Songs from 1926 to 1966

Jazz musicians' own tunes through the years

These are 76 tunes that jazz musicians wrote for their own bands and records, from Duke Ellington's orchestra in the 1930s through , and jazz. At first the writers lead big bands. By the 1940s they are players in small groups writing for their own sessions, and in the 1960s they write new tunes for their albums. Each decade below follows who records the tunes next, from the writers themselves to singers, trios and big bands.

Through the years

1910s
Jazz musicians' tunes start from older songs. The Original Dixieland Jass Band records Indiana for Columbia in 1917, one of the earliest jazz records, and its later carry Donna Lee, credited to Charlie Parker in 1947.
Original Dixieland Jass Band Donna Lee · 1917
1920s
The first songs here arrive on records. Jack Palmer and Spencer Williams write one in 1926, and Clarence Williams' Blue Five introduces it on an Okeh record with Eva Taylor singing. Don Redman writes another with lyrics by Andy Razaf, and McKinney's Cotton Pickers record it in November 1929 with Redman singing.
McKinney's Cotton Pickers Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You · 1929
1930s
Big bands carry these tunes, and several writers lead or play in them. Duke Ellington's orchestra records Mood Indigo in 1930 and Sophisticated Lady in 1933, Will Hudson writes Moonglow as a theme for his own band, and members of Ellington's orchestra make the first Caravan record under Barney Bigard's name. Art Tatum plays Sophisticated Lady alone at the piano.
Duke Ellington Mood Indigo · 1930 Red Nichols Oleo · 1930 Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra, vocal by Ivie Anderson It Don't Mean a Thing · 1932 Sidney Bechet and His New Orleans Feetwarmers I've Found a New Baby · 1932 Duke Ellington Sophisticated Lady · 1933 Art Tatum Sophisticated Lady · 1933 Duke Ellington Moonglow · 1934 Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra Solitude · 1934
13 more
Chick Webb Stompin' at the Savoy · 1934 Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra In a Sentimental Mood · 1935 Barney Bigard and His Jazzopators Caravan · 1936 Benny Goodman Quartet Moonglow · 1936 Benny Goodman Quartet Stompin' at the Savoy · 1936 Teddy Wilson I've Found a New Baby · 1937 Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra Prelude to a Kiss · 1938 Benny Goodman Stompin' at the Savoy · 1938 John Kirby and His Onyx Club Boys Undecided · 1938 Bob Crosby What's New? · 1938 Chick Webb Undecided · 1939 Fats Waller and His Rhythm Undecided · 1939 Bing Crosby with John Scott Trotter What's New? · 1939
1940s
Many writers now lead small groups and write for their own sessions. Charlie Parker records Billie's Bounce at his first session as a leader in 1945, Thelonious Monk records In Walked Bud with a quintet in 1947, and Miles Davis records Half Nelson at the first session under his own name. Ellington's orchestra still records Take the A Train, Perdido and C Jam Blues.
Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra Don't Get Around Much Anymore · 1940 Chu Berry and His Jazz Ensemble Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You · 1941 Benny Goodman Sextet I've Found a New Baby · 1941 Charlie Christian Stompin' at the Savoy · 1941 Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra Take the "A" Train · 1941 Johnny Hodges Things Ain't What They Used to Be · 1941 Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra C Jam Blues · 1942 Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra Perdido · 1942
35 more
Charlie Barnet Things Ain't What They Used to Be · 1942 The King Cole Trio Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You · 1943 Cootie Williams 'Round Midnight · 1944 Charlie Parker's Reboppers Anthropology · 1945 Charlie Parker's Re-Boppers Billie's Bounce · 1945 Charlie Parker's Re-Boppers Now's the Time · 1945 Dizzy Gillespie A Night in Tunisia · 1946 Charlie Parker Septet A Night in Tunisia · 1946 Dizzy Gillespie Anthropology · 1946 Charlie Parker Quintet Billie's Bounce · 1946 Dizzy Gillespie Jazzmen Confirmation · 1946 Sarah Vaughan If You Could See Me Now · 1946 Charlie Parker Septet Ornithology · 1946 Dizzy Gillespie Sextet 'Round Midnight · 1946 Kenny Clarke and His 52nd Street Boys Tenor Madness · 1946 Charlie Parker Septet Yardbird Suite · 1946 Charlie Parker All Stars Donna Lee · 1947 Miles Davis All Stars Half Nelson · 1947 Thelonious Monk Quintet In Walked Bud · 1947 Miles Davis All Stars Lady Bird · 1947 Thelonious Monk Quintet 'Round Midnight · 1947 Thelonious Monk Trio Ruby, My Dear · 1947 Charlie Parker Quintet Scrapple from the Apple · 1947 Thelonious Monk Trio Well You Needn't · 1947 Tadd Dameron Sextet Lady Bird · 1948 Paul Williams and His Hucklebuckers Now's the Time · 1948 Charlie Parker Quintet Ornithology · 1948 Charlie Parker Quintet Confirmation · 1949 Miles Davis / Tadd Dameron Quintet Lady Bird · 1949 Nat King Cole Lush Life · 1949 Bud Powell Trio Ornithology · 1949 Ella Fitzgerald at JATP Perdido · 1949 Coleman Hawkins and His Rhythm Sophisticated Lady · 1949 Erroll Garner Trio Stompin' at the Savoy · 1949 Erroll Garner Trio Undecided · 1949
1950s
Records get longer, and many writers are players who bring a tune to someone else's session. Sonny Rollins's Airegin, Doxy and Oleo first appear in 1954 on Miles Davis sessions, and Davis writes Nardis for Cannonball Adderley's session in 1958. In 1959 Davis introduces So What and All Blues on Kind of Blue, and John Coltrane records Giant Steps and Naima.
