A Jazz Appreciation Month Playlist

Established in 2001, Jazz Appreciation Month celebrates the rich history, present accolades, and future growth of jazz music. Spanning the blues, ragtime, dixieland, bebop, swing, soul, and instrumentals, there’s no surprise that jazz music has endured the test of time from its early origins amongst African-American slaves in the late 19th century to its growth today. Often characterized by improvisation, syncopation, and usually a regular or forceful rhythm, jazz is commonly played on brass and woodwind instruments, pianos, guitars and violins, sometimes accompanied by smooth melodic vocals. In celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month, we’ve compiled a list of timeless classic jazz songs for the enjoyment of aficionados and new listeners alike.

Dizzy Gillespie – “Salt Peanuts“ Billie Holiday – “Strange Fruit“ Mary Lou Williams – “Willow Weep For Me“ Bing Crosby – “White Christmas“ Frank Sinatra – “Fly Me to The Moon“ Ella Fitzgerald – “Dream a little dream of me“ Portrait of Dizzy Gillespie by Carl Van Vechten. Library of Congress. Public domain via Wikimedia Commons. Louis Armstrong – “What a Wonderful World“ Herbie Hancock – “Rockit“ John Coltrane – “A Love Supreme“ Count Basie – “One O’Clock Jump“ Benny Goodman – “Sing Sing Sing“ Duke Ellington – “It Don’t Mean A Thing“ Chet Baker – “My Funny Valentine“ Nina Simone – “Four Women“

Cover image: “Political cartoon by Clifford Berryman, published in the Washington Evening Star on 19 February 1922.” US National Archives and Records Administration. Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

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