What is a Jazz standard?

Jazz standards are a pretty important part of the genre - but what is a jazz standard? And what makes a particular song a jazz standard? This video unpacks both those questions and a bunch of other stuff you didn't ask for.

I'm Tim Beau Bennett, and I'm making videos about jazz history. Sometimes I talk about jazz musicians, sometimes the songs, and sometimes about genres. I play jazz guitar, though I would call myself a keen amateur, rather than a professional. These videos are a work in progress, but there are many more to come - so please subscribe and let me know what you'd like to see in the comments!

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Adam Neely's video on The Real Book:

[DavidBennettPiano]

I would say that songs do become jazz standards today when modern jazz artists cover them a lot but that it would be misleading to call them “jazz standards” as that term now has a historical connotation to it.

I think tunes like Bacharach’s “Close To You”, Stevie Wonder’s “You are the sunshine” or even “Billie Jean” could be considered standards from a practical point of view.

[locked]

I think that jazz standrards should be what jazz musicians usually jam to. Like Strasbourg should definitely be considered a jazz standard, aswell as the others you mention. Great vid!

[josevalenzuela]

Them Changes by Thundercat could be considered as a jazz standard

[hansramirez]

here before a thousand subs. great work

[JohnnyJohnathan]

Great content!!!! You should do a video in how the standards grow or decrease in popularity in certain epochs of jazz history, like when everybody's was recording All the things, but know people would think its almost corny if you record it.

[Aadi_sreekumar]

Amazing video, very well produced and super informative!

[guitarttimman]

improvisation is harder to master. What if you forget the tab? Or your spot of tea?

[muhammadryan]

Very informative. Thanks, buddy. Have a nice day (or evening depending on when you read this).

[maximbelmont]

Russell Gunn rendition of Carl Thomas R&B classic I Wish could have been a new standard if he was sign to a major label.