When this list was submitted I looked back over the past two years worth of lists and realized that we didn’t have a single Jazz list! Therefore I am very please to introduce this one! I’d like to emphasize that this is NOT a top ten best list! Rather, it’s simply a list of some great jazz performances and is more of an overview of different jazz styles. Aside from trying to add a diverse selection of jazz styles, any song making the cut into the list had to have a Youtube video with film footage rather than a picture montage with song accompaniment.
Nina Simone has dabbled in all the jazz genres, and this a little taste of her acid jazz stylings. It’s not lyrically or instrumentally challenging but it’s fun to listen to her sing “My boobies!” I recommend not singing that aloud randomly in public places unless you’re used to receiving odd looks from strangers…
‘Round Midnight is a staple for the late night jazz radio stations. This was originally composed by Thelonious Monk but has had such an influence on the jazz world that nearly every jazz musician has performed his or her own interpretation of the piece.
Does this song need an introduction? It is fairly well known because of swing music’s mainstream revival through bands like The Brian Setzer Orchestra and Cherry Poppin’ Daddies. If you listen to this version and that of more recent takes on the song, you’ll notice that not much has changed; it’s hard to fix perfection!
Ahmad Jamal is one of the best jazz pianists to ever touch the keys. He has been a professional musician for over 50 years now working with the likes of Stan Gentz, Sarah Vaughn and Miles Davis. Let it be noted that the performance in the video clip is entirely improv.
June Christy’s star power was eclipsed by the likes of Sarah Vaughn and Ella Fitzgerald so she’s relatively unknown to the casual jazz listener. However, she’s an icon in the cool jazz genre and is often credited with being the original style influence for many modern day jazz singers. In the early part of her career, she sang for Stan Kenton’s orchestra but her style really took off when she went solo. This performance took place just prior to her retirement from the music industry.
Thanks to Pixar, gypsy jazz seems to be reemerging in mainstream popularity. Guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stephen Grapelli are the most famous gypsy jazz artists and they both happen to play for this quintet. Be careful with your volume; shortly after the 4 minute mark, the sound quality becomes very bad and very loud.
Afro-Cuban jazz blends New Orleans jazz style with Latin rhythms. It’s usually much more structured than other jazz genres but has a light-hearted rhythm that’s great to dance to, whether it’s fast-paced like Dizzy Gillespie’s “Manteca” or slower like the bossa nova styled song “Sway”.
This piece is one of the best songs in one of the best albums created in any jazz genre. The entire album is worth listening to. Without going too deeply into music theory, most improv styles prior were fixed within a chord set (i.e. specific musical notes) but Miles Davis tried a new technique (modal jazz) that vastly opened up the range and allowed for more musical liberties.
This is a great way to cram in as many jazz musicians as possible into this list! Sammy Davis, Jr. did a remarkable job mimicking each singer’s style and mannerisms. The impressions done include Fred Astaire, Nat ‘King’ Cole, Billy Eckstine, Vaughn Monroe, Tony Bennett, Mel Tormé, Louis Armstrong, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis…and of course, a little bit of Sammy Davis, Jr.
This is one of the more commonly known jazz songs as numerous musicians have covered the song and it has also played in many television shows and movies. Like the bluesy “Strange Fruit” by Billie Holiday, this was meant as an anti-racism song but unlike “Strange Fruit”, it takes on a hopeful outlook for change in the future.
Good lookin’ out with the list
We need to add a function that prevents a person from posting a comment until they have read and accepted the fact that we don’t allow “first!” type comments here. I have to spend time on every new list deleting them. It is incredibly annoying and wasteful.
O, how I love jazz.
jfrater, cant you add some sort of program that disables comments for the first ten minutes after a list is posted? or better yet, a program that doesn’t allow a user to comment until 3-5 minutes after he/she opens a new list.
i meant to put a question mark at the end of the comment…
Cool list, the performances were amazing – I love what a wonderful world!
I really want to listen to all of these. but its really late here in the states. I’ll have to do it in the morning. Looking forward to it though.
When I saw “10 Truly Great Jazz Performances” I thought – “Oh YEAH!!! I LOVE Transformers” . . . . .