Duke Ellington Mood Indigo · 1950 Charlie Parker Quintet Scrapple from the Apple · 1950 Duke Ellington Sophisticated Lady · 1950 The Dave Brubeck Trio Undecided · 1950 Bud Powell Trio A Night in Tunisia · 1951 Dizzy Gillespie - Charlie Parker Quintet Anthropology · 1951 Charlie Parker Quintet Blues for Alice · 1951 Wynton Kelly Trio I've Found a New Baby · 1951
158 more
Thelonious Monk Quintet Straight, No Chaser · 1951 Gene Ammons Septet Undecided · 1951 Charlie Parker, Chet Baker and Sonny Criss Donna Lee · 1952 Milt Jackson Quintet Don't Get Around Much Anymore · 1952 Oscar Peterson Trio Don't Get Around Much Anymore · 1952 George Shearing Quintet Lullaby of Birdland · 1952 Stan Getz Quintet Lullaby of Birdland · 1952 Billie Holiday Moonglow · 1952 Billie Holiday Solitude · 1952 Duke Ellington Take the "A" Train · 1952 Oscar Peterson Trio Take the "A" Train · 1952 The Quintet A Night in Tunisia · 1953 Charlie Parker Quartet Confirmation · 1953 Stan Getz - Chet Baker Quartet Half Nelson · 1953 Sonny Rollins with the Modern Jazz Quartet In a Sentimental Mood · 1953 Duke Ellington In a Sentimental Mood · 1953 The Dizzy Gillespie - Stan Getz Sextet It Don't Mean a Thing · 1953 Charlie Parker Quartet Now's the Time · 1953 The Dave Brubeck Quartet Perdido · 1953 Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Charles Mingus and Max Roach Perdido · 1953 Duke Ellington Prelude to a Kiss · 1953 Duke Ellington Satin Doll · 1953 Miles Davis Quartet Tune Up · 1953 Chet Baker and Stan Getz Yardbird Suite · 1953 Miles Davis with Sonny Rollins Airegin · 1954 Thelonious Monk Trio Blue Monk · 1954 Dizzy Gillespie Caravan · 1954 Miles Davis Doxy · 1954 Miles Davis Quartet Four · 1954 Roy Eldridge and Dizzy Gillespie I've Found a New Baby · 1954 Clifford Brown & Max Roach Quintet Joy Spring · 1954 Clifford Brown Ensemble Joy Spring · 1954 Sarah Vaughan with Clifford Brown Lullaby of Birdland · 1954 Ella Fitzgerald with Sy Oliver Lullaby of Birdland · 1954 Erroll Garner Trio Misty · 1954 Art Blakey Quintet Now's the Time · 1954 Miles Davis with Sonny Rollins Oleo · 1954 Sarah Vaughan Prelude to a Kiss · 1954 Ben Webster Prelude to a Kiss · 1954 Miles Davis Quintet Solar · 1954 Thelonious Monk Caravan · 1955 Bud Powell Trio Confirmation · 1955 Lee Konitz with Warne Marsh Donna Lee · 1955 Thelonious Monk Trio It Don't Mean a Thing · 1955 Bud Powell Trio Lady Bird · 1955 Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers Lady Bird · 1955 Erroll Garner Trio Lullaby of Birdland · 1955 Frank Sinatra Mood Indigo · 1955 Thelonious Monk Mood Indigo · 1955 Thelonious Monk Trio Solitude · 1955 Thelonious Monk Trio Sophisticated Lady · 1955 Randy Weston Trio St. Thomas · 1955 Clifford Brown and Max Roach Quintet Take the "A" Train · 1955 Clifford Brown with Strings What's New? · 1955 Carmen McRae Yardbird Suite · 1955 Miles Davis Quintet Airegin · 1956 Jackie McLean Sextet Confirmation · 1956 Miles Davis Quintet Four · 1956 Miles Davis Quintet Half Nelson · 1956 Ella Fitzgerald In a Sentimental Mood · 1956 Zoot Sims - Henri Renaud Quintet I've Found a New Baby · 1956 Mel Tormé and the Marty Paich Dek-Tette Lullaby of Birdland · 1956 Erroll Garner Trio Moonglow · 1956 The Miles Davis Quintet Oleo · 1956 Miles Davis Quintet 'Round Midnight · 1956 Kenny Drew Trio Ruby, My Dear · 1956 Sonny Rollins St. Thomas · 1956 Art Pepper Quartet Stompin' at the Savoy · 1956 Sonny Rollins Quartet, with John Coltrane Tenor Madness · 1956 Miles Davis Quintet Tune Up · 1956 Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong Undecided · 1956 Bill Evans Waltz for Debby · 1956 The Miles Davis Quintet Well You Needn't · 1956 Lee Morgan A Night in Tunisia · 1957 Sonny Rollins Trio A Night in Tunisia · 1957 Phil Woods and Gene Quill Airegin · 1957 Bud Powell Trio Billie's Bounce · 1957 Wes Montgomery Billie's Bounce · 1957 The Red Garland Quintet Billie's Bounce · 1957 Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers with Thelonious Monk Blue Monk · 1957 Ella Fitzgerald