Top Ten Jazz Standards
If you want to work and make a living as a jazz musician one of the important things is repertoire. The lists of jazz standards below are from working pros, some of them pretty big names.
What are the essential songs a young musician must master to hold their own on a professional gig?
Over the years I've put together top ten standard lists from various sources of jazz pros including Lee Konitz, Pete Christlieb, Peter Erskine, Bud Shank, and legendary pianist Dick Hyman. Let us know if you'd like to share your top ten!
Most of the "big names" entries are from late 80's an early 90's. The majority of them were instructors at the Bud Shank Jazz Workshop (now known as Centrum Jazz, a jazz camp and festival in Port Townsend the last week of July) and some of them responded to my requests (like Dick Hyman) via old fashioned mail.
Jazz Port Townsend: If you are looking for a fast way to get significantly better I highly recommend hitting that camp at least once if you can. They have scholarships and work study if finances make it tough.
Pete Christlieb
Blues
I Got Rhythm
Honeysuckle Rose
Cherokee
All The Things You Are
Indiana
I Love You
Joy Spring
I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
Lover Man
Instrument: Sax
Website:
Influences: Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Stan Getz, Bob Cooper, Cannonball Adderly
Pete Christlieb(2)
I'll Remember April
Milestones
All Blues
Just Friends
Star Eyes
In Your Own Sweet Way
I Love You
Oleo (rhythm changes)
Nica's Dream
Body and Soul
Instrument: Tenor Sax
Website:
Influences:
Peter Erskine
I've Got Rhythm
All The Things You Are
Stella by Starlight
Easy to Love
Body and Soul
All Blues
Giant Steps
Manha de Carnaval (or other brazilian)
any Monk tunes
any Ellington tunes
Art Blakey, Philly Joe Jones, Elvin Jones, Mel Lewis, RoyHaynes, Shelly Manne, J.S. Bach, Miles Davis (& Gil Evans), the Beatles, Joe Zawinul, TOny WIlliams, Jack DeJohnette, Paul Motian, Bernard Purdie, Jeff Porcaro, Steve Gadd, Grady Tate, Donald Mcdeonald, Keith Jarrett...
Dick Hyman
All The Things You Are
Sophisticated Lady
I Got Rhythm
Yesterdays
April in Paris
Night and Day
Sweet Georgia Brown
Tea for Two
Limehouse Blues
You Go To My Head
Most of these tunes are in my books called "Chord Changes And Substitutions For 100 Tunes Every Musician Should Know" and "Another 100 Tunes."
~Dick Hyman
Barney Kessell
Blues
Rhythm Changes
Honeysuckle Rose
Exactly Like You
I Never Knew
Rose Room
Perdido
I Found a New Baby
Three Little Words
Avalon
Instrument: guitar
Website:
Influences: List from 1988 Bud Shank Jazz Workshop
Lee Konitz
All the Things You Are
Stella by Starlight
I'll Remember April
Out of Nowhere
Green Dolphin Street
Body and Soul
Blues
Rhythm Changes
There is No Greater Love
Cherokee
Instrument: sax
Website:
Influences: List from 1988 Bud Shank Jazz Workshop
Don Lanphere
I Got Rhythm
All The Things You Are
Just Friends
On Green Dolphin Street
Body and Soul
Stella by Starlight
Invitation
Alone Together
What Is This Thing Called Love
Blues
Instrument: Sax
Website:
Influences: Charlie Parker
Don Lanphere (2)
All The Things You Are
Stella By Starlight
Out of Nowhere
Body and Soul
Just Friends
What is This Thing Called Love
I Got Rhythm
Blues
Green Dolphin Street
Take the A-Train
Instrument: Sax
Website:
Influences:
Bud Shank
I'll Remember April
Autumn Leaves
All The Things You Are
Blues
I Can't Get Started
I Got Rhythm
Lover Man
Stella by Starlight
Body and Soul
Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise
Instrument: Sax
Website:
Influences: List from 1991 Bud Shank Jazz Workshop
Bobby Shew
A Night In Tunisia
All The Things You Are
Autumn Leaves
Love For Sale
What Is This Thing Called Love
'Round Midnight
All Blues
Joy Spring
Well You Needn't
There Will Never Be Another You
Instrument: Trumpet
Website:
Influences: Charlie Parker, Stan Getz, Paul Desmond, Dizzy Gillespie, Chet Baker, Conte Condoli, Blue Mitchell, Kenny Dorham, Donald Byrd, Don Fagerquist
Bobby Shew (2)
Oleo (rhythm changes)
Green Dolphin Street
Autumn Leaves
What Is This THing Called Love
Blue Bossa
Round Midnight
Body and Soul
St. Thomas
Take the A Train
Joy Spring (typical trumpet selection!)