1. Jazz vs Megatron
2. Jazz vs Starscream
3. Jazz vs Bonecrusher
4. Jazz vs Blackout
5. Jazz vs Skorponok
etc!!!
Then I realised it was ‘music’
Seriously though, folks:
While I love Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” (one of my all-time favourites) and I enjoy Both Sammy Davis Jnr and Nat King Cole (#6); I am sorry Alejo and gabi319 I just cannot bear Jazz – far too ‘improvised’ for my taste.
However “each to their own / One man’s meat, another man’s poison” etc
Good list though for Jazz lovers.
Funny, my version of Manteca doesn’t sound like that.
And, as always, Coltrane rocked!
beautiful list
Not really in to jazz, it makes me sleep. :p hehe
somehow i liked no.10 more than no.1 , i just thought to myself – what an annoying song. and i was really expecting to see frank vignola here.
gabi319:
You have made my day when I opened listverse and saw Nina Simone’s picture.
Thank you for this Excellent list.
Interesting… ‘Manteca’ has the same melody as ‘Tequila’ by the Champs.
I have to say, I absolutely despise ‘Ain’t got no…’, purely becaue over here in the UK it’s been heavily overplayed in some really *****ing annoying adverts. But I digress. Great list!
What a paradox! This list is truly a great idea, but it highlights the fact that very, very few of the best jazz performances were ever captured on video. Charlie Parker’s breathtaking out-take solo on “A Night in Tunisia,” or John Coltrane’s legendary 30-minute solo at the Sutherland in Chicago (Jimmy Cobb had to throw a drumstick at him to finally make him stop playing), or the night in Japan that Ray Brown dropped a handful of steel balls into the piano and forced Oscar Peterson to play ONE-HANDED while he picked the balls off the strings with the other hand.
Great list, gabi319! I am so happy that you picked “What a Wonderful World” for number one. I am also happy that you included “Sing, Sing, Sing” and “One for my Baby”. All 3 I have on my ipod, but will be adding a few more before the day is out.
I fu*king hate jazz
Kennoth, your eloquence is breathtaking.
/run “hatejazz_garbage.bat” -t “3″
strange fruit billie holiday???
There is a beautiful live version video on youtube, it would have been perfect here. The song is so haunting, its about the lynching of african americans. The rumour has it that when billie first sang it, no one applauded becuase they were so shocked about what they had heard.
Maybe put it as a bonus?!! watch it!
My fav is Louis Armstrong’s “A kiss to build a dream on”.
don’t like modern jazz the old trad jazz isn’t too bad or dixiland either
How could you possibly leave out Dave Brubeck’s “Take Five”?
Awesome. I always thought I didn’t like Jazz. I was wrong. Love Sammy Davis Jr. btw. Great addition.
It is about time we had some jazz!! The world needs another Miles Davis type musician to bring this genre back into popularity. It beats the hell out of the disgusting 50 cent rubbish spewing out of the radio infecting our ears. Luckily, I still have much of genre to explore. My favourite jazz musicians would be Herbie Hancock, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk.
I adore the hard-bop and post-bop from the fifties and sixties. I cannot enjoy free-jazz. It just sounds like a complete mess to my ears. Maybe I will have an appreciation for it after another 20 years of listening to all that jazz!
Refreshing list bud well done. Keep em comin!
Mullacio, it’s all about perspective. Louis Armstrong hated bebop jazz passionately, and Cab Calloway called it “Chinese music.” Many of the bebop guys despised Miles and Coltrane when they experimented with cool jazz and hard bop. And everybody hated Miles when he turned towards fusion jazz. All of these sounds are now mainstream to our ears.
Wynton Marsalis is the loudest voice today for a return to more traditional jazz, but at the same time he’s discouraging new artists from pushing the envelope into new sounds (which is what jazz has always been about).
The next 10 years are going to be exciting for jazz, that’s for sure.
All this talk about jazz reminds me about one of my favourite musician stories. Back in the day, the great Bix Biederbecke needed a union card to play in certain states of the US (the Mississippi region, I think) and – though I can’t remember the resaon why – the local union didn’t want him to have one.
