Pour something with an olive in it and dim the lights. This jazz playlist moves through 50 classics from Dave Brubeck, Miles Davis, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Prima and more, starting cool and finishing in full swing.
Use the opening third for drinks receptions and dinners, then let the big band section get people jiving before soul jazz and modern grooves round things off.
The Full Tracklist
Cocktail hour cool
- Take Five - The Dave Brubeck Quartet (1959)
- Fly Me to the Moon - Frank Sinatra (1964)
- Feeling Good - Nina Simone (1965)
- So What - Miles Davis (1959)
- The Girl from Ipanema - Stan Getz & João Gilberto ft. Astrud Gilberto (1964)
- Misty - Erroll Garner (1954)
- Cry Me a River - Julie London (1955)
- Dream a Little Dream of Me - Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong (1950)
- Autumn Leaves - Cannonball Adderley (1958)
- Unforgettable - Nat King Cole (1951)
- My Baby Just Cares for Me - Nina Simone (1958)
- Lullaby of Birdland - Sarah Vaughan (1954)
- Moanin' - Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers (1958)
- Don't Know Why - Norah Jones (2001)
- 'Round Midnight - Thelonious Monk (1947)
- My Favorite Things - John Coltrane (1961)
- At Last - Etta James (1960)
Swing and big band
- Sing, Sing, Sing - Benny Goodman (1937)
- In the Mood - Glenn Miller (1939)
- Take the "A" Train - Duke Ellington (1941)
- Minnie the Moocher - Cab Calloway (1931)
- Jump, Jive An' Wail - Louis Prima (1956)
- Bei Mir Bist Du Schön - The Andrews Sisters (1937)
- It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) - Duke Ellington (1932)
- Mack the Knife - Bobby Darin (1959)
- Hello, Dolly! - Louis Armstrong (1964)
- Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy - The Andrews Sisters (1941)
- I've Got You Under My Skin - Frank Sinatra (1956)
- Sway - Dean Martin (1954)
- Fever - Peggy Lee (1958)
- Hit the Road Jack - Ray Charles (1961)
- Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody - Louis Prima (1956)
- Beyond the Sea - Bobby Darin (1959)
- Ain't That a Kick in the Head - Dean Martin (1960)
Soul jazz and modern grooves
- Watermelon Man - Herbie Hancock (1962)
- The Sidewinder - Lee Morgan (1964)
- Song for My Father - Horace Silver (1965)
- Mas Que Nada - Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66 (1966)
- Cantaloupe Island - Herbie Hancock (1964)
- What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong (1967)
- Georgia on My Mind - Ray Charles (1960)
- L-O-V-E - Nat King Cole (1964)
- Spain - Chick Corea (1973)
- Birdland - Weather Report (1977)
- Chameleon - Herbie Hancock (1973)
- The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra (1964)
- Come Away with Me - Norah Jones (2001)
- Liquid Spirit - Gregory Porter (2013)
- Cheek to Cheek - Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong (1956)
- Strange Fruit - Billie Holiday (1939)
Why these songs work
Jazz is the most flexible soundtrack an event planner can have. It sits politely under conversation at the start of the evening and becomes dance music the moment Benny Goodman's drums kick in.
Swing dancing is having a moment again, so Sing, Sing, Sing and Jump, Jive An' Wail are as likely to fill a floor as any pop hit.
We've blended the giants with a few modern names such as Norah Jones and Gregory Porter, so the list feels timeless rather than dusty.
Bring this playlist to life at a silent disco
Use the channels to shape the evening:
- Red: this jazz list for a smooth start that builds.
- Blue: our cocktail hour playlist for relaxed pop covers.
- Green: our dinner party playlist for soul around the table.
Planning a gala, wedding or speakeasy night in South Wales or West Wales? Full Service handles it all. DIY kits suit smaller gatherings anywhere on the UK mainland and in Northern Ireland. Book your jazz evening.
Frequently Asked Questions
What jazz songs work best at a drinks reception?
Take Five, Fly Me to the Moon, Feeling Good and The Girl from Ipanema create an instant cocktail bar feel.
How many songs are on the jazz playlist?
50, enough to soundtrack a long reception and dinner.
Can you dance to this jazz playlist?
Yes. The middle section is pure swing, so it's ideal for a 1920s, Gatsby or swing dance theme.
Is it free to listen?
Yes. Our jazz selection is on Spotify, where you can listen at no charge. Search V360 Silent Disco and follow the jazz playlist.
Can I use jazz at a silent disco?
Of course. A jazz channel next to pop and dance channels gives older guests a favourite of their own.
More free playlists
- Cocktail Hour Playlist
- Dinner Party Playlist
- Wedding Dinner Playlist
- Chill Playlist
- All our free playlists
Previous playlist: Reggae Playlist | Next playlist: Rock Anthems Playlist
Hire silent disco headphones
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