The Royal Road of Jazz: Classic modern jazz masterpieces. Popular tracks you should listen to at least once.
Have you ever wondered what exactly people mean by “modern jazz,” a term you often hear within jazz? If you’re new to jazz and have that question, you’re not alone.
Modern jazz generally refers to the period spanning from “bebop,” which emerged in the mid-to-late 1940s, to modal jazz, which appeared in the late 1950s.
You could even call modern jazz the classic, mainstream form of jazz, and many of the genre’s most iconic albums and songs were created during the modern jazz era.
In this article, we’ve put together a selection of great modern jazz tunes.
If you’re thinking of giving jazz a listen, this is the perfect chance to check them out!
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The Royal Road of Jazz: Modern jazz masterpieces. Popular tracks you should hear at least once (11–20)
Joy SpringClifford Brown & Max Roach
Clifford Brown, an extraordinary jazz trumpeter who passed away at the young age of 25 in a car accident.
Even within his short career, every one of his performances was worthy of the title “genius,” and as a composer he also created standards—the most famous being Joy Spring.
The piece appears on the album Clifford Brown & Max Roach, credited to the Clifford Brown–Max Roach Quintet, renowned for the superb interplay between Brown and drummer Max Roach.
It was highly acclaimed from its initial release, covered by many artists, and has since remained a beloved jazz standard.
As an aside, the title of the piece is said to be the nickname of Clifford’s wife, LaRue Anderson.
Cleopatra’s DreamBud Powell
I think many music fans love fast-tempo piano pieces.
With that in mind, I’d like to introduce Bud Powell.
He’s a pianist who uses his own distinctive technique to play the keyboard at incredible speed.
You can enjoy ultra-fast performances in many of his works, but my top recommendation is “Cleopatra’s Dream.” The title literally means the dream of Cleopatra, and as you might imagine, the piece has an exotic atmosphere.
What does an exotic piece played at breakneck speed sound like? Be sure to check it out for yourself.
A Night In TunisiaDizzy Gillespie
In jazz, there are pieces known as standards—songs that many performers have covered or arranged.
In other words, they’re tunes everyone knows.
One such jazz standard is “A Night in Tunisia.” The piece was created by trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, who was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for this song.
The music starts quietly and then shifts dramatically in the latter half, becoming intense.
This classic, crowd-pleasing structure is part of why it’s considered a standard.
ConfirmationCharlie Parker
Charlie Parker, the originator of modern jazz and a legend of the jazz world.
One of the musicians who forged the bebop style, he was a genius player who nevertheless led a turbulent life and died young at 34.
Later, none other than Clint Eastwood made a film about Parker’s life titled “Bird,” a testament to the magnitude of his influence not only on music but on culture at large.
Known as “Bird,” Parker also established several standards as a composer, and the piece introduced here, “Confirmation,” is one of them.
Composed in 1945, it’s a quintessential bebop number that greatly contributed to the formation of bebop.
If you want to savor the essence of modern jazz, be sure to listen to Parker’s own live version of “Confirmation”!
Round MidnightThelonious Monk
Thelonious Monk, a distinctive pianist and composer who had a profound impact on modern jazz.
His unique appearance and playing style are so recognizable that even those not well-versed in jazz can tell it’s him when they listen.
Born in North Carolina in 1917, he moved to New York with his family as a child and was already working as a jazz pianist in his teens.
His compositions were reappraised after his death and continue to be cherished today as jazz standards.
This piece, which also has lyrics, is beloved by jazz vocalists as well.
Spring Is HereBill Evans
Like weaving pale light, the delicate tones spun from the piano by American pianist Bill Evans sink deep into the heart.
Recorded in New York in December 1959 and included on the album “Portrait in Jazz,” this piece beautifully captures both the joy of spring’s arrival and the fragile feelings that, for some reason, keep one from embracing that joy straightforwardly.
The conversational interplay of Scott LaFaro’s bass and Paul Motian’s drums renders loneliness and the pain of heartbreak with even greater depth.
It’s a track to savor in a quiet room at the turn of the seasons, when spring’s light and shadow intersect.
A gem of a performance recommended for those who wish to touch the subtleties of life.
[The Royal Road of Jazz] Masterpieces of Modern Jazz: Popular Songs You Should Hear at Least Once (21–30)
Maiden VoyageHerbie Hancock
Speaking of Herbie Hancock, he’s a giant of the jazz world who has released many ambitious works with a free-thinking approach unconstrained by existing genres, presenting a literal “fusion,” and remains an active force even in the 2020s.
Even Hancock, however, started out on the prestigious Blue Note label, releasing works categorized as so-called hard bop.
The piece discussed here, Maiden Voyage, is the title track of a highly acclaimed classic album released in 1965 that represents that period.
Also well known in Japan by its translated title “Shojo Kōkai” (Maiden Voyage), this track showcases Hancock’s abilities as a songwriter to the fullest.
Elevated by a superb ensemble of renowned jazz musicians, it steps beyond his early funky jazz direction into a more refined sound, and continues to be cherished today as a standard masterpiece that has been covered by many subsequent artists.