Jazz- The Top 10 Songs

So, you have decided that you want to try out a new style of music because you’re bored of the same-old same-old in the Charts?

You are in luck because you’ve come to the right place. I’ve been enjoying playing the piano for the better part of my life and I want to share with you the 10 best songs to fall in love with jazz. 

We’re going to start with 

The most obvious, the one and only Frank Sinatra and his version of Fly Me To The Moon. No song is better suited to get you hooked on the smooth and jazzy times of Frank Sinatra and his Rat Pack. 

Secondly, the great Nat “King” Cole and Unforgettable. A song as unforgettable as its name. A love song that will give you goosebumps all over you body. 

Thirdly to get into a different field of Jazz, the Esbjorn Svensson Trio (E.S.T.) with a bit more modern approach to Jazz and their Tuesday Wonderland, a song which is more modern and a bit more complicated than the classics mentioned above but as soon as you have heard it more than once you will definitely fall in love with it. 

The next song in line I would say is the original recording of Misty as played by Arroll Garner in Belgium (find it on Youtube, it is divine). His incredible talent combined with his look of complete and utter boredom is just a connection too ingenious to pass up. 

For number five I would suggest another more or less modern approach to Jazz, though a bit more soothing to the ear than the E.S.T. With the original being from Herbie Hancock, Us3 have made Cantaloop Island a real party piece which is great to cheer you up and get you in the mood for a night out. 

Number 6 to me must be Monika Herzig’s Light at the End of the Tunnel. A rather unknown piece of music but her piano solo song is just too incredible to pass. It is so profoundly emotional and diversified at the same time that it almost makes me cry every time I listen to it. 

Another modern and soft approach to Jazz that one should know is Seasick Steve’s rough and hands-on approach to Blues, I have seen him on a festival in Belgium once and he was just incredible. The song that I would recommend is Cut My Wings as it is a more melodic song of his and he can get a bit rough from time to time. 

But back to older times. The great recording of Sir George Shearing and Peggy Lee, Lullaby of Birdland from 1959 is just a must-have-heard Jazz Standard. Amy Winehouse in more recent times has also made a recording of that song which is a bit more Soul-y as you would expect from her. 

I want to give my number 8 to Nora Jones. It is difficult to balance this top-10 between all the great have- beens with the great current musicians that are out there working their Jazz magic and I think it’s important to also consider the younger ones because one day that will be all that is left to produce something new. So this is probably going to get many responses from upset “real” Jazz- Fans but I think as an introduction to Jazz “Sunrise” would be a good song as it is charming and from within the heart of New Orleans. 

Only two more to go and so many more great artists. I think it is now time to honor one of the best, Louis Armstrong. His awesome voice, if you want to call it that, definitely is one of the greatest stars on the Jazz sky. Since it kind of is his signature- song I would include into this list What a Wonderful World. 

Last but definitely not least I want to put my personal favourite Jazz song of all time: My Funny Valentine performed by Chet Baker, who to me is one of the greatest artists of all time. 

This concludes my little list as an introduction to the world of Jazz, I have been trying to give an overview over most fields and I am sorry if I forgot a certain area or a very imporant artist, it is just a list to get people to listen to this, the greatest form of music. 

I hope to have made your day just a little bit better. 

Best regards