5 Jazz Standards for Beginners

If you are new to jazz, know nothing about jazz, or are jazz-curious, this list is for you.

You may have heard of The Real Book, a “fake” book collection of jazz standards. Think of it as a kind of cheat sheet for getting through the gig—just the basic components of a tune because half a musician’s life is one of survival.

So here’s a primer on five standards for beginners. Hopefully, this inspires you to search for the definitive versions.

All the people in the dance will agree
That we’re well-qualified to represent the L.B.C

“Summertime” by George Gershwin (1935)

George Gershwin’s lullaby was written for the opera Porgy and Bess. DuBose Heyward worked with Ira Gershwin on the libretto, though the lyrics are mostly Heyward’s. Stephen Sondheim called Heyward’s writing “of the finest set of lyrics in the history of the American musical theater.” Gershwin was inspired by African American spirituals, and “Summertime” has evolved from the opera’s Catfish Row to thousands of interpretations, including Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, Janis Joplin, Sublime, and Lana Del Rey.  

“Autumn Leaves” by Joseph Kozma and Jacques Prévert (1945)

“Autumn Leaves” began as “Les Feuilles Mortes,” with lyrics written by French poet Jacques Prévert. Yves Montand introduced the song to wide audiences with his performance in the post-World War II film Les Portes de la Nuit. In 1949, Johnny Mercer wrote the English lyrics and gave it its more famous name, “Autumn Leaves.” Pianist Roger Williams’ instrumental recording became a hit in 1955.

“Blues for Alice” by Charlie Parker (1951)

Charlie Parker created a new kind of 12-bar blues with “Blues for Alice.” Taking the standard I IV V blues progression, Parker introduced complex changes, now called “Bird Blues” after his nickname “Bird.” Parker first recorded “Blues for Alice” in 1951 with Red Rodney on trumpet, John Lewis on piano, and a rhythm section of bassist Ray Brown and drummer Kenny Clarke. Commenting on how Parker revolutionized music, jazz historian Martin Williams said the saxophonist and composer had influenced “everyone.”

“Blue Bossa” by Kenny Dorham (1963)

A 1961 trip to Rio de Janeiro likely inspired Kenny Dorham to write the hard bop and bossa nova standard “Blue Bossa.” Following the Cuban Revolution, the United States aimed to keep South American countries from aligning with Fidel Castro’s regime. Using American culture as soft power, the U.S. State Department booked a one-week “American Jazz Festival” in Brazil where Dorham absorbed bossa nova. Joe Henderson first recorded “Blue Bossa” for his 1963 debut Page One.

“In a Sentimental Mood” by Duke Ellington (1935)

Duke Ellington composed the tune in Durham, North Carolina. According to Ellington, he was playing piano at a party and composed the piece to fix a friend’s messy love triangle. Biographer Stanley Dance quoted Ellington saying: “I was playing piano when another one of our friends had some trouble with two chicks. To pacify them, I composed this there and then, with one chick standing on each side of the piano.”

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Photo by Bettmann/Getty Images