Now, one of the requirements for the ticket was that you could sight-read a piece of music that the union committee chose and put in front of you. Knowing Bix couldn’t read music they had a very difficult horn piece all ready and waiting for him. However, when Bix saw what they wanted him to play he insisted on taking his test on the piano, and the union had no choice but to put some piano music in from of him.
Bix had perfect pitch and, though a horn player, could also play anything on the piano after hearing it once or twice; he knew what the tune was when he saw the title, and played it by ear whilst pretending to sight-read. They had no option but to give him his union ticket.
Hallelujah ‘I got life’ WOW Nina rocks! Great list girl!
I think many jazz lovers, as infuential as louis was, would be disappointed with what a wonderful world topping the list. He would more appropriately top the list of the ten most influential jazz musicians.
Isn’t “Ain’t got no” From the musical “Hair” ?
I’d never seen that Nina Simone performance before. She was taking some interesting liberties with the “Hair” lyrics, wasn’t she?
I was expecting specific jazz recordings. I can’t get enough of Take Five by the Dave Brubeck Quartet. Timeless.
For those looking for sound recording excellence, get your hands on “Jazz at the pawnshop”:
Jazz at the Pawnshop is one of the most famous audiophile records in music. These sessions recorded at the jazz club Stampen (Pawnshop) in Stockholm in 1976 by Gert Palmcrantz has an extraordinary presence and a genuine live feeling.
Jazz At The Pawnshop has been regarded as “The Best Jazz Recording of the Century”! Most audiophiles all over the world should have already be in possession of one. Its musical artistry and sonic excellence have few peers.
Great list, Gabi. Some really fine music to wake up to this morning. I grew up listening to jazz, blues and big band in my house. I love Coltrane, Monk, Art Tatum, and Dizzy. And to say that Nina Simone “dabbled” in jazz is an understatement.
Nice list gabi319 I have enjoyed Louis Armstrongs music in the past – but there is a MUST watch song on you tube for those that like animals with what a wonderful world being sung in the back round.
Im no PC fundi but I went to his site and picked What a wonderful world and on the right hand side it gives you other songs by him.
Click on the deer and kitten – with his music in the back round its awesome stuff – goose *****les.
As Ive mentioned before Im no big buff on the PC but anybody who is an animal lover and loves jazz this is a must watch.
Thanks for putting this up Jamie! I was seriously wondering if it was worth the effort to submit this since there weren’t any jazz lists here prior (i.e. worrying if there was a specific reason why it WASN’T here before!)
Some points to reiterate:
- The opening paragraph says it pretty well. I tried to pick one piece in a jazz genre. It’s the first jazz list here so I wanted diversity to show there’s a lot that’s encompassed within the genre. That’s why I expected the “I like this one but not that”. As such this is not a top ten but rather a list of ten. If it were a top ten, I’d be right there along with y’all complaining about the order and why some of my favorites aren’t on here!
- The other stipulation was that it had to be a filmed performance. That truly narrowed down my list of possible songs to put in the list since, like warrrreagl mentioned, a lot of jazz isn’t filmed. I tried hard to find something Dixieland worth putting in the list (since that’s essentially the origins of jass before it became jazz) but couldn’t find anything but music with photomontages. Sorry, Pauline!
-Moneypenny: “Strange Fruit” was actually what gave me the idea to start this list. I eventually dropped it because having a list of Jazz and Blues was too broad for a list of just ten. If I can find some good stuff, I’ll definitely think up Blues 10! or you could do it! To the rest, I definitely recommend looking up “Strange Fruit” by Billie Holiday on Youtube. Definitely worth a look.
Thanks everyone for the suggestions and the warm reception! If there’s hope for future Jazz lists, I will definitely begin to narrow down future list topics to give more attention to specific genres, specific artists, etc.
Perhaps I may even make a Jazz Transformer list to make Shagrat happy
BTW, for those who say Jazz sounds ‘messy’… that’s part of the reason I went with a broad spectrum of jazz. I wanted to show there’s a lot out there. Perhaps fusion doesn’t appeal to you and maybe acid is too repetitive… then there’s definitely gypsy or latin jazz which is far more structured and plays with around with improvisation usually only around solos (however, only is not always in jazz!). There’s plenty to like for those with an open mind!
