How to Incorporate Jazz Music into Your Wedding

As an experienced wedding DJ, I’ve assembled a list of jazz wedding songs. Songs are selected by the song’s meaning and popular hits by today’s couples.

When you think of jazz, do your toes start tapping? Are you thinking of cocktail tables, black ties, and martinis? You must have a jazz playlist if your wedding includes a cocktail hour. Jazz spans many different styles of music such as Swing, Big Band, Bossa Nova, Contemporary, and much more.

best jazz songs

Quick Tips

When picking out jazz songs for your wedding, you must consider the following 3 factors:

1. What is the tempo of the song to determine the vibe?
2. What is the desired theme – classy, upbeat (not a snoozefest)?
3. What moment of the wedding ceremony or reception will the song play?

New Jazz Songs to Know

  • Good Luck, Babe! – Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox & Tatum Langley

Song Ideas by Genre and Vibe

Classic Jazz Standards & Vocals

These are legendary songs that most people will know no matter their age.

  • A Sunday Kind Of Love – Etta James
  • At Last – Etta James
  • Cheek To Cheek – Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga
  • Come Fly with Me – Frank Sinatra
  • Come Rain Or Come Shine – Ray Charles
  • Dream A Little Dream Of Me – Fitzgerald, Armstrong
  • Feeling Good – Nina Simone
  • Fly Me To The Moon – Frank Sinatra, Count Basie
  • Give Me A Kiss To Build A Dream On – Louis Armstrong
  • I Get A Kick Out Of You – Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga
  • I’ve Got A Crush On You – Ella Fitzgerald
  • In the Mood – Glenn Miller and His Orchestra
  • Just the Two of Us – Bill Withers & Grover Washington, Jr.
  • L-O-V-E – Nat King Cole
  • Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall In Love) – Armstrong, Fitzgerald
  • Love Is Here To Stay – Tony Bennett, Diana Krall
  • My One and Only Love – John Coltrane, J. Hartman
  • My Way – Frank Sinatra
  • Smile – Nat “King” Cole
  • Something’s Got A Hold On Me – Etta James
  • That’s Amore – Dean Martin
  • The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra
  • Theme From New York, New York – Frank Sinatra
  • There Is No Greater Love – Chet Baker
  • Unforgettable – Nat “King” Cole, Natalie Cole
  • What A Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
  • When I Fall In Love – Nat “King” Cole
  • Who Loves You? – Billie Holiday, Teddy Wilson
  • You Stepped Out Of A Dream – Sarah Vaughan

Smooth Jazz & Contemporary Jazz

A list of songs to play that will set a tone for fun or romance while being played as background music.

Upbeat Tempo

  • Champagne of My Life – Peet Project
  • I Like the Way You Move – Bill McGee
  • Let’s Face The Music And Dance – Jeff Goldblum & the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra feat. Sharon Van Etten
  • Lov-Lov-Love – Mario Biondi, Incognito
  • Lovefool – Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox
  • Lovely Day – José James
  • My Baby Just Cares For Me – Jeff Goldblum
  • Never Quit Loving You – Jill Barber
  • Rise – Herb Alpert
  • So in Love – Art Sherrod Jr
  • Soulful Strut – Grover Washington, Jr.
  • That’s Enough – Janelle Monáe

Slow Tempo

  • A Song for You – Herbie Hancock feat. Christina Aguilera
  • All I Want Is You – Boney James feat. October London
  • Best Part – RJC (Rhythm & Jazz Coalition)
  • Better Than I Imagined – Robert Glasper
  • Coastin’ – Boney James, Lalah Hathaway
  • Come Away With Me – Norah Jones
  • Don’t Know Why – Norah Jones
  • Everything to Me – Imagesong
  • Everything You Touch Is Gold – Gregory Porter
  • Happy Feelings – Frankie Beverly & Maze Smooth Jazz Tribute
  • It Had To Be You – Jac Ross
  • Let’s Fall In Love – Diana Krall
  • Our Love Is Here to Stay – C. Collins, A. Olatuja
  • So Emotional – Miles Davis, Lalah Hathaway
  • Someone Like You – Van Morrison feat. Joss Stone
  • That’s the Way Love Goes – Norman Brown
  • The Nearness of You – Norah Jones

Latin Jazz

Depending on where wedding guests’ culture and heritage, these songs would be appropriate for a wide range of guests.

  • A Taste of Honey – Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
  • Ladyfingers – Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
  • Mais Que Nada – Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66
  • The Girl from Ipanema – Stan Getz & João Gilberto

Bossa Nova

I added a few modern songs for any wedding reception cocktail or dinner playlist plus a legendary jazz hit too.

