Introduction to the Greatest Jazz Moments
Introduction to the Greatest Jazz Moments – What is the greatest jazz song ever? It’s a nearly impossible question to answer, but this list can serve as a great starting point for any jazz fan looking to explore further. Whether it’s swing, hot, cool, bebop, modal, free, or fusion, uDiscover has something for everyone in this list of the greatest jazz songs of all time.
Introduction to the Greatest Jazz Moments
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51: Duke Ellington and His Great Orchestra – Mood Indigo
According to one Duke Ellington biographer, “Mood Indigo” is “a timeless classic,” and who are we to doubt it? With lyrics by Irving Mills, this great standard, first released in 1930, has been covered by artists as diverse as Frank Sinatra, Joe Jackson, and Kelly Hogan.
50: Norah Jones – Come Away With Me
The closing track on jazz/pop fusion singer Norah Jones’ million-selling debut album in 2002, Come Away With Me, is a version of the Hoagy Carmichael standard first recorded by the Glenn Miller Orchestra in 1940.
49: Johnny Mathis – Misty
With his distinctive vocals, Johnny Mathis emerged as a pop idol who dominated the world in the late 1950s. One of his greatest jazz songs was a romantic interpretation of pianist Erroll Garner’s timeless ballad “Misty,” released in 1959 and reaching No. 12 on the U.S. charts.
48: Julie London – Cry Me a River
More than 500 versions of Arthur Hamilton’s classic ballad exist, all following in the footsteps of jazz luminary Julie London’s original, recorded in 1955. The song gained wider attention after London covered it in the 1956 hit film The Girl Can’t Help It.
47: Brother Bones and His Shadows – Sweet Georgia Brown
The song has been covered by many renowned jazz musicians, including Art Tatum, Bud Powell and Django Reinhardt. However, the most widely known version is by Brother Bones and His Shadows. The song is often played whenever the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team is in action.
46: Diana Krall – The Look of Love
The bossa nova created by Burt Bacharach and Hal David is the perfect canvas for the extraordinary voice of Diana Krall, one of modern jazz’s leading vocalists. The song has been interpreted by many singers, but Krall’s rendition of it provides a valuable lesson in how to do many things with ease.
45: George Shearing – Lullaby of Birdland
A pianist who was blind from birth, London-born George Shearing gained recognition in America in the late 1940s and early 1950s for his blend of swing and bebop styles. His unique sound was embodied in “Lullaby of Birdland,” a jazz tune originally written in 1952 to advertise the famous New York club of the same name.
44: Ahmad Jamal – Poinciana
A Pittsburgh pianist, Ahmad Jamal was known for his soft touch, which became synonymous with the song “Poinciana,” a little-known pop composition from the 1930s. The song became a hit single and became the basis for his highly successful 1958 LP, “At The Pershing: But Not For Me.”
43: Jimmy Smith – Organ Grinder Swing
Jimmy Smith, known as the Hammond organ hero, entered the US Hot 100 chart in 1965 thanks to his collaboration with guitarist Kenny Burrell and drummer Grady Tate. They recorded a vibrant, bluesy instrumental, a work that was the equivalent of soul food.
42: Modern Jazz Quartet – Django
Known for the crystalline vibrating voice of Milt Jackson, the Modern Jazz Quartet’s elegant chamber jazz style is conveyed by a haunting instrumental written by the band’s pianist, John Lewis, in 1954 as a tribute to his friend, the great jazz guitarist, Django Reinhardt, who had died the year before.
41: Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse – Body and Soul
Released to celebrate the legendary singer’s 85th birthday, Tony Bennett’s “Duets II” album gave the song its first shot at the top spot on the Billboard 200 chart. From it came a stunning version sung by Amy Winehouse, who reinterpreted the 1930s standard, which had also been covered by legends such as Sarah Vaughan, Frank Sinatra, and Etta James.
40: Frank Sinatra – Fly Me to the Moon
The song was originally written by Bart Howard in 1954 and recorded by Nat “King” Cole, Peggy Lee, and many others. However, the definitive version of the song is of course Frank Sinatra’s 1964 recording.
