Image Credit: Geneva O’Hara

I’ve always been a believer of the sentiment that jazz music is the greatest thing there is, perhaps accompanied by falling in love or dancing in the rain. This article is a guide to the perfect soundtrack of my favourite renditions of standards from Brazil to France, and Sinatra to Simone. These tracks are perfect for a slow-dance, a glass half-full, and an evening where anything goes.

0. Honorary mention: ‘Les Yeux Ouverts’ by Enzo Enzo

All of the performances on this list are American, either North or South; however, French jazz is also a passion of mine, and ‘Les Yeux Ouverts’ is a standard that balances classic French musical motifs with modern production. This version, released by Enzo Enzo in 1990, is the French adaptation of the standard ‘Dream a Little Dream of Me,’ originally recorded by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra in 1931. This modern French classic is the ideal soundtrack to the morning’s first glance out the window into the day ahead, paired with a cup of coffee and someone you love.

1. ‘Girl from Ipanema’ by João Gilberto, Stan Getz, Antonio Carlos Jobim & Astrud Gilberto

‘Girl From Ipanema’ is a Brazilian bossa nova classic, written by prolific composers Stan Getz, João Gilberto and Antonio Carlos Jobim, including a verse by Gilberto’s wife Astrud in 1964. This recording is my favourite for several reasons, one being that I am simply a fan of Jobim and tend to find his recordings the greatest; however, there are two more reasons why I prefer this performance. The 1960s were a tumultuous period for Brazil, and the media was often censored. The bossa nova movement was seen by many as a rebellion against this censorship and political instability, and though ‘Girl From Ipanema’ is not itself a political song, it belongs to a broader coalition of progress and protest. 

Astrud Gilberto was chosen for the English verses because she spoke the best English of the four, and her vocals are part of what brings the song to life. It also includes a verse in Portuguese, sung by Jobim, further emphasising the national identity. 

For a more technical analysis, it is of note that this original recording is in the key of D-flat major, while later recordings – particularly made in the US, such as Frank Sinatra’s collaboration with Jobim in 1967 – were recorded in F major. This change is represented in the official Berklee College of Music ‘Real Book,’ a book of jazz charts, the justification being that the latter key  is easier to play in; however, as this change spread further into more Americanised versions of the standard, it became notorious for being less authentic and even ‘dumbed down,’ as a user on a jazz music forum quipped. This version by Getz, Jobim, and Gilberto is my favourite not only because it is the original, but because it is the most authentic to both the songwriting and time period, and the most technically complex. 

Most of my knowledge on the history of ‘Girl from Ipanema’ I learned in this video essay, which is a very interesting watch!

2. ‘Lady Be Good’ by Sheila Jordan

Sheila Jordan is a jazz musician I am a recent fan of, and as soon as I heard the first lilt from her live album, Thank you, Sheila! recorded in New York City in 2018, I regretted not discovering her much sooner. Jordan was a jazz great, with her first album released in 1963, and she died earlier this year on 11 August. It was her obituary in The New York Times, which celebrates her life and extraordinary talent, that inspired me to dive into her lengthy discography. ‘Lady Be Good’ is just one example of Jordan’s carefree and eccentric, yet smooth and sultry vocals, set against a beautiful trio backdrop. Simply listening to this track transports one into a seat in a dimly-lit jazz club, half-sipped glass in hand. Along with an improvised homage to Ella Fitzgerald as the outro, which was met with energetic applause, Jordan’s bold performance and effortless voice remind one to say to oneself: This is why I love jazz.

3. ‘Don’t Ever Go Away’ by Frank Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim

This track, one of the many wonderful collaborations between Frank Sinatra and Antonio Carlos Jobim, is my favourite song by Frank Sinatra – and, as any fan of Sinatra knows, there is fierce competition. The Sinatra and Jobim names speak for themselves, but it is a piece like ‘Don’t Ever Go Away’ that captivates body and soul, enveloping the listener in affectionate nostalgia and wonder. This song combines the sentimental instrumentals and velvety vocals that are hallmarked as Sinatra’s iconic sound, slowing the tempo while seizing the heart. ‘Don’t Ever Go Away’ is the kind of song that is best felt, rather than described – and I can’t recommend a moonlit listen enough. 

4. ‘Crazy He Calls Me’ by Billie Holiday

‘Crazy He Calls Me’ by Billie Holiday is a favourite of mine because it was the first standard I ever learned to sing. Holiday’s whimsical yet wistful performance of a melody reminiscent of a slinky dancing down the stairs is what perfects this standard, and makes it  impossible to match. Leaning back on a chaise longue and dreaming of the best parts of life and love, Billie Holiday’s ‘Crazy He Calls Me’ is the perfect accompaniment to a warm afternoon peeling an orange with the intent of sharing half.

5. ‘July Tree’ by Nina Simone

Nina Simone’s warm, deep vocals and particular diction are what stand out in this performance of ‘July Tree.’ Famous for tracks such as ‘Feeling Good’ and ‘I Put a Spell On You,’ Simone strays from her beloved moody anthems to take her time and pull from mid-century pop influences to create a simple-seeming ballad – yet it’s anything but simple. The instrumental phrases behind Simone’s vocals remind one to look after the lemon tree that grows in their subconscious, sitting beneath the shade and watching it grow. It is the instrumental arrangement and, as with any of her performances, Nina Simone’s incredible vocals that make this rendition of ‘July Tree’ so special.