10 Must-Know Jazz Standards for Jam Sessions

[@jmdmeep6701]

"The Girl From Ipanema," "Take the A Train," and maybe "Fly Me to the Moon." They're just so common and so well recognized by any audience, too.

[@rizalmaramis6599]

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[@rizalmaramis6599]

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[@nickknirk]

Agreed

[@quimcastilla]

Yes, but improvise over "The Girl From Ipanema" is a bit tricky, at least for beginners [well, like in most of bossa novas :-)) ]. "Fly me to the moon" is a good example of II-V-I series, quite close to "Autumn leaves"

[@Johaneeeek]

1.Autumn leaves 2.So what 3.Blue bossa 4.All of me 5.It could happen to you 6.Just friends 7.Days of wine and roses 8.On green dolphin street 9.All the things you are 10.Stella by starlight

[@J3unG]

They should also add Blues, rhythm changes and 1-4-5 in any key.

[@PedroSilvanoGunther]

Autumn Leaves seems to be the number one in everybody’s list. So I learnt it. In Gm. The first jam I jumped in they were playing it in Em. On the saxophone it is trickier than on the guitar (to change keys). So, everytime I talk about Autumn Leaves to other beginners, like me, I tell them to learn at least in these two keys. That’s the beauty of jazz. There’s always something challenging you. Ain’t that so? Lol…

[@bwalker99]

Agreed. Em (G) is the most common key, and is in the Real book. Not sure why Gm (Bb) is used here.

[@gabrielherrera5208]

@@bwalker99 It might be a regional thing-at all the sessions I’ve been to in NYC, Autumn Leaves has only been called in G minor

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Yes! Those are both common keys for this tube

[@thomasgrady3103]

You should know autumn leaves in every key because vocalists love it, but I think Em, Gm, and Fm are the three "essential" keys.

[@russgrazier3700]

@@bwalker99 Cannonball Adderley recorded it in Gm (Bb), so sax players always learn it in that key.

[@casperabraham9942]

List of jazz tunes party-people ask for ... 1. Autumn Leaves 2. Fly me to the moon 3. Summertime 4. All the things you are 5. Stella by Starlight 6. Girl from Ipanema 7. Side by side 8. I'm Beginning to see the light 9. Take the A train 10. St. Thomas

[@paulliberti2048]

Great list - I would add I Got Rhythm by Gershwin

[@adsupermusone8875]

Agreed, I should learn Stella by starlight

[@wwildder]

Where I'm at party-people don't ask for jazz tunes so I'd really appreciate if you'd share the locations of such parties

[@brendaboykin3281]

Hi Casper. Nice party people! Side by Side? Composer? Player/Vocalist? Recording you'd recommend? Thank you and more nice parties in 2023.🌹😎🌹

[@bartekmechanik]

You forgot about One note samba

[@alicehudder6012]

Great list! Others that get called in our local jams often are There Will Never Be Another You, There is No Greater Love, Black Orpheus, Fly Me to the Moon, How High the Moon, Take the A Train, and It Could Happen to You.

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Great ones to add Alice!

[@Materva-hv6sz]

And while we are listing songs about the moon..Blue Moon

[@ArthurSimoesMusic]

2:30 he says « modal jazz » in sync with the chords and it sounds very satisfying

[@matth6932]

Other notables, Girl from Ipanema, It Had to be You, The Nearness of You, These Foolish Things, Besame Mucho, My Funny Valentine...I could go on...but it appears Alice Hudder and you Brent, have covered the basics. I think we will take on Stella by Starlight this week. The other tunes you mentioned are in our repertoire. Thanks again!

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Great ones to add Matt!