Baca juga : Traditional Chinese Musical Instruments
39: Hoagy Carmichael – Stardust
Actor, lawyer, and one of America’s leading songwriters, Hoagland “Hoagy” Carmichael composed and recorded his famous ballad, “Stardust,” in 1927 after breaking up with his then-girlfriend. Although Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra later recorded the song, the most famous version is from R&B artist Billy Ward and His Dominoes, who covered it in 1957.
38: Wayne Shorter – Infant Eyes
Saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter created a delicate and haunting ballad to celebrate the birth of his daughter, Miyako. The song was written for the 1966 LP “Speak No Evil” and went on to become a jazz standard, spawning over 70 cover versions.
37: Thelonious Monk – “Well You Needn’t”
With its distinctive chromatic melody, the much-reinterpreted “Well You Needn’t” was written by Thelonious Monk, a pianist and composer who was dubbed the “High Priest of Bebop.” Monk first recorded the song in 1947 and continued to record it periodically throughout his career.
36: Roger Williams – “Autumn Leaves”
Nebraska-born singer Roger Williams made history as the only musician to top the Billboard pop chart with his rendition of the majestic French tune, “Autumn Leaves,” in 1955.
35: Cab Calloway – “Minnie the Moocher”
With lyrics rich with drug references and a creative “scat” introduction, this 1931 jazz song has sold more than a million copies. In 1980, Cab Calloway gained worldwide attention when he featured this iconic song in the blockbuster film “The Blues Brothers.”
34: Natalie Cole featuring Nat King Cole – “Unforgettable”
One of jazz’s most iconic songs came in the form of an unexpected duet: Natalie Cole dueting with her legendary father, Nat King Cole. In addition to the stunning beauty of her vocals, the context of the recording gives it a deeper dimension of resonance.
33: Django Reinhardt – “Minor Swing”
Released as a 78 rpm single in 1937, this song, written by the brilliant guitarist Django Reinhardt with French violinist Stéphane Grappelli, became a symbol of the gypsy jazz style that swept Europe in the 1930s. The musical synergy these two musicians produced was unmatched.
32: Ray Charles – “Georgia on My Mind”
Although written by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell in 1930, most listeners associate this deep jazz tune with Ray Charles’s groundbreaking 1960 recording, which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.
31: Peggy Lee – “Fever”
In 1958, Minnesota singer Peggy Lee took Little Willie John’s R&B hit that had topped the charts two years earlier. She added a few new verses and turned it into a spirited riff that shot into the U.S. pop top 10. The jazz tune is notable for its minimalist instrumentation, consisting of a bass line, occasional drums, and finger snaps.
30: Nina Simone – “My Baby Just Cares for Me”
Originally released in 1961, this brilliant song got a much-deserved revival in Nina Simone’s career after it was used in a British perfume commercial in 1987.
29: Bill Evans – “Waltz for Debby”
A pianist who worked almost exclusively in a trio format, Bill Evans recorded this hit song, named after his niece, in 1956 on the album “New Jazz Conceptions.” Later, in the 1970s, he recorded a vocal version with singer Tony Bennett.
28: Sonny Rollins – “God Bless the Child”
Although the song was written by and attributed to iconic singer Billie Holiday, tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins provided an unforgettable interpretation of the ballad on his 1962 album, “The Bridge,” showcasing his unmatched improvisational skills alongside guitarist Jim Hall.
27: Herbie Hancock – “Cantaloupe Island”
One of the Chicago pianist’s most famous songs, this is a playful soul jazz tune from his 1964 album “Empyrean Isles.” Herbie Hancock gave the song a jazz-funk twist in the 1970s, and in 1991, the original 1960s version was sampled by British rap group Us3 for their hit single “Cantaloupe (Flip Fantasia).”
Cantaloupe Island (1999 Remaster/Rudy Van Gelder Edition)
26: Weather Report – Birdland
Led by Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter, Weather Report was one of the leading jazz fusion groups of the 1970s and 1980s. Taken from their 1978 classic album, *Heavy Weather*, “Birdland” with its catchy chorus, is one of their best-known songs and later reached the charts in the United States through the Manhattan Transfer’s interpretation.
25: Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong – Summertime
There are reportedly 25,000 recorded versions of the George Gershwin and DuBose Heyward standard “Summertime.” Of the *Porgy and Bess* (1958) productions sung by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, this version is among the best.
