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Jazz standards are musical compositions that are widely known, performed and recorded by jazz artists as part of the genre's musical repertoire. This list includes tunes written in or after the 1950s that are considered standards by at least one major fake book publication or reference work.
- All of Me
- All The Things You Are
- Alone Together
- Autumn Leaves
- Billie’s Bounce
- Black Orpheus
- Blue Bossa
- Body and Soul
- But Not For Me
- Bye Bye Blackbird
“All of Me” – Written by Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons. This song became popular during the swing era and, in the mid-20th century, reached the top of the US pop charts thanks to many different recording artists. Louis Armstrong recorded a famous version that reached the #1 spot on the US charts in 1931. Billie Holiday recorded the most famous ve...
“All The Things You Are” – Written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II. When it comes to learning jazz, “All The Things You Are” is a signature tune you need to know. Despite being written for a musical in 1939, this song became popular during the Bebop era, when many jazz musicians played the song with a faster tempo than vocal versions. Check...
“Alone Together” – Written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz. This song, like many jazz standards, was written for a Broadway musical – Flying Colors(1932). However, many jazz instrumentalists have taken it and made it their own. This song became most popular during the cool jazz era. image source: Wikipedia Commons 1. Dizzy Gillespie and Oscar P...
“Autumn Leaves” – Music by Joseph Kosma and lyrics by Jacques Prévert (French) and Johnny Mercer (English). As far as jazz songs are concerned, Autumn Leaves may be the most famous tune on this list. This song joined the ranks of popular tunes in the Hard Bop era and was originally a French song: “Les Feuilles Mortes.” Listen to these great recorde...
“Billie’s Bounce” – Written by Charlie Parker. Every jazz musician needs to know several blues heads, and Billie’s Bounce is a great tune to start practicing the jazz blues. 1. Charlie Parker – “The Complete Savoy Sessions” (1945) 2. Dizzy Gillespie – “To Bird with Love” (1992) 3. George Benson – “Giblet Gravy” (1968) Learn how to play Billies Boun...
“Black Orpheus” – Music by Luiz Bonfá and lyrics by Antônio Maria This list includes several Latin jazz tunes, and no list is complete without a few Latin or Bossa Nova tunes. As jazz songs go, “Black Orpheus” is a unique blend of South American and Ancient Greek folklore and Cool Jazz. 1. Wayne Shorter – “Wayning Moments” (1961) 2. Astrud Gilberto...
“Blue Bossa” – Written by Kenny Dorham. Blue Bossa is another common jam session tune that is usually played fast with a Latin feel. There are many great recordings of Blue Bossa, but a few notable ones are listed below. image source: Wikipedia Commons 1. Joe Henderson – “Page One” (1963) 2. Dexter Gordon – “Biting the Apple” (1976) 3. Pat Martino ...
“Body and Soul” – Written by Johnny Green, Edward Heyman, Robert Sour, and Frank Eyton. This jazz song is a staple among ballads in the jazz tradition. The rich and intricate harmonic structure of “Body and Soul” offers an expansive landscape for improvisation. It’s certainly a favorite among many great players, from Coleman Hawkins to John Coltran...
“But Not For Me” – Written by Ira and George Gershwin. This George and Ira Gershwin tune is a classic enshrined in the Great American Songbook. The swinging rhythm and witty yet melancholic lyrics evoke a bittersweet quality that’s typical of the Gershwins’ many jazz songs. Be sure to check out: 1. Chet Baker – “Chet Baker Sings” (1954) 2. Ella Fit...
“Bye Bye Blackbird” – Written by Ray Henderson and Mort Dixon One of the emblematic songs from the Tin Pan Alley era, “Bye Bye Blackbird,” should be on your tune list. Its uplifting melody and simple harmonic structure offer an ideal foundation for improvisation. Be sure to check out: 1. Miles Davis – “‘Round About Midnight” (1957) 2. John Coltrane...
The theoretical underpinnings of cool jazz were set out by the blind Chicago pianist Lennie Tristano, and its influence stretches into such later developments as Bossa nova, modal jazz, and even free jazz.
List of jazz standards. For a list of the core jazz standards, see the following lists by decade: Before 1920. 1920s. 1930s. 1940s. 1950s and later. For a looser, more comprehensive A-Z list of jazz standards and tunes which have been covered by multiple artists, see the List of jazz tunes.
Jan 6, 2024 · For this list, we’ve aimed to highlight 50 of the most essential jazz standards that musicians around the world draw upon on a regular basis. For our top 20 favourites, we’ve included: A ‘classic’ version to check out [because learning jazz from the original performers is the best way!]
Learn about the trends, people, and events that shaped the jazz standards canon in the 1950s. Explore the list of top 1000 jazz standards from this period, and discover the related reading and viewing resources.
Detailed information on the top 300 jazz standards including origins, historical notes, musical analyses, CD suggestions, and much more (Click on Songs) Concise Biographies for the writers and introducing performers.