Instrument: Trumpet
Website:
Influences: List from 1991 Bud Shank Jazz Workshop
Jiggs Whigham
All The Things You Are
Stella By Starlight
Walkin'
Blue Bossa
My Funny Valentine
So What
Just Friends
Donna Lee (Indiana)
Someday My Prince Will Come
Body and Soul
Instrument: Trombone
Website:
Influences:
Phil Woods
Last Night When We WereYoung
My Old Flame
All The Things you Are
All Through The Night
I Get Along Without You Very Well
If I Should Lose You
Blood Count
Sweet Loraine
How High The Moon
Quintessence
Eldee Young
Happy Birthday
Giant Steps
Instrument: Bass
Influences: Oscar Pettiford, Slams Steward, Ray Brown
Used to play with Louis Armstrong!
Adrian Bedford
Misty
Summertime
Autumn Leaves
I Got Rhythm
Georgia
Someone To Watch Over Me
Sunny
All Of Me
Take Five
Stormy Weather
Influences: peterson, sammy price, ellington, hines, (tatum), jimmy smith, morgan, burrell, krall!!
boring, huh
Jaap Berkhout
All Of Me
Autumn Leaves
I'm Lost
All The Things Your Are
Makin' Whoopee
When Sunny Gets Blue
The Girl From Ipanema
Wave
Bye Bye Blackbird
Summertime
Influences: george shearing
stevie wonder
dave brubeck
oscar peterson
keith jarrett
count basie
azymuth
Jeff Brent
Charleston Rag
Granpa's Spells
Ain't Misbehavin'
Georgia on My Mind
Aunt Hagar's Blues
Agua de Beber
Misty
Tempus Fugit
The Christmas Song
Spain
With the exception of "Georgia", I learned all these songs off the original recordings (although I don't play "Misty" like Garner did).
Each of these numbers represents a historical monument worthy of any Jazz pianist's respect and serious study.
7
Marty Hillman
Days of wine and roses
All the Things you Are
All Blues
Impressions
I play piano and if you are just getting started try these songs.
Stefan Horlitz
2 Waltzes in C
Where or When
Aquas de Marco
Pharoa's Dance
Birdland
Got You Under My Skin
Berimbau
Lullaby of Birdland
Lord Fuck
Again
Instrument: piano
Website: http://stud-www.uni-marburg.de/~Horlitz/
Influences: AC Jobim, Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel, George Gershwin, Helge Schneider, Miles Davis, Oscar Peterson, Erroll Garner
Enrico Lucarelli
Whisper Not
Work Song
Autumn Leaves
Bossa Beguine
Gentle Waltz
Nica's Dream
All The Things You Are
Take Five
Blue Monk
Four
Instrument: piano
Website: http://www.bluecheapers.hotfire.net
Influences: Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, Wynton kelly, Bobby Timmons, TOmmy Flanagan, Thelonious Monk
Doug Nickerson
Autumn Leaves
All the Things You Are
The Song Is You
'Round Midnight
How High The Moon
My Funny Valentine
Misty
I Got Rhythm
Onithology
Here's That Rainy Day
Influences: Joe Pass, Charile Byrd, Wynton Kelley
Paul Philip
I Got Rhythm
Blues
Star Eyes
Desafinado
Body And Soul
Solar
Round Midnight
Chelsea Bridge
Afternoon In Paris
In Walked Bud
www.paulphilipdemo.cjb.net
Scot Ranney
Blues (all keys, major and minor)
Rhythm Changes (all keys)
Autumn Leaves
All The Things You Are
Giant Steps
Have You Met Miss Jones
I'll Remember April
Stella By Starlight
On Green Dolphin Street
Girl From Ipanema
Instrument: piano
Website: http://www.ski2die.com
Influences: Chick Corea, Herb Alpert, Monty Alexander, Walt Wagner, Marc Seales, Herbie Hancock (funky stuff), Michael Camilo, Ray Brown, Oscar Peterson, and more
Clarence Scott
Friends
The One Step
Ain't Misbehavin'
Honeysuckle Rose
A Foggy day
Round Midnight
Tell me a Bed Time Story
Tune Up
Billie Bounce
Waltz for Debbie
Influences: T. Monk, Art Tatum, Mary Lou Williams, Fats Waller, Chick Corea, and Bud Powell.
