So, I've been asked to do a post about my favorite jazz songs. I'm going to limit myself to 13 songs, hopefully covering my favorite genres. I play violin in my school's top jazz band and I'm hopefully auditioning for all state jazz, so I really love this stuff.
Song 1. Minor Swing - Stephane Grappelli & Django Reinhardt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpmOTGungnA I can't say enough about this song. Hot Club is by far my favorite kind of jazz, maybe just because Grappelli is my god. But regardless how can you not love it?
Song 2. Giant Steps - John Coltrane
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZRnkBK_0no John Coltrane. John Coltrane. John Col-motherfucking-trane. That's all that needs to be said about this. and that the video is super cool.
Song 3. St. James Infirmary - Louis Armstrong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzcpUdBw7gs Get ready to see a lot of Louis. I love this song too. This is where I live in jazz, this and swing.
Song 4. Take The A Train - Duke Ellington
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnurVNkg62Q Now this is a cat that swung. I would be scared to take that train because it would swing too much. (sorry, that was a bad joke...)
Song 5. Something's Gotta Give - Ella Fitzgerald
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-8WwidVKGo I found out how amazing Ella Fitz is on a plane ride by myself this summer. I listened to her for 6 or 7 hours. Gotta love that voice.
Song 6. So What - Miles Davis & John Coltrane
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlIU-2N7WY4 This is Cool.
Song 7. Oyimbo - Femi Kuti
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h67X-UDA0uw Ok, so technically this is Afro-beat, but what ever, it's awesome. Femi is the great Fela Kuti's son and he rocks just as hard as his dad.
Song 8. Chameleon - Herbie Hancock
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQsSQRWMhOs We played this song in Jazz band this year and it may be the funkiest thing I've ever played. The build up takes a while but stay with it. It's amazing.
Song 9. Basin Street Blues - Louis Armstrong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GuDExkBmnU Pops man, he could blow. I also really love this song. He's playing it slower than I've ever heard anyone play it but it's amazing.
Song 10. Take Five - Dave Brubeck
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwNrmYRiX_o The coolest thing about this song in my opinion is that it's in 5/4 time, which makes the solo even more impressive. If you don't know what 5/4 time is, look it up...
Song 11. Manha de Carnival - Luiz Bonfa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPOHeniAVy0 I'm not sure who this performer is, but it's a good job of this song.
Song 12. Chan Chan - Buena Vista Social Club
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JEdf7XsV5g I almost completely forgot about latin jazz. Here's the classic cuban jazz group Buena Vista Social Club doing what they do best.
Song 13. Minnie The Moocher - Cab Calloway
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaZOXF83zBg If you like swing as much as me this should get you. Also, the video's super tripy.
That's all for now. I have to go practice. Leave me comments for more genres or post suggestions. Alright, keep on listening to music and expanding your knowledge.
Stephen
