Another opportunity to share my jazz collection with you with ninety minutes of jazz standards performed by a variety of International artists!
| Title | Artist | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| (If You Can’t Sing It) You’ll Have To Swing It [Aka ‘Mr. Paganini’] | Ella Fitzgerald | Written by Sam Coslow, this playful jazz tune pays tribute to violinist Niccolò Paganini, humorously suggesting that if you can’t sing it perfectly, you better swing it! Ella Fitzgerald, known as the “First Lady of Song,” was a jazz legend celebrated for her pitch-perfect voice, scat singing, and groundbreaking career spanning six decades. |
| Mairzy Doats | The Pied Pipers | A quirky wartime novelty song using wordplay to turn “Mares eat oats” into a nonsense rhyme. The Pied Pipers were a popular vocal group in the 1940s, known for their work with Tommy Dorsey and their close harmonies. |
| (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66 | Oscar Peterson | Written by Bobby Troup, this song celebrates America’s most famous highway, symbolizing freedom and adventure. Oscar Peterson, a virtuoso pianist, was one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time, known for his dazzling technique and improvisation. |
| Let There Be Love (ft. George Shearing) | Nat King Cole | A romantic jazz standard listing all the simple joys that make love perfect. Nat King Cole, a pioneering jazz pianist and vocalist, was known for his velvety smooth voice and timeless classics like “Unforgettable.” Sir George Albert Shearing was a British jazz pianist who for many years led a popular jazz group. |
| Lullaby Of Birdland | Sarah Vaughan | A tribute to New York’s Birdland jazz club, capturing the excitement of jazz nightlife. Sarah Vaughan, nicknamed “Sassy” and “The Divine One,” possessed one of the richest, most expressive voices in jazz history. |
| Ain’t Nobody’s Business | Jay McShann | A defiant blues anthem about personal independence. Jay McShann, a Kansas City jazz and blues pianist, was a key figure in shaping the jump blues and swing sound. |
| Cou Cou (ft. Quintette du Hot Club de France) | Django Reinhardt | A lively gypsy jazz instrumental showcasing Reinhardt’s signature fast-picking guitar style. Django Reinhardt, despite losing the use of two fingers, revolutionized jazz guitar and created the “Hot Club” sound. The Quintette du Hot Club de France (“The Quintet of the Hot Club of France”), often abbreviated “QdHCdF” or “QHCF”, was a jazz group founded in France in 1934 by guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stéphane Grappelli. |
| Boum | Charles Trénet | Written and performed by Charles Trénet, one of France’s most beloved chanson singers, this playful song celebrates the joy of life with a catchy melody. Trenet wrote the song for the film La Route enchantée, for which he also wrote the screenplay and played the leading role. |
| As Time Goes By | Dooley Wilson | Made famous by Casablanca, this song symbolizes enduring love. Dooley Wilson, originally a drummer, became immortalized as “Sam” in the classic film, though he wasn’t actually playing the piano! The leading role in the movie Casablanca was for Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart with Dooley Wilson playing at Rick’s Café Américain. |
| Lucky Day | Judy Garland | A lively, optimistic tune celebrating a streak of good fortune. Judy Garland, best known for “Over the Rainbow,” was one of Hollywood’s greatest musical stars with a powerhouse voice and legendary career. |
| S’Wonderful | Diana Krall | A lighthearted tune marveling at love’s joys. Diana Krall, a contemporary jazz singer and pianist, brought a sultry, sophisticated style that revived classic jazz in the modern era. |
| Cry Me a River | Julie London | A torch song about getting revenge on an ex who wants to come back. Julie London, with her smoky, intimate vocals, was a film actress-turned-jazz singer known for her minimalist, emotional delivery. |
| Round Midnight | June Christy | This jazz standard was composed by Thelonious Monk in the 1940s. June Christy’s rendition is a testament to her cool jazz style. Christy had her final performance on the stage with American musician Chet Baker who did a lot of his recordings at that time in Europe. |
| My Funny Valentine | Chet Baker | A love song celebrating someone’s unique charm. Chet Baker, the “Prince of Cool,” was a jazz trumpeter and singer known for his smooth, melancholic style. |
| When Morning Comes | Sofie | This song was written by Sofie herself, a contemporary jazz artist showcasing her singer-songwriter style with introspective lyrics. Antwerp born Sofie Verbruggen recorded “When Morning Comes” in good company of jazzpianist Jack Van Poll, Phlip Catherine and Bert Joris. |
| At Last(Cover) | Diane Schuur & B.B. King | A timeless love song originally made famous by Etta James. Diane Schuur, a blind jazz pianist and singer, possesses a powerful voice, while B.B. King was a legendary blues guitarist. |
| What Can I Say After I Say I’m Sorry | Monica Zetterlund | A regretful plea for forgiveness. Monica Zetterlund, Sweden’s most famous jazz singer, brought a cool, Scandinavian elegance to American jazz. |
| Comes Love | Toni Price | A sultry song about love’s unstoppable force. Toni Price, blending blues and jazz, is known for her soulful, raspy voice and storytelling lyrics. |
| Que Feras-Tu De Ta Vie ?(Cover) | Stacey Kent | A French jazz ballad originally written by Michel Legrand, reflecting on love and life. Stacey Kent, an American jazz singer fluent in multiple languages, is celebrated for her smooth, intimate vocal style. |
| All of Me(Cover) | Helen Merrill | A classic about giving oneself entirely to love. Helen Merrill, a jazz vocalist with a haunting, airy tone, was known for her emotionally rich interpretations. |
| What a Diff’rence a Day Makes(Cover) | Dinah Washington | Originally a Spanish song, later adapted into English. Dinah Washington, the “Queen of the Blues,” had a commanding voice that seamlessly blended jazz, blues, and pop. |
| Here’s To Life | Shirley Horn | A reflection on life’s ups and downs. Shirley Horn, a pianist and vocalist, was known for her intimate, slow-burning jazz ballads. |
| I Wish You Love(Cover) | Harry Connick, Jr. | Originally written as Que reste-t-il de nos amours? by Charles Trenet, this song is about bittersweet goodbyes. Harry Connick Jr., a jazz pianist and crooner, brought New Orleans jazz into the modern era. |
| Stardust(Cover) | Michael Bublé (with Naturally 7) | A dreamy ballad about reminiscing on lost love. Michael Bublé, a modern-day jazz-pop star, revived the classic crooner style for new generations. |
| The Party’s Over | Blossom Dearie | A song about realizing when it’s time to move on. Blossom Dearie, known for her light, almost whispery voice, was a unique presence in jazz with her playful yet sophisticated style. |
Sources
The information sources of the song facts include, but are not limited to, Wikipedia, songfacts.com, discogs.com, secondhandsongs.com, YouTube and artists’ related websites.
