Masterpieces of crossover. Recommended popular songs.

Keep It Steady (Brecker Bump)The Brecker Brothers

Keep It Steady (Brecker Bump)

The Brecker Brothers are a U.

S.

-born sibling duo who helped lead the jazz fusion scene.

The opening track of their second album, Back to Back, released in 1976, fuses a funky groove with vivid horns that naturally get your body moving.

Alongside the tight call-and-response between Randy’s trumpet and Michael’s saxophone, the track features a virtuoso guitar solo by Steve Khan, with soulful vocal arrangements by a then up-and-coming Luther Vandross adding extra flair.

The album reached No.

82 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Its energetic yet meticulously crafted ensemble is sure to captivate listeners looking to add some spark to their day.

Ever After (feat. Emily McEwan)Rasmus Faber

Rasmus Faber – Ever After (feat. Emily McEwan)

Rasmus Faber is a talented musician from Sweden.

With the assured skill of a jazz pianist and a deep curiosity for house music, his sound captivates many music fans.

The work he released in 2003 as the very first single on his own label, Farplane Records, features Emily McEwan’s sultry, soulful vocals in perfect harmony with a warm yet uplifting house groove.

Although the specific lyrics haven’t been revealed, the suggestive title—meaning “Happily Ever After”—and the positive energy radiating throughout the track convey hopes for a love-filled future and a wish for happiness that lasts forever.

A sophisticated crossover sound, deftly weaving in Latin and soul elements, creates a comfortably infectious groove.

It’s a perfect listen for moments with someone special, or anytime you want to brighten your mood.

Black GoldEsperanza Spalding

Black Gold by Esperanza Spalding [OFFICIAL]

Esperanza Spalding is a jazz-oriented bassist and singer-songwriter from Portland, Oregon, who debuted in 2008.

Her crossover jazz music—spanning jazz, fusion, bossa nova, and neo-soul—has been highly acclaimed.

She won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2011, and her album Radio Music Society won the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album.

City of Roses was nominated for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s).

Cantaloupe islandHerbie Hancock

Herbie Hancock – Cantaloupe Island

Herbie Hancock is a jazz pianist, producer, composer, and arranger from Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Since the 1960s, he has been a leading figure in the jazz scene, pioneering new eras in jazz such as fusion, jazz-funk, modal jazz, hard bop, post-bop, and electro, and he has also created crossover works between hip-hop and jazz.

His representative pieces include Watermelon Man, Cantaloupe Island, Maiden Voyage, Dolphin Dance, and Rockit.

The Right TimeMonday Michiru

The Right Time

Mondo Grosso’s Monday Michiru, a Japanese American artist who has led Japan’s acid-jazz scene by skillfully weaving together a wide range of genres—jazz as a foundation with touches of soul and Latin—crafted a house music track in 2007 that blends a comfortable beat with the essence of jazz and soul, embodying the very spirit of crossover.

On this song, Monday Michiru’s smooth, emotionally rich vocals align beautifully with the sophisticated arrangement, vividly evoking life’s moments of opportunity and the exhilaration of starting something new.

The track appears on the compilation album “Summer Love 2007,” and Jephte Guillaume’s remix, “Jephte’s King Street VoKal,” has also enjoyed popularity in the club scene.

Give it a listen when you want an urban, sophisticated moment or a shot of invigorating energy.

Astral TravelingLonnie Liston Smith

Lonnie Liston Smith – Astral Traveling

Ronnie Liston Smith is a pianist and keyboardist from Richmond, Virginia, USA, recognized as a fusion and crossover musician.

He is a popular pianist in the rare-groove scene.

Even the album titles—such as Astral Traveling, Cosmic Funk, Love Is the Answer, and Magic Lady—convey crossover and fusion elements.

BirdlandWeather Report

Weather Report – Birdland

Weather Report, the American band that dramatically opened up new horizons for jazz fusion.

The track they included on their April 1977 album Heavy Weather is an homage by keyboardist Joe Zawinul to a New York jazz club that held special memories for him.

Though it’s an instrumental with no lyrics, Zawinul’s synthesizers, Wayne Shorter’s saxophone, and Jaco Pastorius’s singing bass vividly evoke the heat and sparkle of the club in its heyday.

Transcending the bounds of jazz and radiating a pop appeal, the piece was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2010.

It’s a timeless performance—perfect for lifting your spirits or sparking creative inspiration.