12 Songs That Will Make Anyone a Jazz Fan

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In the mid ‘70s, the line between jazz and funk began to blur a bit and the results were too infectious to resist. In 1974, well known jazz trumpeter Donald Byrd released “Stepping Into Tomorrow” which sounds much funkier than one may expect a jazz record to sounds. The groovy bassline and percussion behind the lead trumpet turn the record into something that producers would fight over to sample. But on the flip side, the record is already so good as it is that doing anything else with it almost seems unnecessary.

When it comes to jazz record samples, Donald Byrd remains a big favorite for producers. Madlib, for example, shone new light on it on his Shades of Blue album.

When “Mister Magic” by Grover Washington Jr. first begins to play, it comes off as a mixture of the blues, funk and soul—which it certainly is—but the predominant saxophone ties it all together and leads the rest of the instruments in a groovy jazz ensemble. Though the real heart of the song is provided by the bassline, the saxophone and trumpet combination bring life to it in a special way, one that Amy Winehouse would use as inspiration for her song of the same name on the deluxe edition of her debut studio album Frank.

If you think jazz is boring background music, Roy Ayers' “Everybody Loves The Sunshine” is here to tell you you're wrong. The sounds provided by the synths add an electrifying noise that are about as close to the sound of sun rays on a blazing hot day as one could possibly hope to get. The layering of these futuristic sounds almost distract from the fact that the main structure of the song is being played by an ordinary jazz ensemble. Between the use of the synths and the switch up of the beat towards the end of the song, it’s not surprising that this song has since been sampled so many times in hip-hop and R&B, from Common to Mary J. Blige to Brand Nubian

As the 1980s began to approach, the vibrant world of jazz started to embark on another change in sound. Perhaps exhausted by all the dance ready funk hits, some artists decided it was time to slow things down a bit. George Benson’s song “Breezin’” from 1976 sounds like a down tempo version of the funkier jazz records from the previous years and is the kind of smooth jazz that is almost impossible to hate. Smooth jazz is where classical jazz and the blues meet. The violins and flute bring the classical elements while Benson adds touches of the blues with his guitar. In the end, the result is just as smooth as the title of the song and the sub-genre imply—the perfect song to add a bit of variety to your summer playlist, maybe followed by DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince's "Time To Chill" which sampled it.

It’s been over 40 years since Lee Mason & His Orchestra released “Shady Blues” but rappers just can’t seem to leave the sample alone. In the past artists like Madlib, Jay Electronica, 50 Cent, Asher Roth and a few others have all tried their hand at putting their own touch over a sample of “Shady Blues.” In fact, we once looked at seven of the rappers who had sampled it and decided who did it best.

So, you have probably heard and maybe even love this song already. But even though we’ve all now heard this same loop over and over again, hearing the original song makes is refreshing again. In fact, that famous loop sample that we’re all used to leaves out the best parts of the instrumentation—like the build up towards the middle of the record. The simple repetition of the drums and a flute that almost sounds like a kazoo are begging to be sampled, but it’s right after that famous section that the song actually picks up with the help of the horn section. It’s time to get re-introduced to this song and finally listen to everything it has to offer.

As soon as “Ode To Billie Joe” by Lou Donaldson begins, some people may immediately recognize those drums from Lauryn Hill’s song “To Zion.” But those same drums have also been used in other less noticeable ways, such as Kanye West’s “Jesus Walks” and A Tribe Called Quest’s “Clap Your Hands.” Outside of the percussion, the saxophone and guitar create a vibe that meets in the middle of jazz and the blues. The additional assistance provided by the organ hint towards gospel roots. Lou Donaldson brought all of the varying elements together to make a song that welcomed jazz fans as well as fans of blues and gospel. The results make for an enjoyably soulful jazz piece.

It was only a matter of time before a record sampled by A Tribe Called Quest would appear on this list. Reuben Wilson’s “Inner City Blues” is probably most notably known for being the sample used on A Tribe Called Quest’s “Youthful Expression,” but even without Q-Tip’s vocals this record sounds just as good. Like many of the other jazz records that came out in the mid ‘70s, the bassline is what helps to break the record out of the typical jazz mold. For this particular song, the bassline helps to transform it from a borderline church soundtrack to a funky jazz fusion.

Although Duke Ellington and John Coltrane’s song “In A Sentimental Mood” may be the most traditional jazz song on this list, it’s hard to imagine that anyone could not enjoy it. With each strike of the piano keys, Duke Ellington seems to almost dance around John Coltrane’s romantic saxophone playing. Two legendary artists coming together to create something new is always exciting when done well, and this is unquestionably an example of that. “In A Sentimental Mood” has been featured in various films and television shows in the fifty years since it was recorded yet fails to get old. A true classic.

Before various artists started to blend the sounds of jazz and funk together, Alice Coltrane was headed in a more experimental direction—much different than her husband John Coltrane’s style of jazz. On 1970’s “Journey In Satchidananda” the combination of the upright bass and the tanpura simultaneously create a world that is somewhere between a swanky jazz club and the blistering hot streets of New Delhi. These abstract sounds have clearly had an impact on artists who have come after her, especially like Flying Lotus, who is actually Coltrane’s grand-nephew.

It’s not often that the harp takes the lead on a record but Dorothy Ashby found a way to make that happen and make listeners take notice. Coming out of the late ‘60s, 1968’s “Soul Vibrations” clearly has a psychedelic inspired sound to it. The high pitched notes on top of the tambourine plus the rhythm being provided by the drums result in a soulful jazz record. The lead chords performed by the harp have a way of making it sound as if you’re transcending into another dimension. With all of the different elements layered on top of the funky bassline, the amount of different ways this record could be flipped almost seems endless. It’s surprising this record has been sampled so few times.

The majority of this list has been jazz records from the past but there are still interesting things happening in jazz right now. BadBadNotGood is a prime example. BadBadNotGood is a young jazz trio from Toronto that has gained attention by putting their own touch on popular hip-hop songs. If you heard there was a jazz rendition of “Lemonade” by Gucci Mane, you might laug,h but that’s only before you hear what BBNG was able to do to the record. In the four years since they’ve been performing together they have covered artists like Waka Flocka Flame, Slum Village, Kanye West and James Blake. They have also worked with Frank Ocean, Tyler, the Creator, Ghostface Killah, and Danny Brown. The influence of hip-hop on their music is very apparent and translates into something that young people can relate to. With the members all only being in their early twenties, BadBadNotGood proves that jazz is not just for old folks.

The name Robert Glasper may not sound too familiar to some people but the truth is, Rober Glasper is probably your favorite artist’s favorite artist. In the last decade, besides putting out his own music, Glasper has also lent his talents to the likes of Kanye West on his Late Registration album as well as on Q-Tip’s The Renaissance. Glasper is a traditional jazz pianist but his collaborations have helped him reach audiences who perhaps would have never otherwise been introduced to his music. His Grammy award winning album Black Radio from 2012 blends jazz, R&B and hip-hop together by incorporating acts like Erykah Badu and Yasiin Bey (aka Mos Def). The album also included a jazz rendition of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” which continued to prove his versatility within the music world.