with Duke Ellington Caravan · 1957 Clark Terry Quintet Donna Lee · 1957 Nat King Cole with Billy May's Orchestra Don't Get Around Much Anymore · 1957 Red Garland Quartet Four · 1957 Billie Holiday Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You · 1957 Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You · 1957 Lee Morgan I Remember Clifford · 1957 Carmen McRae I Remember Clifford · 1957 The Dizzy Gillespie Band at Newport I Remember Clifford · 1957 Gil Evans If You Could See Me Now · 1957 Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers with Thelonious Monk In Walked Bud · 1957 Max Roach Quintet It Don't Mean a Thing · 1957 Ella Fitzgerald Lush Life · 1957 Nina Simone Mood Indigo · 1957 Gerry Mulligan Quartet with Chet Baker Ornithology · 1957 Ella Fitzgerald with Duke Ellington Perdido · 1957 Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers with Thelonious Monk Rhythm-a-Ning · 1957 Thelonious Monk and Gerry Mulligan Rhythm-a-Ning · 1957 Thelonious Monk 'Round Midnight · 1957 Thelonious Monk Quartet Ruby, My Dear · 1957 Barney Kessel, Shelly Manne and Ray Brown Satin Doll · 1957 Phil Woods with Red Garland Scrapple from the Apple · 1957 Stan Getz and Gerry Mulligan Scrapple from the Apple · 1957 Phil Woods and Gene Quill Solar · 1957 Sonny Rollins Solitude · 1957 Duke Ellington Solitude · 1957 Clifford Jordan Sophisticated Lady · 1957 Wes Montgomery Straight, No Chaser · 1957 Ella Fitzgerald with Duke Ellington Take the "A" Train · 1957 Frank Wess, John Coltrane, Paul Quinichette Things Ain't What They Used to Be · 1957 Sonny Rollins Tune Up · 1957 Hank Mobley Tune Up · 1957 The Red Garland Quintet with John Coltrane Undecided · 1957 Jackie McLean Quartet What's New? · 1957 Bud Powell Trio Yardbird Suite · 1957 The Max Roach 4 Yardbird Suite · 1957 Mose Allison Trio Don't Get Around Much Anymore · 1958 Thelonious Monk Quartet with Johnny Griffin In Walked Bud · 1958 Sonny Rollins I've Found a New Baby · 1958 Oscar Peterson Trio Joy Spring · 1958 John Coltrane Lush Life · 1958 Sarah Vaughan Misty · 1958 Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers Moanin' · 1958 Benny Golson with Roger Guerin and Bobby Timmons Moanin' · 1958 Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers Moanin' · 1958 Cannonball Adderley Quintet Nardis · 1958 Bill Evans Trio Oleo · 1958 Miles Davis Straight, No Chaser · 1958 The Dave Brubeck Quartet Things Ain't What They Used to Be · 1958 Hampton Hawes Yardbird Suite · 1958 Lambert, Hendricks & Ross with Zoot Sims Airegin · 1959 Miles Davis All Blues · 1959 Miles Davis Blue in Green · 1959 Bill Evans Trio Blue in Green · 1959 Thelonious Monk Blue Monk · 1959 Duke Ellington C Jam Blues · 1959 Lambert, Hendricks & Ross with Zoot Sims Four · 1959 Miles Davis Freddie Freeloader · 1959 John Coltrane Giant Steps · 1959 John Coltrane Giant Steps · 1959 Yusef Lateef If You Could See Me Now · 1959 Miles Davis Impressions · 1959 Chet Baker Sextet Lady Bird · 1959 Erroll Garner Misty · 1959 Lambert, Hendricks & Ross Moanin' · 1959 John Coltrane Mr. P.C. · 1959 John Coltrane Naima · 1959 Lambert, Hendricks & Ross with Zoot Sims Now's the Time · 1959 The Red Garland Trio Perdido · 1959 Wes Montgomery and the Eddie Higgins Trio Prelude to a Kiss · 1959 Wes Montgomery Trio 'Round Midnight · 1959 Thelonious Monk Ruby, My Dear · 1959 Wes Montgomery and the Eddie Higgins Trio Ruby, My Dear · 1959 Sonny Stitt with the Oscar Peterson Trio Scrapple from the Apple · 1959 Miles Davis So What · 1959 Charles Mingus and His Jazz Groups Things Ain't What They Used to Be · 1959 John Coltrane Tune Up · 1959 Kenny Burrell Trio Well You Needn't · 1959
1960s
New albums bring new tunes from the players themselves. Herbie Hancock writes Watermelon Man to help sell his first album, Joe Henderson's debut carries Kenny Dorham's Blue Bossa and his own Recorda Me, and Lee Morgan records The Sidewinder in 1963. Wayne Shorter records Speak No Evil in 1964. Ellington meets Louis Armstrong in the studio in 1961.