[@Brandon63657]

I would argue that a better top 10 would be 1.Autumn leaves 2. There will never be another you 3. Blue bossa 4. Satin Doll 5. A Night in Tunisia 6. Misty 7. St Thomas 8. On green dolphin street 9. Oleo 10. Bb blues head (tenor madness, blue monk)

[@therealdualipa]

if im hanging with mates and one of them calls a night in tunisia i hang myself i refuse to learn it 😅

[@SteveSnelling]

Surprised there are no blues forms, and no rhythm changes on your list. I'd give a strong vote for Billie's Bounce (blues with common jazz sub's) and something like Anthropology or Oleo to make sure to have 12-bar blues and rhythm changes under one's belt. Two suggestions for viewers: 1) the greater value in shedding Autumn Leaves in all 12 keys is that it includes all of the chords in the diatonic sequence of a key, emphasizing, as you point out, the relative major-minor areas - which arms you to play just about any tune more easily; 2) the example changes you provide are "real-book-ified" - that is, frequently melodically incorrect and harmonically watered down, and don't really capture the harmonic colors of the originals. It's not about being an originalist or harmonic fetishist, but it's helpful to know the difference between a bittersweet diminished major seventh chord and it's commonly substituted flavorless ii-V combinations. BTW, major chords are conventionally notated with UPPER case Roman numerals, (minor and diminished chords with lower case).

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Hey Steve I almost always leave blues and rhythm changes off of my lists because those are in a category of their own that need to be especially focused on

[@J3unG]

Yeh. You know everything, bruv. you're a jeenyuss. LOL

[@venusspacey9685]

This some arrogant ahxt right here ! 🤣

[@billpeake5260]

Rhythm Changes is a good learning standard. It crops up in different versions and transmutations in other songs.

[@J3unG]

How to play over rhythm changes? PLAY BLUES. Stay in the key of the tune. That's it. Your ear will tell you how to avoid clams. it's easy. don't be scared of this shit. THAT'S ALL IT IS.

[@bassomatic6055]

On the simpler side: Song for my Father and Killer Joe.

[@mdmellis]

1st, great list. 2nd, while not technically standards you definitely need to know the blues and rhythm changes. Jobim tunes get called a lot so maybe Girl from Ipanema or Wave. So many others too but Lady Bird, Footprints, Minority, No Greater Love are good learning tunes, There Will Never Be Another You, and Have You Met Miss Jones are nice intermediate/advance tunes. I personally like Out of Nowhere.

[@Pizaz0]

Just to add Solar is another one that’s very common, at least here in Philly. Regional areas tend to call some songs more then others. I’m always hearing Bolivia, Hindsight, and Voyage here but not as much when I travel

[@hack-ta-guitare]

+1 for Footprints and wave 😉

[@martyg374]

Everyone has a different top 10. It depends on the geographical area, musical culture, who's calling the tunes, what instrumentation you have, etc. For Jam sessions I have lead, I have often advertised some of the tunes we will be playing so that folks are prepared. We should be suppporting the fellow musician, not challenging them. It is OK to pass on a tune you don't know, and occasionally pull up a chart if you can do it quickly. Play tunes you like!

[@oscarcabrera6047]

Is it me or he never played the theme from blue bossa? why? i'm not crazy, right? or deaf? help. it bothers me way more than it should.

[@J3unG]

Nice. I appreciate the 'tunes ya gotta know for jams' lists. I seriously hate going to these crap sessions because of this. You make it easier to that. Here's an idea: REGIONAL jam sessions list (NYC, Boston, Miami, SF,LA, Chicagoland, Dallas, etc...) Pull together a list from the users and go over it. Also, reasons for why this list is different from regions would be nice. Keep up the good work.

[@MrBrotassium]

Just wondering, is it common to play On Green Dolphin Street in C? I learned it from Kind of Blue which has it in Eb.

[@bazarmaniac7662]

Yeah ! I would say " Misty " . There's a lot of standards in E flat ... Best wishes .

[@rickgraham786]

Bags Groove, Blues Walk, Sugar, Take Five. Of course there's more. There will ALWAYS be more.😎

[@Wingman52]

Misty, Fly Me To the Moon for sure, The Way You Look Tonight maybe

[@luigilombardi3441]

Great list! It would be good to add for example tunes like: There will never be another you, It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing, Take the A train, a blues, a rhythm change, misty, cantaloupe island, sunny, song for my father, how high the moon...

