The Best Jazz Music Songs to Add to Your List
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Here are some of the best jazz songs to add to your playlist. This genre of music is perfect for any occasion.
Best Jazz Music Songs
While there are a ton of great jazz songs out there, these are some of the best ones that you should add to your list. From classics to modern hits, there’s a little bit of something for everyone.
A Love Supreme, John Coltrane
A Love Supreme is a musical composition by jazz musician John Coltrane, released in 1965 on Impulse!. Records. The album’s recording was completed on December 9, 1964, and released posthumously on February 1, 1965, two weeks after its cassette recording.
The composition is a suite in four parts: “Acknowledgement”, “Resolution”, “Pursuance”, and “Psalm”. The four parts are performed without breaks and are unified by Coltrane’s statement of the main theme in each of them. On the original LP release, the first three parts were combined into one track (“Acknowledgement”) and the fourth (“Psalm”) remained as a separate track; this sequencing was reversed for the CD release.
The work is considered a cornerstone work of Coltrane’s career and an important work in the development of jazz music. It is frequently cited as his magnum opus and one of the greatest jazz albums ever made.
Blue in Green, Miles Davis
“Blue in Green” is a composition by jazz musician Miles Davis. It was recorded on March 2, 1959, at Columbia’s 30th Street Studio in New York City, during the sessions for the Kind of Blue album. The song is credited to both Davis and Bill Evans, who contributed the melody.
The piece is in the key of F minor and is mainly based around two chord progressions: D♭7–Fm7–B♭7–E♭7 for the first four bars, followed by A♭7–D♭7–G♭7 for bars five to eight. The second chord progression was borrowed from a previous Evans composition, “Peace Piece”.
So What, Miles Davis
“So What” is a 1959 composition by Miles Davis that is the first track on the Kind of Blue album. It is one of the most recognizable jazz standards and has been performed by many artists. The composition is known for its modal jazz sound and use of blue notes.
The song was originally composed as an exercise for the students in Davis’ class at Bard College. He later expanded the piece and recorded it with his sextet, which included John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers, Wynton Kelly, and Jimmy Cobb. The sextet version of “So What” became one of the most influential pieces of music in jazz history and one of the most recorded jazz compositions of all time.
The modal melody features heavily improvised solos by Davis and Coltrane, who both take multiple choruses. Chambers’ bassline consists primarily of whole notes played throughout the duration of each chord change; this static approach would become associated with modal Jazz compositions. Cobb’s drumming is sparse and understated, providing a light swing feel instead of the more driving 4/4 swing that was typical of bebop-era Jazz.
The changes to “So What” are based on D Dorian mode, with a ii-V-I progression (in concert key) lasting four measures followed by eight measures spent on each chord, amounting to a total structure of sixteen measures. The piece is written in cut-time with a moderate tempo around 108 beats per minute.
Take Five, Dave Brubeck
“Take Five” is a jazz composition written by Paul Desmond and originally recorded by the Dave Brubeck Quartet. It was composed in 1959, written in 5/4 time, making it one of the first Jazz compositions in that Time signature.
The song was originally released on the album “Time Out,” which was one of the first jazz albums to ever use alternate time signatures. “Take Five” quickly became a jazz standard, and has been covered by many artists over the years.
Though it was composed over 50 years ago, “Take Five” still sounds fresh and modern today, thanks to its unique time signature and catchy melody. If you’re a fan of Jazz music, or simply looking for a new song to add to your list, be sure to give “Take Five” a listen.
Honorable Mentions
If you’re looking for some good jazz songs to add to your playlist, look no further! Here are some honorable mentions that didn’t quite make the top 10 list.
All Blues, Miles Davis
“All Blues” is a composition by Miles Davis first appearing on the iconic 1959 Kind of Blue album. It is written in the key of C minor. The harmony follows a type of chord progression known as the “blues shuffle”, comprising 12 bars in length with a repeating chord pattern. The piece features modal jazz improvisation, as do the other tracks on Kind of Blue.
The composition features a solo from Davis in the middle section which is in the key of G Dorian. Dorian Mode is the second mode of the major scale and has a strongly bluesy flavor which works perfectly over this type of chord progression.
Giant Steps, John Coltrane
John Coltrane’s “Giant Steps” is one of the most popular and important jazz tunes ever written. The song’s chord progression is based on a series of major and minor 2-5-1 progressions, making it a great choice for beginning jazz musicians to learn.
My Favorite Things, John Coltrane
My Favorite Things is a song composed by Rodgers and Hammerstein for their musical The Sound of Music. It was introduced by Mary Martin in the original stage production in 1959 and later by Julie Andrews in the 1965 film version. The song’s lyrics describe a young child’s delight in the simple things of life, such as raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.
The jazz standard version of “My Favorite Things” was recorded by John Coltrane in 1960. It was released on his album My Favorite Things and became one of his most popular recordings. Coltrane’s recording is notable for its use of modal jazz, as well as its Innovation on the harmonic structure of the melody. In particular, Coltrane lengthened the melodic phrasing and added embellishments, such as descending chromatic scales, to create a more expansive feel. He also changed the harmonic structure by introducing new chords and reharmonizing existing ones.