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers A Night in Tunisia · 1960 Wes Montgomery Airegin · 1960 Oliver Nelson Doxy · 1960 John Coltrane Equinox · 1960 Art Farmer-Benny Golson Jazztet I Remember Clifford · 1960 The Modern Jazz Quartet I Remember Clifford · 1960 Tommy Flanagan Trio In a Sentimental Mood · 1960 Ella Fitzgerald Misty · 1960
143 more
Bobby Timmons Moanin' · 1960 Ella Fitzgerald with the Paul Smith Quartet Ornithology · 1960 Art Pepper Quintet Rhythm-a-Ning · 1960 Miles Davis Quintet So What · 1960 Gene Ammons Stompin' at the Savoy · 1960 Nat Adderley Work Song · 1960 Cannonball Adderley Quintet Work Song · 1960 Ella Fitzgerald A Night in Tunisia · 1961 Barry Harris Quintet Anthropology · 1961 Abbey Lincoln Blue Monk · 1961 Roland Kirk Quartet Blues for Alice · 1961 Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington C Jam Blues · 1961 Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington Don't Get Around Much Anymore · 1961 Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You · 1961 Oscar Peterson Trio I Remember Clifford · 1961 John Coltrane Impressions · 1961 The Johnny Griffin and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Quintet In Walked Bud · 1961 Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington It Don't Mean a Thing · 1961 Gary Burton Trio Joy Spring · 1961 Billy Strayhorn Lush Life · 1961 Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers Moanin' · 1961 Oscar Peterson Trio Moanin' · 1961 Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington Mood Indigo · 1961 Coleman Hawkins Moonglow · 1961 Lambert, Hendricks & Ross with the Ike Isaacs Trio Mr. P.C. · 1961 Bill Evans Trio Nardis · 1961 George Russell Sextet Nardis · 1961 Ella Fitzgerald Satin Doll · 1961 John Coltrane So What · 1961 Bill Evans Trio Solar · 1961 Sarah Vaughan Sophisticated Lady · 1961 Zoot Sims Quartet Stompin' at the Savoy · 1961 Bill Evans Trio Waltz for Debby · 1961 Cannonball Adderley with Bill Evans Waltz for Debby · 1961 The Cannonball Adderley Quintet Well You Needn't · 1961 The Red Garland Trio What's New? · 1961 Oscar Peterson Trio with Milt Jackson Work Song · 1961 Eddie Jefferson Billie's Bounce · 1962 Oscar Peterson Trio C Jam Blues · 1962 Duke Ellington with Charles Mingus and Max Roach Caravan · 1962 Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers Caravan · 1962 Sonny Rollins Doxy · 1962 The Bill Evans Trio If You Could See Me Now · 1962 Duke Ellington & John Coltrane In a Sentimental Mood · 1962 Larry Young I've Found a New Baby · 1962 Duke Ellington and Coleman Hawkins Mood Indigo · 1962 Sarah Vaughan Moonglow · 1962 John Coltrane Quartet Mr. P.C. · 1962 Oscar Peterson Trio Now's the Time · 1962 Sonny Rollins Oleo · 1962 Grant Green Oleo · 1962 Johnny Hodges Prelude to a Kiss · 1962 Thelonious Monk Quartet Rhythm-a-Ning · 1962 Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus and Max Roach Solitude · 1962 Dave Pike St. Thomas · 1962 The Oscar Peterson Trio Things Ain't What They Used to Be · 1962 Grant Green Tune Up · 1962 Oscar Peterson Trio Waltz for Debby · 1962 Herbie Hancock Watermelon Man · 1962 Mongo Santamaría Watermelon Man · 1962 Phineas Newborn Jr. Trio Well You Needn't · 1962 John Coltrane Quartet What's New? · 1962 Cannonball Adderley Sextet Work Song · 1962 Oscar Brown, Jr. All Blues · 1963 Dizzy Gillespie and Les Double Six Anthropology · 1963 Joe Henderson Blue Bossa · 1963 Sonny Stitt Confirmation · 1963 Wes Montgomery Trio Freddie Freeloader · 1963 Kenny Burrell Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You · 1963 John Coltrane Impressions · 1963 John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman Lush Life · 1963 Wes Montgomery Trio Moanin' · 1963 Charles Mingus Mood Indigo · 1963 John Coltrane Quartet Naima · 1963 Sonny Stitt Ornithology · 1963 Joe Henderson Quintet Recorda Me · 1963 Dexter Gordon Scrapple from the Apple · 1963 Lee Morgan The Sidewinder · 1963 Lambert, Hendricks & Bavan Watermelon Man · 1963 The Howard Roberts Quartet Watermelon Man · 1963 The Art Farmer Quartet featuring Jim Hall What's New? · 1963 Les McCann Ltd. Work Song · 1963 Miles Davis Quintet All Blues · 1964 Thelonious Monk Quartet Blue Monk · 1964 Jimmy Smith Bluesette · 1964 Herbie Hancock Cantaloupe Island · 1964 Donald Byrd Cantaloupe Island · 1964 Wes Montgomery with the Johnny Pate Orchestra Caravan · 1964 Miles Davis Quintet Four · 1964 Joe Pass Joy Spring · 1964 Archie Shepp Naima · 1964 Miles Davis Quintet So What · 1964 Horace Silver Quintet Song for My Father · 1964 Wayne Shorter Speak No Evil · 1964 Thelonious Monk Quartet Straight, No Chaser · 1964 Quincy Jones The Sidewinder · 1964 Monica Zetterlund with Bill Evans Trio Waltz for Debby · 1964 Cannonball Adderley Quintet with Ernie Andrews Work Song · 1964 Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington C Jam Blues · 1965 Jimmy Smith C Jam Blues · 1965 Herbie Hancock Dolphin Dance · 1965 Gerald Wilson Orchestra Freddie Freeloader · 1965 Wes Montgomery and the Wynton Kelly Trio If You Could See Me Now · 1965 Wes Montgomery with the Wynton Kelly Trio Impressions · 1965 Herbie Hancock Maiden Voyage · 1965 Wes Montgomery with the Wynton Kelly Trio Misty · 1965 Oscar Peterson Trio Misty · 1965 Richard "Groove" Holmes Misty · 1965 Miles Davis Quintet Oleo · 1965 Jimmy Smith Satin Doll · 1965 Horace Silver Quintet Song for My Father · 1965 Richard "Groove" Holmes Song for My Father · 1965 Thelonious Monk Quartet Well You Needn't · 1965 Wayne Shorter Footprints · 1966 Miles Davis Quintet Footprints · 1966 Ella Fitzgerald with Duke Ellington It Don't Mean a Thing · 1966 Bobby Hutcherson Maiden Voyage · 1966 John Coltrane Naima · 1966 Blossom Dearie Satin Doll · 1966 Tamiko Jones and Herbie Mann The Sidewinder · 1966 Illinois Jacquet with Milt Buckner and Alan Dawson Watermelon Man · 1966 Bill Evans Trio Airegin · 1967 Kenny Dorham Blue Bossa · 1967 Bill Evans Trio Blue in Green · 1967 Dexter Gordon Quartet Doxy · 1967 Miles Davis Quintet Footprints · 1967 Denny Zeitlin Maiden Voyage · 1967 Joe Henderson Sextet Nardis · 1967 Thelonious Monk Quartet Straight, No Chaser · 1967 The Dave Brubeck Quartet Take the "A" Train · 1967 Joe Henderson with the Wynton Kelly Trio Four · 1968 Thelonious Monk with Jon Hendricks In Walked Bud · 1968 Ramsey Lewis Maiden Voyage · 1968 Bill Evans Trio Nardis · 1968 Oscar Peterson Trio Satin Doll · 1968 Eddie Jefferson So What · 1968 Johnny "Hammond" Smith Song for My Father · 1968 George Benson Song for My Father · 1968 George Benson What's New? · 1968 Jean-Luc Ponty Cantaloupe Island · 1969 Dexter Gordon Lady Bird · 1969 Nancy Wilson Prelude to a Kiss · 1969 Ella Fitzgerald Things Ain't What They Used to Be · 1969
1970s
No tune on this page is written in the 1970s, and writers remake their own. Herbie Hancock turns Watermelon Man into a funk piece for Head Hunters in 1973. Others play older tunes in new settings: Joe Pass plays Solitude on guitar shortly after Ellington's death, Jaco Pastorius opens his debut album with Donna Lee on electric bass, and Dexter Gordon plays Billie's Bounce and Misty with a quartet in Copenhagen.
