The 10 Best Jazz Piano Songs You Need to Know

Apr 23, 2023 | Blog | 0 comments

Overview

The jazz genre encompasses many styles, including smooth jazz, bebop, blues, swing, and more. In addition to the variety of styles, listeners should consider the different techniques composers use in their compositions. If you are a beginner to jazz piano, it can be beneficial to expose yourself to different jazz styles.

Here are some of the most famous jazz piano songs you can learn to play are as follow:

The Entertainer – Scott Joplin

Scott Joplin was a famous American pianist in the Belle Epoque of the 1900s when he composed The Entertainer in 1902. The jazz chords in RagTime can be hard to master at first. There are a few offbeats in the best jazz songs. According to the 100 Songs of the Century list, this song ranked 10.

Hit the Road Jack – Ray Charles

When Ray Charles recorded Hit the Road Jack in 1961 on ABC Records, it was awarded the best R&B song at the 1961 Grammy Awards. It is well known in the jazz world as We Wish You a Merry Christmas is in the world of piano Christmas songs because of its upbeat rhythm and distinctive jazz chords.

Rag Charleston – Eubie Blake

As a great American jazz and ragtime composer and pianist, Eubie Blake has contributed to many musical works, including Shuffle Along, the first Broadway musical directed by African-Americans. Her jazz title Charleston Rag is well-known in the jazz world, and her unique chords charm.

What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong

Louis Armstrong’s music describes nature’s beautiful landscapes in What a Wonderful World, written by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss in 1967. It became an enormous success in 1968.

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Despite being unknown, this jazz song remains one of the best-known songs in the world. The piano version can charm and immerse us in Armstrong’s universe with its numerous jazz chords. It is as well known in the jazz world as Fur Elise is in classical music for piano.

Jelly Roll by Morton – King Porter Stomp

In 1923, pianist Jelly Roll Morton composed King Porter Stomp’s music, which became a jazz standard. It has a lively rhythm, and dynamic chords made it a real hit during the swing era. Performing this music on the piano will transport you back to the jazz world of the 1920s, which is so beloved by today’s artists.

Duke Ellington – Take the “A” Train

A song called Take the “A” Train was composed in 1939 by pianist and composer Billy Strayhorn. Duke Ellington recorded it on the RCA Victor label in 1941. This jazz music is a monumental title among contemporaries because of its dynamic rhythm and chord progressions.

But Not for Me – Chet Baker

It has been reprised and arranged since George Gershwin originally wrote it for the musical Girl Crazy in 1930. A jazz version of But Not for Me, released by Chet Baker in 1954, was an instant success and helped make this music known to the general public. In addition to piano rock chords, Baker added chords closer to jazz to give his songs a personal touch.

So What – Miles Davis

In 1959, Miles Davis wrote the song So What, one of the most recognizable jazz songs ever. The music is considered a revolution and an icon in the history of jazz. It comes from the best-selling jazz album in history, Kind of Blue.

Summertime – Ella Fitzgerald

In 1935, composer, musician, and pianist George Gershwin composed this title for the opera Porgy and Bess. It is generally considered a jazz standard due to the many covers, arrangements, and interpretations it has undergone.

The Fly Me to the Moon – Frank Sinatra

This song has become a jazz standard since being composed by Bart Howard and performed by Frank Sinatra in his most famous version in 1964. Hence, personalities such as Dany Brillant or Guy Marchand in France have taken up the jazz version of Fly Me to the Moon. It is catchy and easy to play for pianists at any level.

Conclusion

Aside from being among the most well-known jazz piano music, these have the widest variety of piano versions. Sylvia Brooks, a jazz singer in LA, teaches jazz chords so that learners can play their favorite songs on the piano and experience this style of music.

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