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Swing when you sing! The Great American Songbook is at the heart of jazz; largely formed from popular songs of musical theatre and Tin Pan Alley of the first half of the 20th century, these songs were widely known and loved. This gave jazz musicians the perfect catalogue of music to play, improvise on, and jam together – everybody knew them, and the music was memorable and sophisticated. Although there is no definitively agreed upon list of songs that form the songbook, there is a broadly agreed core of at least several hundred songs, from key composers such as George & Ira Gershwin, Rodgers & Hart, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Harold Arlen, and Jerome Kern.
The songs quickly became ‘standards’ – something that all good jazzers could be expected to know – and many singers such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan and Frank Sinatra returned to them throughout their careers. Songs such as “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye”, “Lover Man”, and “Fly Me To The Moon” became their calling cards.
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Today’s generation of singers also draw upon the Great American Songbook, and artists such as Samara Joy, Stella Cole, and Diana Krall show just how much audiences still love to hear them
But the songbook isn’t just for singers. Instrumentalists from Duke Ellington to John Coltrane, and Bill Evans to Sun Ra (and many more) have found plenty of creative avenues within the songbook. Titles such as “Autumn Leaves”, “Body and Soul” and “If I Were A Bell” are just a few of the songs that feature on classic albums by Cannonball Adderley, Coleman Hawkins, and Miles Davis.
Browse through our collection of stories, albums and images to get better acquainted with songs that form the bedrock of jazz.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK
Discover some of our favourite albums that feature songs from the Great American songbook in our curated collection.
STORIES
SAMARA JOY: A ROYAL DATE FOR THE QUEEN OF JAZZ
As Samara Joy embarks on another huge world tour, she has a very special date in her sights – London’s Royal Albert Hall. Her set will celebrate the Great American Songbook – an essential collection of material from Broadway and beyond which forms the foundation of most jazz musician’s repertoire. She tells EJ about some of her favourites.
WHAT IS THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK?
The Great American Songbook contains hundreds of songs, written over many years, and is essential learning for jazz musicians of all stripes, but where to start? Let us guide you through the essentials – from Ella Fitzgerald to John Coltrane.
ICONS OF SONG
Many of jazz’s most beloved singers had a special relationship with the Great American Songbook and became entwined with specific songs over their whole careers; learn more about singers who made these songs their own.
ELLA FITZGERALD’S MOMENT OF TRUTH
In 1967 Ella Fitzgerald was in the middle of a 3 year tour with Duke Ellington. Thanks to newly unearthed tapes from the personal collection of Norman Granz, fans of Ella can now hear it.
THE DIVINE ONE – THE STORY OF SARAH VAUGHAN
‘Sassy’, ‘Divine’ or downright superb, Sarah Vaughan’s artistry is adored by singers and instrumentalists in equal measure. We celebrate 100 years since her birth.
THE LIFE, LOVES AND ARTISTRY OF ‘QUEEN OF THE BLUES’ DINAH WASHINGTON
Dinah Washington was one of the most distinctive voices of the 20th century, comparable to Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. Despite her tragically short life, her career was prolific and star studded. We explore what made the life and music of this gifted jazz singer so great.
THE SOUL OF MISS SIMONE
Ninety years after her birth, Jeffrey Boakye reassesses Nina Simone’s musical and cultural legacy.
IN CONVERSATION WITH… SAMARA JOY
When Jumoké Fashola sat down for a chat with vocal superstar Samara Joy at this year’s EFG London Jazz Festival, she knew the audience was in for a treat, but could she also get an invitation to be Samara’s +1 at the Grammys? Read on to find out…
FRANK SINATRA’S BEST COLLABORATIONS
Frank Sinatra was a true musical giant who helped to define popular song, from his emergence in the late 1930s, up to his death in 1995. But, along the way, he had help from a pantheon of major musical artists.
LOUIS ARMSTRONG – FOR THE FANS
Louis Armstrong was a jazz superstar, an activist and also an archivist; for years he amassed a huge collection of memorabilia which charted his trailblazing life. Amongst his possessions a tape deck which would prove to be highly significant in the creation of his latest album.
THE SONGBOOK STANDARDS
While the songbook itself is decades old, it continues to form the backbone of much of today’s jazz, learn more about it’s role in the wider world of jazz.
THE EVOLUTION OF THE JAZZ STANDARD
For all the evolutions and revolutions in the history of jazz, artists have also continued to take forward the tradition of the jazz standard. We’ve rounded up some of the most enduring standards on record.
TO STANDARD, OR NOT TO STANDARD
In the 21st century, why is anyone still playing jazz standards? For many musicians, it’s not what you play, it’s how you play it.
NORMAN GRANZ – THE VERVE FOUNDER WHO FOUGHT RACISM WITH JAZZ
Norman Granz (1918-2001), founder of Verve Records, was a maverick—a pivotal figure in the history of jazz whose uncompromising stance on racial equality, deep relationships with legendary artists like Ella Fitzgerald, and passionate love for art made him both revered and feared in equal measure. We catch up with his biographer, jazz archivist Tad Hershorn.
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