Ahmad Jamal Trio Dolphin Dance · 1970 Dexter Gordon If You Could See Me Now · 1970 Grant Green Maiden Voyage · 1970 Joe Henderson Quintet Recorda Me · 1970 Lee Morgan Quintet The Sidewinder · 1970 John McLaughlin Blue in Green · 1971 Hubert Laws Equinox · 1971 George Benson So What · 1971
60 more
Dexter Gordon Airegin · 1972 Pat Martino Footprints · 1972 McCoy Tyner Naima · 1972 Ben Webster - Dexter Gordon Quintet Perdido · 1972 Jim Hall and Ron Carter Prelude to a Kiss · 1972 Duke Ellington Satin Doll · 1972 Sonny Rollins with the Heikki Sarmanto Trio St. Thomas · 1972 Jim Hall / Ron Carter Duo St. Thomas · 1972 Ron Carter All Blues · 1973 Jackie McLean - Dexter Gordon Quintet Half Nelson · 1973 Joe Pass Lush Life · 1973 Joe Pass Now's the Time · 1973 Herb Ellis and Joe Pass Perdido · 1973 Herbie Hancock Watermelon Man · 1973 Charles Mingus C Jam Blues · 1974 Herbie Hancock Cantaloupe Island · 1974 Herbie Hancock Dolphin Dance · 1974 Anthony Braxton Donna Lee · 1974 Dave Brubeck and Lee Konitz Don't Get Around Much Anymore · 1974 Anthony Braxton Half Nelson · 1974 Pat Martino Impressions · 1974 Herbie Hancock Maiden Voyage · 1974 Bill Evans Trio So What · 1974 Joe Pass Solitude · 1974 Joe Pass Sophisticated Lady · 1974 Dexter Gordon Quartet Billie's Bounce · 1975 Mark Murphy Cantaloupe Island · 1975 Jaco Pastorius Donna Lee · 1975 Dexter Gordon Quartet Freddie Freeloader · 1975 Barry Harris If You Could See Me Now · 1975 McCoy Tyner Impressions · 1975 Kenny Burrell It Don't Mean a Thing · 1975 Dexter Gordon Quartet Misty · 1975 Milt Jackson, Joe Pass and Ray Brown Moonglow · 1975 Jim Hall Scrapple from the Apple · 1975 Dexter Gordon Quartet Tenor Madness · 1975 Tony Bennett and Bill Evans Waltz for Debby · 1975 Dexter Gordon Quartet Blue Bossa · 1976 Pat Martino Blue Bossa · 1976 Herbie Hancock Cantaloupe Island · 1976 Grover Washington Jr. Dolphin Dance · 1976 Pat Martino I Remember Clifford · 1976 Herbie Hancock Maiden Voyage · 1976 Archie Shepp Trio Solitude · 1976 The Great Jazz Trio All Blues · 1977 Tommy Flanagan Trio Blue Bossa · 1977 Al Haig Trio Blues for Alice · 1977 Bill Evans Trio Dolphin Dance · 1977 Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock and Tony Williams Dolphin Dance · 1977 Bill Evans Freddie Freeloader · 1977 McCoy Tyner Lush Life · 1977 Doug Raney Quartet Mr. P.C. · 1977 Art Pepper Blue Bossa · 1978 Mel Tormé and Buddy Rich Bluesette · 1978 Oscar Peterson Donna Lee · 1978 Joe Henderson Quartet Recorda Me · 1978 Dexter Gordon Quartet Ruby, My Dear · 1978 Kenny Burrell Trio Work Song · 1978 Art Pepper Anthropology · 1979 Max Roach and Archie Shepp Giant Steps · 1979
1980s
Players from the first records return to the tunes. Tommy Flanagan, who played on Coltrane's 1959 record, makes a trio album named after Giant Steps in 1982, and Hancock plays Cantaloupe Island again in 1985 with Freddie Hubbard, Ron Carter and Tony Williams, his players of 1964. Singers add words: Carmen McRae gives Monk's tunes new titles in 1988, and the Manhattan Transfer sing Jon Hendricks's words to Airegin.