26. kiwiboi
Interesting that you mention that. Most jazz musicians prior I want to say the 1940′s or so couldn’t read music so it’s strange that the union committee would make that a requirement. In fact, the Original Dixieland Jazz Band (who made the first recorded jazz song) boasted that fact. They didn’t rehearse and none of them could read music!
I knew Louis Armstrong had to be first! He’s amazing and one of my fav artists.
Nice list, but not sure what Pixar has to do with the popularity of Gypsy jazz. Maybe you’re referring to the animated film “The Triplets of Belleville” which features a Gypsy jazz heavy soundtrack, but was not a Pixar film…
#8 Gene Krupa on drums..and Benny on clarinet..Smokin!!
Great list gabi – and thanks for including “Sing Sing Sing” – I saw this clip from “Hollywood Hotel” for the first time about 8 months ago, and did what you probably would have – I watched with amazement then hit record on the DVR – I still watch it from time to time . Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa, Harry James (at his most awesome!), Lionell Hampton – does anybody know who the piano player was???
I believe that the swing movement was one of the seeds of modern (current) rhythm.
For the record: Louis Prima, composer,
Interesting that you mention that. Most jazz musicians prior I want to say the 1940’s or so couldn’t read music so it’s strange that the union committee would make that a requirement.
gabi – I think part of the issue in the story I mentioned was that “jazzmen” were increasingly taking the paying gigs that the more “classical” outfits would normally get (the latter almost certainly being readers). So, perhaps this is why there was some measure of resentment towards Bix and his contemporaries…and why the requirement to read in order to get union recognition prevailed.
In the case of Bix we would, of course, be talking the 1920′s)…
Another interesting bit of trivia, in the clip “Sing Sing Sing”, next to Krupa on drums are four trumpets, first was Harry James of course, the trumpet player on the far right was Johnnie “Scat” Davis. He was also an orchestra singer – whenever you hear Tinsel Town’s anthem “Hooray For Hollywood” – that’s Johnnie “Scat” Davis singing.
How DARE you not include Glenn Miller in this list?
Miles>all other jazz artists
yeah?
jfrater, i am shocked and appalled that Howlin’ Wolf’s Smokestack Lightning is not on this list…the live version he did in Britain is one of the most soulful performances i’ve ever seen and i watch it daily for inspiration. Although it is a blues medley, the sound and impact is undeniable. Please look for yourself:
Great list gabi319!
I’m a big jazz fan and know there are many other perfomances that people will say should be on this list. I think you covered some great ones that everyone should appreciate.
43 kgreer6350: i am shocked and appalled that Howlin’ Wolf’s Smokestack Lightning is not on this list
Though I admittedly know next to nothing about jazz, I think it is safe to say that it is not “blues” (though there’s surely some links in the pedigree). I wouldn’t even consider this blues classic to be “jazz blues”. Am I missing something, kgreer? I can’t view your clip right now, is this rendition a “jazzed up” version?
I have to admit that I absolutely despise jazz
I have to admit that I absolutely adore jazz
Hey, Jazzy Gabi’s on the mic! Some very good and some very original Jazz greats listed today. Some say jazz is an aquired taste; but there are many forms of jazz. I can listen to everything except freeform cleo lane – but acid jazz I find really good. Am I ‘into’ jazz? Well not at the moment, I’m at the tail end of a fascination with Kate Bush…. of which my latest mixtape CD I have called ‘Set my bush on fire!’. Anyway….
This is one of the first lists I have ever read here that the only comment I can make is: “A-Fricken-Men!!!”
Nicely done!!
This is cool. I don’t know very much about jazz at all, but it’s nice to have a sampler for someone who is new to the genre.
the videos will not load on my computer! I’m missing out on great jazz! somebody help me please! help me get the videos to load–i’ve had this problem with other lists on this site (and i love this site). In all seriousness, help would be appreciated.
Excellent list Gabi319! I know very little about jazz, and had no idea of the range & variety there was in different styles. This was definitely a great intro to learning more about jazz.