[@violinoscar]

Hi, Good list. I would add The Flintstones Theme. It is rhythm changes. Plus, if there are any kids there they will love it.

[@HristoVelev]

In our jams - Softly as in a morning sunrise, song for my father, my funny valentine, misty, there will never be another you, sunny are also quite common :)

[@jamkey6536]

Half joking half not, Freddie Freeloader. When you hear Miles' solo on it, its just soo laid back. You look at the changes and they're really the most simple you'll probably ever see. But today, everybody has got they're own style. A beginner might use a blues scale while an advance player will keep up with the changes and make the most out of its simplicity.

[@jamescronin1486]

Nice list, except that ballads are not often called around here. I would add these as tunes that I have often heard in my area: Stolen Moments, Satin Doll, Little Sunflower, Straight No Chaser, Cantaloupe Island, Watermelon Man, Sweet Georgia Brown and others.

[@jonatopik]

LOL dude's trolling us with these timestamp names. "Jazz Standard #1, Jazz Standard #2, etc"

[@brucejeric6701]

Thank you for the refresher. Motivates to brush up on all I’m rusty on. Great winter project!!!

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Love it Bruce!

[@italianguy607]

of course there are many, many more 'standard' standards but your list is great and your explanation of keys and tone centers is wonderful and so helpful. Much thanks for sharing.

[@nancychace8619]

Love the old jazz standards. How about Ain't Misbehavin? Fascinating Rhythm?

[@jddorland]

What software do you use for your charts? Are you able to do the highlighted measures and text boxes within that software or do wind up needing to use different software to help? Thanks

[@randkperkins]

I like Summertime.

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Always a good one!

[@jamessennett5452]

Very helpful!! Thank you. Off the top of my head only additions I can think of are Fly Me to the Moon and Summertime. I can't remember going to a jam where these weren't called.

[@cDTeVe]

... very useful list EXCEPT number 5 It Could Happen To You... I only played it with a few singers but never on jam sessions... instead say , Softly As In A Morning Sunrise... and the list is perfect!!! thanks

[@armandfoucault3213]

it all depends on the jam dude...!

[@cDTeVe]

@@armandfoucault3213 ... that’s right... it’s also regional... your list is solid...

[@GDM223SR]

I'd add There Will Never be Another You ... and Four. And rhythm changes.

[@gregoryp2859]

Now all I need is a good jam session. My town hasn't seen one in years.

[@jazzman_10]

All Of Me was the real eye opener for me. The chords are quite straight forward and you have plenty of time to think and play before they change since most of them are played twice on a row. I would certainly recomend starting with that one. Blue bossa you can play with basically two scales, same with Autum Leaves eventhough the structure is a little more complicated... Let´s do this!

[@peterfriedmann3458]

Would add Softly as in a Morning Sunrise, Alone Together as two that are often called...

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Agreed!

[@zakariab.9168]

100 %

[@johne1599]

Eva Cassidy does a real nice guitar/piano arrangement of Autumn Leaves. She’s got a beautiful voice with a lot of control.

[@A432Hz]

At the jam sessions I sat in, the honorable mention of nonnegotiables is Take the A Train. Every night, that’s the tune that was always played to end the night, and I actually got to play more confidently.

[@thmonk8944]

Where i am from, there will Never be another you and nardis are Played Almost everytime, which is okay because they are Great Songs… the later the evening Gets, the More often there will be coltrane tunes like moments notice or Rhythm changes

[@almendratlilkouatl]

no Mingus?, shaaaame, Blue Cee, Haitian Fight Song, Nostalgia, Jelly Roll, Freedom, those were the first songs I learned

[@cd1934]

You forgot Misty !!.🎼

[@MikeDavid_Davideos]

Any tune from Tony Bennett's and Ella Fitzgerald's

[@tristanavakian]

can you not have noodling in the background while you explain the chart? maybe just play it down. thanks.