Archie Shepp & Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen Blues for Alice · 1980 Ray Bryant Trio In Walked Bud · 1980 Bill Evans Trio Nardis · 1980 Milt Jackson Quartet Take the "A" Train · 1980 Tete Montoliu Trio Tune Up · 1980 Emily Remler In a Sentimental Mood · 1981 Freddie Hubbard Joy Spring · 1981 Chick Corea, Miroslav Vitous and Roy Haynes Rhythm-a-Ning · 1981
34 more
Mark Murphy St. Thomas · 1981 Massimo Urbani Tenor Madness · 1981 Tommy Flanagan Giant Steps · 1982 Tommy Flanagan Trio Mr. P.C. · 1982 Tommy Flanagan Naima · 1982 Jimmy Raney and Doug Raney Nardis · 1983 Kirk Lightsey Trio Speak No Evil · 1983 Tommy Flanagan, Ron Carter and Tony Williams St. Thomas · 1983 Kenny Barron Trio Straight, No Chaser · 1983 Joe Pass Bluesette · 1984 Emily Remler Tenor Madness · 1984 Cassandra Wilson Blue in Green · 1985 Herbie Hancock Cantaloupe Island · 1985 Ahmad Jamal Footprints · 1985 Dexter Gordon 'Round Midnight · 1985 Peter Leitch Speak No Evil · 1985 Keith Jarrett Trio Billie's Bounce · 1986 Fred Hersch with Charlie Haden and Joey Baron Blue in Green · 1986 Wynton Marsalis Caravan · 1986 Boulou Ferré Confirmation · 1986 Sonny Rollins Tenor Madness · 1986 Charlie Haden Quartet West Blue in Green · 1988 Carmen McRae Blue Monk · 1988 Doug Raney Quartet Dolphin Dance · 1988 Branford Marsalis Doxy · 1988 Carmen McRae Rhythm-a-Ning · 1988 Carmen McRae 'Round Midnight · 1988 Carmen McRae Ruby, My Dear · 1988 Carmen McRae Straight, No Chaser · 1988 Carmen McRae Well You Needn't · 1988 Frank Morgan Quartet Yardbird Suite · 1988 Harry Connick Jr. Don't Get Around Much Anymore · 1989 Keith Jarrett Trio Solar · 1989 Pat Metheny with Dave Holland and Roy Haynes Solar · 1989
1990s
Tribute albums gather one writer's songs. Joe Henderson plays Billy Strayhorn's songs in 1991, Dee Dee Bridgewater sings Ellington's in 1996, and Horace Silver records Song for My Father again in 1993 with a large band. The tunes also reach other sounds: Us3 builds a hip-hop single on Hancock's 1964 Cantaloupe Island, and Gil Scott-Heron records Equinox.
Stéphane Grappelli and McCoy Tyner Mr. P.C. · 1990 Keith Jarrett Trio Things Ain't What They Used to Be · 1990 Lee Konitz featuring Barry Harris Anthropology · 1991 Joe Henderson Trio Blue Bossa · 1991 Hank Jones Bluesette · 1991 Gonzalo Rubalcaba Giant Steps · 1991 Stan Getz and Kenny Barron I Remember Clifford · 1991 Joe Henderson Lush Life · 1991
37 more
McCoy Tyner Quartet Recorda Me · 1991 Art Farmer Quartet Recorda Me · 1991 Joe Henderson Take the "A" Train · 1991 Biréli Lagrène Ornithology · 1992 Herbie Hancock Quintet So What · 1992 GRP All-Star Big Band The Sidewinder · 1992 Louis Smith Quintet Blues for Alice · 1993 Gil Scott-Heron Equinox · 1993 Elvin Jones It Don't Mean a Thing · 1993 Horace Silver Orchestra Song for My Father · 1993 John McLaughlin Waltz for Debby · 1993 Mark Whitfield Blues for Alice · 1994 Helen Merrill Joy Spring · 1994 Tony Bennett with k.d. lang Moonglow · 1994 Dee Dee Bridgewater Song for My Father · 1994 Benny Golson Funky Quintet The Sidewinder · 1994 Diana Krall Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You · 1995 Jack Nimitz Quartet Half Nelson · 1995 McCoy Tyner Trio featuring Michael Brecker Impressions · 1995 Kenny Burrell Satin Doll · 1995 Poncho Sanchez with Mongo Santamaría Watermelon Man · 1995 Ray Brown Trio Freddie Freeloader · 1996 Frank Morgan Half Nelson · 1996 The Derek Trucks Band Mr. P.C. · 1996 Joe Henderson Big Band Recorda Me · 1996 Esbjörn Svensson Trio Rhythm-a-Ning · 1996 Jackie McLean and Junko Onishi Solar · 1996 Fred Hersch and Bill Frisell Blue Monk · 1997 Lee Konitz and Rich Perry Half Nelson · 1997 World Saxophone Quartet featuring Jack DeJohnette All Blues · 1998 McCoy Tyner and the Latin All-Stars Blue Bossa · 1998 Keith Jarrett Trio Doxy · 1998 Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette Scrapple from the Apple · 1998 Pat Metheny Trio Giant Steps · 1999 Joe Lovano Nonet If You Could See Me Now · 1999 Tierney Sutton Recorda Me · 1999 Brad Mehldau Trio Solar · 1999
2000s
Tributes and returns fill the decade. Wayne Shorter plays Footprints live in 2001 with his working quartet, about 35 years after the first recording. Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker and Roy Hargrove join So What and Impressions into one piece at Massey Hall, and Roy Haynes, who drummed with Parker, leads a Parker tribute.
