In this article, I will attempt to determine what classifies to become a standard, classic or iconic song for The Great American Songbook. I will focus primarily on songs composed by jazz artists such as Thelonius Monk, Duke Ellington, Dave Brubeck, and Benny Carter, rather than Broadway and film composers, whose music has been embraced by the jazz community when the well seemed to be running dry. In my list that follows this article, I have chosen jazz songs that have stood the test of time, over the past eleven decades; songs that are still being interpreted by younger musicians with fresh new perspectives on what the composers may have had in mind for future generations. In many cases, these songs, which I deem masterpieces or gems, are significant not only by the artists who perform them, but also by the listeners or followers of this genre. They are timeless creations that the audience wishes to hear in performance or recorded time after time; and may even long to play if they decide to take musical lessons one day. Then there are the outstanding musicians, orchestras, who love to cover these standards along with their newly formed original material. Long live the jazz standards...
ESSENTIAL JAZZ STANDARDS
1 Star Dust - Hoagy Carmichael/Mitchell Parish (Most covered?) - recommended :Benny Goodman 1938 and Mel |Torme/George Shearing 1983 2 Summertime - George & Ira Gershwin Recommended versions: Louis Armsrong/Ella Fitzgerald 1957 & M.Davis/G. Evans 1958 3. Take Five-Paul Desmond by Dave Brubeck/Paul Desmond 1959 and Paul Desmond with Ed Bickert 1975 in Toronto 4 Take The 'A' Train - Billy Strayhorn -recommende: Duke Ellington Carnegie Hall 1948 and Mel Torme/Johnny Mandel 1960 5 'Round Midnight - Thelonius Monk/Cootie Williams - by Miles Davis 1956 and Carmen McRae 1986? 6 Mood Indigo - Barney Bigard/Edward Kennedy Duke Ellington/Irving Mills by L. Armstrong/D.Ellington 1961 and Tony Bennett/Wynton Marsalis 1999 7 In Your Own Sweet Way - Dave Brubeck by Brubeck solo 1956 and Carmen McRae/D. Brubeck 1960? at Basin Street 8 Goodby Pork Pie Hat - Charles Mingus by C. Mingus 1959 and Joni Mitchell 1979 9 Waltz For Debbie - Bill Evans/Gene Lees by B. Evans Trio Village Vanguard 1961 and Tony Bennett/B. Evans 1975 10 Stolen Moments - Oliver Nelson/Mark Murphy - by Oliver Nelson 1961 and Mark Murphy 1978 11 A Child Is Born - Thad Jones?Alec Wilder - by Thad Jones/Mel Lewis 1970 and Oscar Peterson/Singers Ultd. 1971 and Benny Carter/Hank Jone 1992 12 All Blues - Miles Davis - Miles Davis 1959 and Mark Murphy 1990 - Bop For Miles 13 Naima - John Coltrane - J. Coltrane 1959 and McCoy Tyner 1972 14 When Lights Are Low - Benny Carter/Williams - Marian McPartland 1990 and Tony Bennett 1964 with Ralph Sharon 15 St. Louis Blues - W. C. Handy - Django Reinhardt 1937 and Louis Armstrong/Barney Bigard/Trummy Young 1954 and Nat King Cole 195? 16 Lullaby of Birdland - George Shearing - Mel Torme/G. Shearing 1978? and Sarah Vaughan with Clifford Brown/Herbie Mann 1954 17 Cantelope Island - Herbie Hancock - H. Hancock/Freddie Hubbard 1964 and Mark Murphy 1975 18 Jumpin' At The Woodside - William 'Count' Basie 1938 and Joe Williams with Lamber, Hendricks & Ross & Basie 19? 19 Early Autumn - Ralph Burns/Woodrow Herman/Johnny Mercer - W. Herman/Stan Getz 1948 and Ella Fitzgerald/Nelson Riddle 1964 20 Stompin' At The Savoy - Edgar Sampson/Benny Goodman/Chick Webb/Andy Razaf - Benny Goodman Carnegie Hall 1938 and L.Armstrong/E.Fitzgerald 1957 21 Ain't Misbehavin' - Thomas 'Fats' Waller/Harry Brooks/Andy Razaf - L. Armstrong or Fats Waller both 1929 and Johnny Hartman/Howrd McGhee 1955 22 God Bless The Child - Billie Holiday/Arthur Herzog Jr. - B. Holiday 1941 and Blood, Sweat & Tears 1968 23 I Remember Clifford - Benny Golson/Jon Hendricks - ArtFarmer/Benny Golson 1960 and The Manhattan Transfer with Jon Hendricks 1985 24 Joy Spring - Clifford Brown - C. Brown/Max Roach 1954 and Bobby Shew/Metropole Orchestra 1988 25 The Peacocks - Jimmy Rowles/Norma Winstone - Bill Evans & Stan Getz 1974 and Jimmy Rowles with Stan Getz 1996 Listen to Our Podcast To Follow...