What a Wonderful World gets me teary eyes every single time (how’s about the mix of that song with Somewhere Over the Rainbow done by “Iz”?! That wins for my all time favorite song ever), so I was glad to see it on here of course!
Also I just adored the Sammy Davis Jr clip, it was awesome!
wow!
Louis Armstrong is Awesome!
Just wanted to say geat list gabi319.
IMHO Sammy Davis Jr. was the greatest entertainer of our time. (Or at least my time)
i am listening nina simone till yesterday. it is greatest woman voice i have ever heard. tanks.
36. Steeveedee – “not sure what Pixar has to do with the popularity of Gypsy jazz.”
They never said that they’d ‘bring back’ Gypsy jazz, but they do use it for a lot of their end credits (especially for the shorts) and DVD menus. Since Ratatouille was set in France, quite a bit of the soundtrack had a lot of gypsy jazz influence. In fact, the main rat’s father was named as a tribute to Django Reinhardt. Perhaps ‘popularity’ is the wrong word and ‘exposure to a new generation in a very public medium’ may be better?
39. kiwiboi – “jazzmen” were increasingly taking the paying gigs that the more “classical” outfits would normally get
thanks!
Never made the connection in my head when reading your comment earlier, but it makes sense! I learn something new everyday!
41. Turd Ferguson – How DARE you not include Glenn Miller in this list?
Easy, Turd. See above list? No Glenn Miller? Consider dare completed.
51. big bro shane:
My first thought was there might be an issue with your firewall or security settings. I’m not that great with computers so hopefully this link may help better than I can:
http://www.angelopc.com/2008-11-29/having-trouble-viewing-youtube-videos-try-this-fix
50. Mabel, 52. DK:
Thanks for understanding what I was trying to do with this list! I wanted to make it so there’s a few jazz standards to interest the jazz enthusiasts and get them to talk about some of their favorite and/or influential recordings but also some very widely-recognizable pieces to not overwhelm those who aren’t familiar with jazz. Overall, just a nice, broad spectrum to appeal to as many people as possible!
OK, now you’ve got me mad. The great problem with most jazz writing is that it’s done by amateurs who love the music but don’t KNOW anything about technical matters. Like harmony.
Take “So What” by Miles, #3. You’re saying the music is not “fixed within a chord set,” but that’s exactly what it is. Miles and Coltrane are carefully staying within the chord progression, if that’s what you mean by “chord set.” They expand beautifully the limits of melodic throw-arounds you can use within a progression, but that’s different. What they don’t do is establish a melody as a basis, and work from that. THAT is what they are dispensing with.
Sorry if I argue from authority, but I have a music MFA from UCLA and was Jazz Curator at the Louisiana State Museum for ten years.
Harrumph. Now you damn kids get off my lawn. Steve Teeter.
I want to come over and listen to your jazz collection. My MA in Pop Culture means I can *****yze the album cover art and liner notes while we listen.
Her name is Sarah Vaughan not Vaughn (though her name is spoken like this)!
Kind of Blue was one of the first CD’s I ever bought. That was around 1990. I never actually sat down and listened to it once in about 12 years. I was too busy buying replacements for my album collection to give it any consideration. After my divorce, I unpacked all my stuff and needed something to play while I was sorting everything out in my new *****hole apartment.
So in goes Kind of Blue.
There’s something to be said when you listen to something that causes you to stop what you’re doing and take a seat and pay attention. Which is exactly what I did the moment So What started to get cooking. I was thunderstruck. It took me 40 years to figure out that Miles Davis and John Coltrane were geniuses. And this is coming from a hard core rock music fan.
It was one of the times I actually was thankful I had functioning ears. I’ve also had the privilege of seeing Dizzy Gilespie twice. Once when I was in college and couldn’t figure out or appreciate what I was experiencing and again years later right before his death when he could only blow for 40 minutes.
Life changing *****. Not sure I can say that about a lot of stuff I listen to.
Excellent list gabi. I admit to being somewhat narrow-minded in my choices of music and I haven’t ever paid much attention to the genre of jazz. Not out of disrespect, just not all that interested. But last night I finally got a chance to check out the videos you provided, and I must say, coupled with buc’s cool post #59 above, I’m inspired to go purchase a few CDs!