morello plays a fill in measure three of each chorus (as well as other fills), and Desmond plays a brief solo during the final chorus. The piece modulates up a half-step at the end of each chorus to create interest and forward momentum.

The popularity of “Take Five” has led to it being recorded by many other artists over the years. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1996 and was selected by the Library of Congress for inclusion in the National Recording Registry in 2004.

Blue in Green – Miles Davis

Blue in Green is a song written by Miles Davis and recorded on his seminal 1959 album Kind of Blue. Though one of the most celebrated jazz albums of all time, the composition and recording of Blue in Green was relatively uneventful.

The tune is a slow ballad in F minor with a 6/8 meter, and features an opening melody by Miles Davis which is then taken up by the piano. The form is simple and elegant, based around two chord progressions which are repeated several times.

Though there are many great performances of Blue in Green, the definitive version is undoubtedly Miles Davis’ original recording. The playing is restrained and deeply felt, with each musician contributing something essential to the whole.

All Blues – Miles Davis

Miles Davis’ “All Blues” is one of the most iconic and influential jazz tunes of all time. It was originally recorded in 1959 on the landmark album “Kind of Blue,” and has been covered by countless artists since. The tune is based on a 12-bar blues progression, but its uniqueharmonic structure and use of modal scales give it a distinctly modern sound. “All Blues” is a perfect example of Davis’ ability to take a simple idea and turn it into something truly special.

A Love Supreme – John Coltrane

A Love Supreme is a studio album recorded by jazz saxophonist John Coltrane and released in December 1964 on Impulse! Records. It is generally considered to be one of the greatest and most influential jazz albums of all time. The album features four parts, entitled “Acknowledgement”, “Resolution”, “Pursuance” and “Psalm”, which were recorded in one continuous take. Each part features a different mood, but all are linked by Coltrane’s use of motifs, as well as his use of sheets of sound technique, whereby he layers multiple saxophones playing similar lines simultaneously.

The album was recorded at the Van Gelder Studio in New Jersey in one day in November 1964, with Coltrane’s classic quartet featuring pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Jimmy Garrison, and drummer Elvin Jones. While the basic tracks were recorded in a single day, extra overdubs were added later. After its completion, Impulse!’s head A&R man Creed Taylor decided not to release the album immediately, feeling it was too far ahead of its time and would not sell. Taylor eventually relented, and after editing and remastering the tapes, A Love Supreme was released to critical acclaim in early December 1964. It reached number 13 on Billboard’s Top LPs chart later that month.

Coltrane continued to perform pieces from A Love Supreme throughout his career; the last known recording of him playing the suite was made at an impromptu gig at Yale University two months before his death in 1967. In 2002, A Love Supreme was certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting shipments of four million copies in the United States alone.

Conclusion

In 2015, there were many great jazz songs released. It was difficult to narrow it down to just ten, but these are the best of the best. From Herbie Hancock to Miles Davis, these songs represent the best that jazz has to offer.

1. “Maiden Voyage” by Herbie Hancock
2. “So What” by Miles Davis
3. “All Blues” by Miles Davis
4. “Blue in Green” by Miles Davis
5. “Flamenco Sketches” by Miles Davis
6. “Gingerbread Boy” by Paul Desmond
7. “Take Five” by Paul Desmond
8. “Black Orpheus” by Luiz Bonfa
9. “The Girl from Ipanema” by Antonio Carlos Jobim
10. “Wave” by Antonio Carlos Jobim