

The term refers to tunes that are based upon the harmony of George Gershwin’s ‘I Got Rhythm’. Melissa AldanaĪfter the blues, ‘Rhythm changes’ is the next most common form in jazz. Modern recording of the blues: Jochen Rueckert Quartet feat. The minor blues is another, less frequently heard, variation on the 12-bar form.Ĭlassic blues recording: Charlie Parker – Now’s The Timeīird’s mix of chromatic bebop and expressive blues language contrasts with a more restrained and diatonic approach from a young Miles Davis. Things Ain’t What They Used To Be (Duke Ellington).Most classic straight-ahead jazz albums contain at least one blues, and virtually all of the great jazz composers have tackled the form. In its most basic form it only uses chords I, IV and V, but jazz musicians are now most likely to play some variation on a ‘bebop blues’, as exemplified by Charlie Parker tunes like ‘Billie’s Bounce’, ‘Now’s The Time’, ‘Cheryl’ and ‘Relaxin’ at Camarillo’.īird’s ‘Blues for Alice’ changes are an even more harmonically dense route through the 12-bar sequence. One of the cornerstones of American music, the 12-bar blues offers almost limitless possibilities for harmonic variation. Modern Recording: Enrico Pieranunzi & Rosario Giuliani (Duke’s Dream).Classic Recording: Duke Ellington (Duke Ellington – Capitol Sessions 1953-1955).Modern Recording: Joshua Redman (Spirit of the Moment – Live at the Village Vanguard).Classic Recording: Sonny Rollins (Saxophone Colossus).Modern Recording: Eliane Elias (Eliane Elias Sings Jobim).Classic Recording: Stan Getz & João Gilberto (Getz/Gilberto).Modern Recording: Jerry Bergonzi (Simply Put).Classic Recording: Charlie Parker (The Complete Savoy & Dial Master Takes).Modern Recording: Herbie Hancock (The Piano).Classic Recording: Miles Davis (1958 Miles).Modern Recording: Chris Potter (Lift: Live at the Village Vanguard).


Classic recording: Miles Davis – So What (from Kind of Blue).Modern Giant Steps version – Kenny Garrett (Triology).Classic recording: John Coltrane – Giant Steps.Other tunes that use ‘Coltrane changes’.Modern version of All The Things You Are – Dick Oatts.Classic recording: Dizzy Gillespie – All the Things You Are.Melodies written over the chord changes to ‘All the Things You Are’.Modern recording: Keith Jarrett – Autumn Leaves.Classic recording: Cannonball Adderley – Autumn Leaves.Modern rhythm changes recording: Joshua Redman/Brad Mehldau – Oleo.Famous jazz tunes based on rhythm changes.Modern recording of the blues: Jochen Rueckert Quartet feat.Classic blues recording: Charlie Parker – Now’s The Time.A contrafact (a new melody written on the chord changes of the original standard).These ‘standards’ have traditionally been taken either from the Great American Songbook – popular songs or tunes from film or theatre, mostly written between 1920s-1950s – or original pieces composed by jazz musicians.ĭuke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Benny Golson, Tadd Dameron and Wayne Shorter are some of the most often-played composers in jazz history.įor this list, we’ve aimed to highlight 20 of the most essential jazz standards that musicians around the world draw upon on a regular basis. Looking for a quick overview before we get started? Here’s our top 10 list of jazz standards: There are a certain bunch of these tunes that every jazz musician is expected to know as they’re frequently played at jam sessions and gigs.Īs such, it’s important to learn jazz standards ! Learning jazz standards has long formed the bedrock of education for most musicians, providing a list of classic repertoire for players to draw upon.