Pat Martino All Blues · 2000 Dianne Reeves Lullaby of Birdland · 2000 Karrin Allyson Naima · 2000 David Hazeltine Trio Song for My Father · 2000 Wayne Shorter Quartet Footprints · 2001 Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette Four · 2001 Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker & Roy Hargrove Impressions · 2001 Michael Brecker Naima · 2001
19 more
Roy Haynes Now's the Time · 2001 George Coleman, Jimmy Cobb, Mike Stern, Ron Carter Freddie Freeloader · 2002 Robert Glasper Trio Maiden Voyage · 2002 Jacky Terrasson Nardis · 2002 Helge Lien Trio Speak No Evil · 2002 Anthony Braxton Quartet Blues for Alice · 2003 Phil Woods and the Los Angeles Jazz Orchestra Anthropology · 2004 Karrin Allyson Footprints · 2005 McCoy Tyner with John Scofield Mr. P.C. · 2006 Dave Liebman and Joe Lovano Equinox · 2007 Sonny Rollins In a Sentimental Mood · 2007 Stephen Riley Tune Up · 2007 Chick Corea and Gary Burton Waltz for Debby · 2007 Peter Bernstein Quartet Four · 2008 Biréli Lagrène Gipsy Trio Lullaby of Birdland · 2008 Bobby Broom, Dennis Carroll and Kobie Watkins In Walked Bud · 2009 Lee Konitz, Brad Mehldau, Charlie Haden, Paul Motian Oleo · 2009 Bobby Broom Trio Rhythm-a-Ning · 2009 Lee Konitz, Brad Mehldau, Charlie Haden and Paul Motian Solar · 2009
2010s
The tunes are taken apart and rebuilt. Joey Alexander records Giant Steps for his first album in 2014 and plays Straight, No Chaser in 2017, Monk's hundredth birthday year, and Camille Bertault sings French words she wrote to Coltrane's solo. Joshua Redman and Brad Mehldau play Ornithology as a duo, and the WDR Big Band plays Speak No Evil.
John Pizzarelli C Jam Blues · 2010 Joe Lovano Us Five Yardbird Suite · 2010 Brad Mehldau Trio Airegin · 2011 Kenny Barron & Mulgrew Miller Joy Spring · 2011 Joshua Redman and Brad Mehldau Ornithology · 2011 Michel Camilo The Sidewinder · 2011 Kazumi Watanabe The Sidewinder · 2011 Gregory Porter Work Song · 2011
17 more
Chick Corea Trio Blue Monk · 2013 Joey Alexander Giant Steps · 2014 Kenny Barron and Dave Holland In Walked Bud · 2014 Denny Zeitlin Speak No Evil · 2014 Jack DeJohnette, Ravi Coltrane and Matthew Garrison Blue in Green · 2015 Branford Marsalis Quartet with Kurt Elling Doxy · 2015 SFJAZZ Collective All Blues · 2016 Ethan Iverson Confirmation · 2016 WDR Big Band Speak No Evil · 2016 Antonio Adolfo Speak No Evil · 2016 Camille Bertault Giant Steps · 2017 Vanessa Rubin Lady Bird · 2017 Joey Alexander Straight, No Chaser · 2017 Chris Greene Quartet Speak No Evil · 2018 Stephen Riley St. Thomas · 2018 Lionel Loueke Cantaloupe Island · 2019 Brian Landrus and Fred Hersch Ruby, My Dear · 2019
2020s
Anniversaries and prizes bring the tunes back. Emmet Cohen records Well You Needn't for an album marking the 2026 centennials of Miles Davis and John Coltrane, Bobby Broom's trio plays Doxy on a Sonny Rollins tribute, and Esperanza Spalding and Robert Glasper play Watermelon Man where Hancock receives the Polar Music Prize. Ezra Collective's Footprints moves between post-bop, funk, hip-hop and Afrobeat.
Ezra Collective Footprints · 2020 Gustav Lundgren, Jorge Rossy & Doug Weiss Recorda Me · 2020 Joel Ross Equinox · 2022 Bobby Broom Trio Doxy · 2025 Esperanza Spalding and Robert Glasper Watermelon Man · 2025 Emmet Cohen feat. Ron Carter, Jeremy Pelt and Joe Farnsworth Well You Needn't · 2025 WDR Big Band, Bob Mintzer Dolphin Dance · 2026

Through the years

The tunes