Top 10 Jazz Cuts (Black Music Month)

Confession: I planned this to be a top 5. I tried to contain myself, but I couldn't.
We didn't listen to much "the Blues growing up. We listened to mainstream Blues artists like, B.B. King. In my grandparents' home, we listened to a lot of Jazz. Jazz was the trendy music in their younger days. My grandmother thinks Billy Eckstein is the best artist ever. Eckstein is her music measuring stick. The only current singer that is on his level to her is John Legend.

My grandfather liked to dance. In his mind, he could've danced on the "Jitterbug Break" episode of The Cosby Show. His dancing looked a lot like Cliff's style. LoL And I still listen to Jazz, old & current, instrumental to vocals. Jazz has seductive power that can't be rivaled.

10. Gonna Be Alright by Robert Glasper Experiment(ft. Ledisi)
The words & melody makes me feel light & loving. There are some guys who have smiles that have turned my day around. Oh, & it was more than Ok.

9. Love Don't Love Nobody by Kim Waters (ft. Larry "Jazz" Anthony of Dru Hill) 
This was the first song I heard from Jazz, away from Dru Hill. His voice with the notes from Water's sax blends a timeless lesson, we all must learn. And it takes fool not to understand.

Big Maybelle

8. Street Life by The Crusaders
Randy Crawford leads a song written by Joe Sample & Wilton Felder. Are we shocked it became a hit?

7. My Only by Wayman Tisdale(ft. Lalah Hathaway)
Dear Future Guys I Will Date,
Like the words of Mickey from BAPS, "Don't Play Unless You Mean It". This is a perfect proposal song. Another good blend of vocals & saxophone. Wayman Tisdale was a wise man collaborating with one of my favorites.

Nancy Wilson

6. Moody's Mood for Love by James Moody
If you hate this classic, you kick puppies, also. You also take candy from children and eat it in their faces. It's the quintessential Jazz classic. James Moody said he was in the mood for love and this song is how he was going to show it.

5. Septembro by Quincy Jazz
Been in love with the "Brazilian Wedding song, since I heard it in the movie, Boyz in the Hood. My sister, A & I fight over this song. Who is going to have this song at their wedding? I'm walking down the aisle to this song. At minute 3:46, the doors will open and I will process to my one & only.

4. Candy by Big Maybelle.
I shut my "woke" mind up to enjoy this lovely ditty. I mean it is a plus-size lady boldly singing out about confections. That's how good he is to her. We all deserve a Candy. Men & Women need a treat like that.

3. Guess You're Not the One by George Duke
Fact: It takes an average of 17 months and 26 days to get over an ex. And one should play this song by my favorite Jazz musician. By the time the song gets to "Oh, I know you're not the one for me", bolt electricity hits you and you're singing out your soul. Oh also a bonus, the most of words are in the title.

Randy Crawford
&
Joe Sample

2. Guess Who I Saw Today by Nancy Wilson
When Jazz Mother Wilson leaves this world, I will have been singing this song in sackcloth and ashes. Her voice melodically tells the story of a person talking about their lunch. When you will not have lunch the same.

1. In a Sentimental Mood by Phyllis Hyman(from Sophisticated Ladies)
This is a panty dropper. I don't know if the composer, Duke Ellington thought I would call it that generations later. But when Phyllis Hyman(one of my top 5 all-time singers) sung this Sophisticated Ladies, somebody got lucky that night. Here are part of this lyrics, On the wings of every kiss, Drifts a melody so strange and sweet. People are getting high off of them smooching each other and hear music every time. In even has been featured in the movie, Love Jones and the show, Girlfriends. Your current favorite has not written or performed a song so deep, melodic, & timeline like "In a Sentimental Mood"

Honorable Mention is Roy Ayers' Everybody Loves the Sunshine. What? It's so cool, it's featured in Grand Theft Auto.

Phyllis Hyman

This list seems so unfinished. It's so many other jazz cuts I could talk about. Who did I miss? Tell me in the comments.

As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!