[@vendome6846]

I would include There Will Never Be Another You, What Is This Thing Called Love and Misty.

[@alighieroalighieri404]

Memorize the whole Real Book and try to play as much as you can all the standards. You might find yourself in a jam when they call My Ideal or Invitation rather than So what or Stella by Starlight. I studied three standards a week. Listening to the standards played by the great cats of jazz is also paramount.

[@J3unG]

Bring your phone. There are apps that have Real Book tunes in it. Bring your phone. Don't get vibed out by jerks who spend all their time memorizing stupid standards and not writing new music.

[@williemason8178]

Summertime should be on this list.

[@Panufo]

Why are you playing the head of 'So What' in 'G' between the quartal chord stabs? I love your channel, BTW.

[@ojutay8375]

You have to know the Blues Form, Rhythm Changes and Honeysuckle Rose

[@PrinceSebastianKincaidEl_Bay]

Take The 'A' Train? In A Mellotone? Satin Doll? Love For Sale? A Night In Tunisia?

[@LElayneSousaFHorn]

Misty (slow ballad), What'll I do (slow ballad), I I got rhythm(Fireworks: in a very fast tempo in 2/2" in B flat Major)

[@Bill_Woo]

"So What" is a "must"? I must be going to the wrong ones ... in fact, in pick up jams I've heard at most 4 of these 10. Pretty huge difference. And what is that, some new harmonization of it? And in the real world the two elongated piano notes are a sixth interval up, not a third?? But most of all, why is a guitar playing that double bass passage - OR the two piano accent notes - at all? Is that even a thing? I'm afraid I can't take the channel seriously. Clearly there's devoted jazz study and homage behind this, but fail on this video.

[@cns7139]

In my crazy town, the country swing jazz jam guys actually called Cherokee! Yikes! Many of them did it justice, I must say!

[@genio957]

I think that these are the most played. I can add Tune up, Body and soul, You don't know what love is, Blue monk, Some day my prince will come...

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Good ones to add!

[@hanspeter5372]

Would not recommend autumn leaves and so what for beginners. Minor two fives and modal tunes involve way more theory and I would recommend to get the basics with major two fives (mostly) first. Maybe afternoon in Paris, there will never be another u, all the things u are, misty, here’s that rainy day, a train, four

[@ginamarie6977]

I'm a singer like my dad, so when I made my list of songs to sing I had to include his favorite Why Don't You Do Right? But I also included my favorites I Get A Kick Out Of You and Night And Day (anything Cole Porter). And don't forget Route 66, At Last, Skylark, I Got Rhythm, and Moonlight In Vermont. These I've added to the other great suggestions from the other watchers here (I think I knew Summertime, Fever, and Girl From Ipanema when I was just a kid.)

[@VoodooDewey69]

I know many cats out there who have been playing jazz for quite a few years have a lot of songs that they will not play. And most of these songs are on that list this is just my opinion I do not like to play typical standards like everybody else I like to find obscure songs or write something original .There are so many wanna bees killing these songs .Do you . As much as I love miles and Lee Morgan I write my own original music I'm not trying to play their s*** I'm trying to play my s***one day when I was at Philly Joe's house I was practicing some Miles Davis song in Philly just told me he said you ain't never going to be no Miles Davis do you, I was maybe 22 at the time and I said I don't even know who I am.

[@tykourin1584]

OMG YOU MODERN AMERICAN JAZZ MUSICANS ARE SO BORING!!!! ERVERYONE PLAYS THE SAE SONG THE SAME WAY. AND I REALLY DISSAGREE WITH YOU CHOICHE OF TUNES. THEY ALL SOUND THE SAME AND USE THE SAME LANUAGE. WHY NO BLUES? WHY NO RYTHM?? AND ONLY ONE MODAL SONG?!?! EUROPE IS WAY BETTER!!! HAVE YOU HEARD THE TUNE FROM GARGARINS POINT OF VIEW???? AMERICA FORGOT HOW TO JAZZ IN THE 90S....