Harmer Terry
I Get a Kick out of You
Girl from Ipenema
Icarus
So What
2 degrees East 3 degrees West
All the Things You Are
Flamenco Sketches
Take Five
Gone With the Wind
Georgia
Influences.
Sax: Paul Desmond, Paul Desmond, Konitz, Getz, Young, Hank Mobly, Eric Dolphy.
Piano: Bill Evens, Brubeck, Hancock.
Clayton Tesch
Vivo Sonhando
Amazonas
Misty
Minha Saudade
One note samba
Night and Day
How insensitive
Girl from Ipanema
Corcovado
Barquinho
I play the piano. Night Clubs in Rio, Brazil
Kathy Waterson
Lush Life
How Do You Keep The Music Playing
Round Midnight
Like Young
All The Things You Are
Stardust
Embraceable You
How Long Has This Been Going On
You Don't Know What Love Is
This Masquerade
Instrument: piano
Website:
Influences: Dave McKenna, Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson, Andre Previn
Jonathan Butterfield
Take the "A" Train
All Blues
I Wish I Knew
C Jam Blues
So What
Mood Indigo
Song for my Father
Night Train
Autumn Leaves
Fly Me To The Moon
Instrument: Piano
Webpage:
Pro: no
Influences: Duke Ellington, Billy Taylor,
Oscar Peterson, Miles Davis
John Craven
'Round Midnight
Autumn Leaves
Don't Get Around Much Anymore
Take The A-Train
Anthropology (rhythm changes)
Wave
Lil' Darlin
My Funny Valentine
All of Me
All Blues
Instrument: Vocals/String Bass
Website:
Influences: Groups: New York Voices, Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross, The Hi-Los, The Real Group
Soloists: Mel Torme, Chet Baker, Mark Murphy, Ella Fitzgerald
Gyula Csordas
Solar
Beautiful Love
Blue in Green
Invitation
Groovin' High
Bluesette
Moments Notice
Have You Met Miss Jones
Wave
Cantaloupe Island
Influences: Herbie Hancock, Esze Jen, Esze Zsolt, Vuk'n r,
Barry Dallman
Blues & Rhythm Changes
Tenderly
Autumn Leaves
There Will Never Be Another You
Gone With The Wind
Blue Bossa
Take the A Train
Satin Doll
So What
Beautiful Love
Influences: Miles, Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, Oscar Peterson, Joe Henderson
Warren Delane
Green Dolphin Street
Autumn Leaves
Ruby, My Dear
Here's That Rainy Day
My Funny Valentine
Instrument: Piano, Guitar
Website:
Influences: Piano: Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, Dave McKenna, Ray Bryant, Teddy Wilson, George Shearing
Guitar: Tal Farlow, Lennie Breau,Herb Ellis
Steven Giles
Autumn Leaves
Take the 'A' Train
All Blues
Straight, No Chaser
Giant Steps
Blue Train
Take Five
On Green Dolphin Street
Fly Me To The Moon
Ain't Misbehavin'
Instrument: Piano
Website: www.stevegiles.com
Influences: Miles Davis, Gene Harris, Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, The Duke, and many more.
