Masterpieces of crossover. Recommended popular songs.
Here are some classic and popular tracks recommended by our studio staff from among the world’s leading crossover music.
It’s also a perfect playlist for those new to crossover.
Crossover masterpieces. Recommended popular songs (1–10)
Just the Two of Us (feat. Bill Withers)Grover Washington Jr.
American saxophonist Grover Washington Jr.
is one of the pioneers of the smooth jazz genre.
This piece, featuring Bill Withers, can be called a crossover masterpiece in which jazz and R&B blend beautifully.
The poetic words contributed by Bill Withers evoke intimate moments shared with a loved one and gentle feelings of mutual affection, bringing warmth to the listener’s heart.
Released in February 1981, the song appears on the acclaimed album Winelight and reached No.
2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
At the Grammy Awards, the song won Best R&B Song, and the album won Best Jazz Fusion Performance.
Beloved across generations, it has even been used to promote the film Deadpool & Wolverine.
It’s the perfect track for when you want to be wrapped in soothing tones or spend special time with someone dear.
Black MarketWeather Report
Weather Report, the American band that pioneered the horizons of jazz fusion.
The opening track of their March 1976 album Black Market—sharing its name with the album—truly feels like an international marketplace of sound.
Joe Zawinul’s colorful synthesizers and Wayne Shorter’s deeply expressive saxophone blend beautifully with the vibrant rhythms of African music, leading listeners to a crossroads of cultures.
Though the track has no lyrics, a snippet of conversation from Alex Acuña’s family appears at the beginning, adding human warmth and the bustle of a marketplace to create a unique world.
It’s a piece you’ll want to hear when you’re stepping away from the everyday in search of exotic stimulation, or when you’re hoping to discover new music.
Breezin’George Benson
A delightful guitar piece that breezes through like a refreshing wind, this is a standout instrumental.
Performed by American guitarist George Benson, the track from his classic album “Breezin’” captivated many listeners upon its release in March 1976.
Even without lyrics, its flowing melody vividly paints scenes in the listener’s mind and imparts a gentle sense of freedom.
The album topped Billboard’s Jazz, R&B, and Pop album charts, and the track also earned a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.
Perfect for a relaxing afternoon or as a driving soundtrack, it adds a touch of color to everyday life.
Sudden SambaNeil Larsen
American jazz keyboardist Neil Larsen.
Having served in the Vietnam War in 1969, he has contributed to the jazz fusion scene with his multifaceted talents.
The instrumental piece that opens his debut album, Jungle Fever, is a kaleidoscope of sound in which samba rhythms blend beautifully with jazz and Latin influences.
Its dynamic rhythms and brilliant keyboards uplift the listener, making you feel as if you’ve been invited to a vibrant, colorful celebration.
Released in 1978, the track was also covered by the Tim Weisberg Band.
The following year, Larsen was nominated for a Grammy for the title track of his album High Gear.
It’s perfect when you want to feel uninhibited or as background music to brighten a driving scene.
Mornin’Al Jarreau
Al Jarreau, the American singer-songwriter whose one-of-a-kind voice captivates listeners.
The masterpieces he crafted fill the heart with warm energy, like the gentle light of dawn spreading through a room.
Shimmering with hopeful melodies and woven with his signature scat and vocal percussion, the music carries a light, buoyant groove that sets the tone for a bright new day.
Released as a single from the album Jarreau in March 1983, this song reached No.
2 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
In 2006, a newly recorded version featuring George Benson won a Grammy Award.
It’s the perfect track for welcoming a refreshing morning or lifting your spirits.
Doin’ ItHerbie Hancock
A vibrant instrumental where jazz and funk blend seamlessly to set listeners’ hearts dancing.
This track by American jazz master Herbie Hancock is included on his 1976 album “Secrets.” Its richly colored soundscapes, woven from synthesizers and electric piano, are like a kaleidoscope of sound.
Even without lyrics, the piece directly conveys the exhilaration and irrepressible passion of “doing” something, just as the title suggests.
In October 1976, it was performed on the TV program “Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert,” captivating many music fans.
It’s the perfect tune for lifting your spirits or adding color to your everyday life.
SpacecowboyJazzamor
The German duo Jazzamor are musical magicians who masterfully blend lounge and bossa nova.
Their cover of a song by a famous acid jazz band transforms the original’s energetic funk sound into something entirely different.
Bettina’s dreamy, honeyed vocals and Roland’s delicate keyboards weave a sound that creates a soothing sense of weightless drift, as if you’re floating through space.
This work invites listeners into a gentle, dreamy world and lets their hearts take flight.
The captivating track is included on their second album, “A Piece of My Heart,” released in October 2004.
It’s perfect for evenings when you want to forget the busyness of daily life and unwind, or as refined background music for sophisticated spaces.