[@KevsSanders]

Just to be clear, there's really no such word as 'tonisizing' (4:45) For someone learning their first few jazz standards, this whole vid is just going to be baffling. There's nothing wrong with all the harmonic analysis but surely knowing things like the written key for these songs or basic structure would be more useful. Still a cool vid tho.

[@alexm771]

Your videos have definitely improved 👌🏾🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@johnpauldeguzman823]

Could you teach us how to learn melodies faster? I am an old player and I want to learn jazz standards faster thank you

[@franciscoramirez7270]

you should first play.the main melody of the jazz standard samples not the improvised melody for better understanding by your listeners

[@DaddySantaClaus]

Don't get around much anymore Beautiful love Honeysuckle rose I got rhythm So on

[@strunkneb]

Not a bad lesson! ... but I can't stand how that guitar was recorded! Clacky and buzzy and thin XD

[@sbadreau]

Why do you start so what on the 5th? Do you just assume the bass will play the regular line and you’re harmonizing?

[@YragSreog]

Just surprised there was no Gershwin, such a fertile field for jazz musicians.

[@joshclinton8613]

God I’m sorry but I wouldn’t call half these songs caus they’re so over played

[@francisalbertsinatra9120]

I’m not a jazz musician (yet) but I strongly agree with your list. I listen to jazz more than almost anything else, and I’ve heard these a lot. Some other mentions I would add are Fly me to the moon, how high the moon, if I should lose you, girl from ipanema, I know that you know, and many many more

[@romeoperrin7524]

And now? Did you play jazz?

[@abagz3919]

St Thomas and girl from ipanema fs. Maybe watermelon man

[@3r1cratpool22]

Great list. One standard that open doors for me was There is no greater love.

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Good choice!

[@afxmnstr]

Gross, Green dolphin street in C =]. great list

[@markbujdos584]

I know All of Me, but I never heard of "Olive Me."

[@xeralt2914]

Can anyone tell me what a chromatic 2-5-1 is ?

[@olebirgerpedersen]

And all the standarts made over I got rythme rythmechanges.

[@calvinmasters6159]

I'd like to see you dissect "A Man and a Woman".

[@tomperrone1846]

"I Should Care" by Stordahl and Weston

[@afxmnstr]

No, blues or Rhythm changes - or any bebop - honestly these are the most called kind of tunes when someone sees you have a guitar. Especially if you learn one of these songs and flounder, they're for sure going to play a jazz blues on you next.

[@pomatomapo]

Not the most popular but me and my boys love "four"

[@ratghost25]

My Foolish Heart (note Bill Evans), Just The Way You Look Tonight, Body & Soul, Alone Together, Stardust, Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars, Desifinado, Someone To Watch Over Me (note Etta James ver. ).

[@williammckee7203]

So backwards. It’s not about the chords it never was. Songs aren’t roadmaps to blow over, they’re artistic expressions of poetry/lyrics set to the harmony that fits them best. Sing the song, think about the lyrics and melody, play the melody, listen for leading tones and then don’t “blow” over the changes, try to make a melody of your own. People will either like it or they won’t. This is what kills creativity and appreciation for creative art. Don’t pump out fake improv clones

[@littlegrant]

Misty, Girl From Ipanema , Summertime, All Blues, How High the Moon, Mack the Knife, Watermelon Man, Shadow of Your Smile, Night and Day, What Is Thing Called Love, Round Midnight, Body and Soul, Rhythm changes.

[@billreeve3245]

Recorda Me

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Great tune!

[@Partyoctopus]

Maybe review the melody of So what? Lol

[@JorgeHernandez-hk4jt]

take the A train is the most called ever

[@Mrwriterman1]

Great List. I would add a couple to your repertoire: "I Fall in Love Too Easily", great version sung and played by Chet Baker, and, then brilliant Barcelona girl Andrea Motis, and though not strictly jazz, I'd add "Who Can I Turn To," the Ray Connick, Jr version, and of course the Tony Bennett version. Lastly, there's a brilliant and breath-taking version of "Stardust" played by the immortal Clifford Brown. I saw a transcription and honestly, way too difficult for me, bur maybe some of your advanced students could take a shot at it. Pure Classic song.