Jeffrey Gordon
Donna Lee
Joy Spring
There Will Never be Another you
Stella By Starlight
Boplicity (BeBop Lives)
I've Got Rhythm (changes)
Autumn Leaves
Alone Together
Night and Day
Waltz for Debbie
Instrument: piano
Website: www.romanticjazz.com
Influences: Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, Barry Harris, Herbie Hancock, Bud Powell and the list goes on
John Graham
Instrument: bass
Website:
Influences: Miles, Coltrane, Gordon, Carter, Hancock, Tyner, Corea
MARK HASLETT
In The Still of the Night
Misty
Moon River
My Funny Valentine
Peter Gunn, Theme
All The Things You Are
Night and Day
Someone to Watch Over me
September Song
September Morn
Instrument: piano
Website:
Influences: My piano Teacher. Roger Williams, Leonard Bernstein, and many more.
Zach Lapidus
Footprints
All Blues
Donna Lee
Iris
Stella by Starlight
Round Midnight
Body and Soul
Jessica
Maiden Voyage
Nefertiti
Instrument: Piano
my name on the boards is hepcatmonk. I am a jazz piano major at Indiana University, and study with Luke Gillespie.
Influences: Herbie Hancock, Wynton Kelly, Nat King Cole, Bill Evans, McCoy Tyner, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder, Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Joe Henderson, George Duke, Freddie Hubbard, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, and John Coltrane.
Laurent
All The Things You Are
Autumn Leaves
Blues for Alice
Blue Monk
Chega de Saudade
Cherokee
How Insensitive
Old Devil Moon
Someday My Prince Will Come
Stella by Starlight
Instrument: Piano
Website:
Influences:
Sean Moreno
Giant Steps
My Funny Valentine
Bumpin
Charlie Brown Theme (Linus and Lucy)
Walkin'
South Sothern Delta
Round About Midnight
Wonderful World
Stardust
Free Jazz
Instrument: guitar
Website:
Influences: Jimi Hendrix, John Coltrane, Tribe Called Quest
Ted Morgan
Star Dust
In a Sentimental Mood
Someone to Watch Over Me
Misty
The Nearness of You
My Foolish Heart
September Song
Moonlight Becomes You
Summertime
Autumn Leaves
Influences: Bill Evans,Gary Motley,Liz Story, Hoagy Carmichael,John Arpin,Jimmy Van Heusen, Duke Ellington
Nick Powell
All Blues
Maiden Voyage
Well You Needn't
Take Five
Four
Billies Bounce
Anthropology
Chameleon
Blue in Green
Footprints
Instrument: Piano
Website:
Influences: Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Branford Marsalis, Bird, Diz, Keith Jarret, Chick Corea, Errol and the list goes on...!
Gustavo Suzuki
The Sidewinder
A Night In Tunisia
Tune Up
Well You Needn't
Chega de Saudade
Giant Steps
Confirmation
St. Thomas
Daahoud
Lamento
Instrument: Saxophone
Webpage:
Pro: no
Influences: John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Gillespie, Tom Jobim, Cartola, Lupic'nio Rodrigues, Miles Davis, Jo'o Gilberto, Monk, and others
David Torrence
Ko Ko
Confirmation
Yard Bird Suite
Relaxin' With Lee
Ornithology
Swedish Schnapps
Donna Lee
Dewey Square
Passport
Scrapple from the Apple
Influences: Bird and Diz and Everything else!!
joseph caceres
my favorite things
giant steps
agitation
well, you needn't
greensleeves
freedom jazz dance
nefertiti
misterioso
in a sentimental mood
trinkle tinkle
i am a coltrane fanatic. i love bebop and hardbop.
charlie pirozzi
all the things you are
star eyes
The theme from the bad and the beautiful
round midnight
waltz for debby
turn out the stars
speak low
along came betty
chega de saude
lush life
I am an amateur pianist but I love traditional Jazz
