Since the release of The Jazz Standards Progressions Book where I analyzed 1000+ songs I have been asked many times for a list of essential jazz standards.
I do not want to promote uniformity in repertoire nor do I believe in programatic lists. Jazz is a personal intuitive journey. What I do believe in is finding our own voice. I think it’s the deepest experience in music. It’s a self-realization process and everyone needs to create their own path.
Having said that, I’ve been inspired and guided many times in my personal ride with music. If taken only as a starting point, I believe this list can help some people get started. Also, having clear, specific objectives helps many students who feel overwhelmed by the dimension of the work ahead.
Here’s a list of 100 songs I came up with. I’m sure there are lots of great songs missing in this list but again, I see it just as a starting point.
| Ain’t Misbehavin’ |
| All Blues |
| All of Me |
| All of You |
| All the Things You Are |
| All the Way |
| Alone Together |
| Angel Eyes |
| As Time Goes By |
| Autumn Leaves |
| Beautiful Love |
| Be Careful, It’s My Heart |
| Body And Soul |
| Bolivia |
| But Not For Me |
| Bye Bye Blackbird |
| Caravan |
| Cherokee |
| Cheek to Cheek |
| Darn That Dream |
| Days Of Wine and Roses |
| Don’t Get Around Much Anymore |
| East of the Sun |
| Easy Living |
| Embraceable You |
| Everything Happens to Me |
| Fly Me to the Moon |
| Four |
| From This Moment On |
| Georgia On My Mind |
| Girl From Ipanema |
| God Bless The Child |
| On Green Dolphin Street |
| Here’s That Rainy Day |
| Honeysuckle Rose |
| How Deep Is the Ocean |
| How High the Moon |
| How Insensitive |
| I Can’t Get Started |
| I Can’t Give You Anything But Love |
| I Didn’t Know What Time it was |
| I Got Rhythm |
| I Thought About You |
| I Wish You Love |
| I’m Old Fashioned |
| If I Should Lose You |
| Imagination |
| In A Sentimental Mood |
| Invitation |
| It Don’t Mean A Thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing |
| It Had To Be You |
| It’s All Right With Me |
| It’s Only a Paper Moon |
| Just Friends |
| Just One of Those Things |
| The Lady Is A Tramp |
| Oh, Lady Be Good |
| Like Someone In Love |
| Lover Man |
| Lullaby of Birdland |
| Lush Life |
| Mean to Me |
| Misty |
| Mood Indigo |
| More Than You Know |
| My Funny Valentine |
| My One and Only Love |
| My Romance |
| My Favorite Things |
| Nature Boy |
| Night And Day |
| Night In Tunisia |
| On the Sunny Side of the Street |
| One Note Samba |
| Our Love Is Here to Stay |
| Over The Rainbow |
| Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars |
| Round Midnight |
| Satin Doll |
| Skylark |
| Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise |
| Sophisticated Lady |
| Speak Low |
| So In Love |
| Stella By Starlight |
| Stormy Weather |
| Take The “A” Train |
| Summertime |
| Teach Me Tonight |
| Them There Eyes |
| Tenderly |
| There Is No Greater Love |
| There’ll Never Be Another You |
| They Can’t Take That Away From Me |
| Wail |
| Wave |
| What Is This Thing Called Love? |
| What’s New? |
| You Don’t Know What Love Is |
| You’d Be So Nice to Come Home to |
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