[@andrewk666]

I would have put a blues as #1 or 2 on here

[@dfigiel1950]

Killer Joe, The Nearness of You, My One and Only Love, A Night in Tunisia, In A Sentimental Mood, Nature Boy, Wave

[@scott1887]

Good list. Nice harmonic details of each tune - very helpful. However, if this list is for beginners then some comments for future (not as a slam but as hopefully helpful): tell people if a tune is a vocal song (i.e.: just friends) and if not (i.e.: so what). Also, only play the melody and no chord substitutions/melody embellishments. That is not helpful in getting the melody across. For instance, if playing the melody of ‘just friends’ then say it is a vocal tune, to check out vocalists and how they interpret the melody and just play the melody (“..just friends… lovers no more….” -- you get the idea). Playing around the melody of a tune that you are trying to introduce makes it difficult to pick out (especially for someone who has never heard it) what really is the melody and what is added. Again, this is meant as not criticism but a reminder to keep it simple for the audience who will be watching this (not Berkee grads but beginners). Keep up the good work!

[@live2groove]

Cantaloupe Island or Song for my Father. Blues tunes that are good too that people don't call enough; Cold Duck Time, The Jody Grind, Comin' Home Baby. Other Bozzas might be Girl from Ipanema or Black Orpheus. (Easy chart and easy to solo over).

[@warrencox7852]

Excuse me if these were already mentioned; 1. All Blues, 2. Straight No Chaser, 3. Take Five & 4. A Night In Tunisia

[@bluch251]

My only pipe in here would be that is to learn standards that have basics forms as well...ie blues forms, minor blues, changes, and basic modal forms of which you did mention. Learning tunes that were written with standard chord changes is a great way learn more complicated forms outright.

[@MomLAU]

As a pianist who has only been studying jazz for a couple of years (and have only been to my first jam session 2 nights ago), I often feel intimidated by these lists of "songs you need to know". I do appreciate the info, though. Just be patient with me.

[@SeekerGoOn2013]

I’m not a jazz player, but I thought of Stardust, All Blues, Girl From Ipanema, Route 66, Sunny Side of the Street for a few.

[@growler777]

How about a 3/4 for a change? A Child Is Born. It was the second theme I learned (right after Autumn Leaves).

[@OrangePony75]

Here in CDMX people ALWAYS ask for Take Five. Don't worry, if you keep improvising on A you’l be fine :)

[@Mandibularmenace]

Weird seeing All the Things You Are so high. It stays in each key center for long enough for me to get used to, whereas something like On Green Dolphin Street or All of Me with the tritone subs, minor ii-Vs and other weird chord movements is kind of tricky for me.

[@kathleenhutton1566]

SPAIN is a great tune to blow over,especially when u realise u can use Dmin ideas over C#7 alt and Gmin over F#7alt chords!Happy Birthday is another(Swinging)!!

[@juansecar2]

Missed at least one blues and a rhythm changes. I'd include Billie's Bounce and Oleo..., maybe Blues for Alice since it presents some bebop language in a short format. Cheers.

[@robertgalardi3731]

your choices are excellent and yes I play them all on gigs with my jazz quartet , however i might add Straight no Chaser , Sunny side of the street , Out of nowhere , There is no greater love One note samba, I thought about you , Sugar , Shadow of your smile and How deep is the ocean,, JUST SAYIN' BOBBY G. and thanks for you input ...

[@lyntedrockley7295]

yeah but then there wouldn't be 10 jazz standards would there! This is an excellent selection of 10.

[@Learnjazzstandards]

Those are great to add!

[@davidoliveira4202]

Beside all you said, Alone together, some jazz blues like billies bounce, rhythm changes, like anthropology… round midnight, waltz for Debby … well, a lot of them… 😅

[@radarice2]

Try adding: 1) For All We Know We May Never Meet Again, and 2) Watch What Happens.