  • From The Start – Laufey
  • It Could Happen To You – Laufey
  • Take Five – Dave Brubeck
  • The Look Of Love – Diana Krall
  • The Way You Look Tonight – Karen Souza
  • Valentine – Laufey

Pop & Mainstream

Enjoy a list of tracks you would typically hear “on the radio” with a heavy jazz sound.

  • A Wink And A Smile – Harry Connick Jr.
  • Breezin’ – George Benson
  • Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia) – Us3
  • Don’t Worry Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin
  • Feels so Good – Chuck Mangione
  • Give Me the Night – George Benson
  • Giving You The Best That I Got – Anita Baker
  • Hold On – Michael Bublé
  • Love X Love – George Benson
  • Moondance – Van Morrison
  • On Broadway – George Benson
  • Recipe For Love – Harry Connick Jr.
  • Sea of Love – Brad Holt
  • Sweet Love – Anita Baker
  • The Best Is Yet To Come – Michael Bublé
  • We’re in This Love Together – Al Jarreau
  • What You Won’t Do for Love – Bobby Caldwell
  • You And I – Michael Bublé
  • Your Love is King – Sade

DJs! Plan Jazz Wedding Songs by BPM and Key

(Click on the Song, Artist, Key and BPM table columns for sorting)

SongArtistKeyBPM
I've Got A Crush On YouElla Fitzgerald10B67
Moondance - 2013 RemasterVan Morrison8A67
Love Is Here To StayTony Bennett, Diana Krall6A68
Don't Worry Be HappyBobby McFerrin1B69
Best PartRJC (Rhythm & Jazz Coalition)9B70
Our Love Is Here to Stay (feat. Alicia Olatuja)Caleb Collins, Alicia Olatuja4A73
My WayFrank Sinatra10B75
Everything You Touch Is GoldGregory Porter12B75
A Kiss To Build A Dream OnLouis Armstrong3B76
Dream A Little Dream Of Me - Single VersionElla Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong8B76
What A Wonderful WorldLouis Armstrong7B77
L-O-V-ENat King Cole12B78
Happy FeelingsFrankie Beverly, Maze Smooth Jazz Tribute9B78
SmileNat King Cole4A79
I Get A Kick Out Of YouTony Bennett, Lady Gaga5B79
Feeling GoodNina Simone6A79
That's Amore - RemasteredDean Martin6B79
Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love)Ella Fitzgerald, London Symphony Orchestra7B79
We're in This Love TogetherAl Jarreau7B79
It Could Happen To YouLaufey7B79
Breezin'George Benson10B81
A Taste Of HoneyHerb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass4A81
In the MoodGlenn Miller4B81
The Nearness Of YouNorah Jones8B81
From The StartLaufey3B82
All I Want Is You [Feat. October London]Boney James, October London3A83
What You Won't Do for LoveBobby Caldwell2B84
LadyfingersHerb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass5B86
A Sunday Kind Of LoveEtta James7A86
UnforgettableNatalie Cole, Nat King Cole7B86
At LastEtta James7B87
Everything to MeImagesong, Alexis Cole, Marc Phaneuf, Mike Eckroth3B88
Sweet LoveAnita Baker3A89
Mais Que NadaSergio Mendes & Brasil '665A89
Champagne of My LifePeet Project8A90
The Look Of LoveDiana Krall6B93
Cheek To CheekTony Bennett, Lady Gaga8B94
That's The Way Love GoesNorman Brown6A98
RiseHerb Alpert6B99
Lovely DayJosé James, Lalah Hathaway11A102
Feels So GoodChuck Mangione7B104
Giving You the Best That I GotAnita Baker10B106
Come Away With MeNorah Jones8B106
Don't Know WhyNorah Jones8B106
Give Me the NightGeorge Benson3B110
A Wink and a SmileHarry Connick, Jr.9B112
Lov-Lov-Love (with Incognito)Mario Biondi, Incognito12B114
My Baby Just Cares For Me - LiveJeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, Haley Reinhart9A114
Love X LoveGeorge Benson3B115
You and IMichael Bublé5B115
Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)Us3, Rahsaan, Gerard Presencer4A116
My One And Only LoveJohn Coltrane, Johnny Hartman8A116
On BroadwayGeorge Benson3A117
ValentineLaufey11B120
Let's Face The Music And DanceJeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra, Sharon Van Etten4A120
Come Rain or Come ShineRay Charles5B120
Fly Me To The Moon - 2008 RemasteredFrank Sinatra, Count Basie9A120
Theme From New York, New York - 2008 RemasteredFrank Sinatra3A121
The Best Is yet to ComeMichael Bublé7B121
Just the Two of Us (feat. Bill Withers)Grover Washington, Jr., Bill Withers3A122
So in LoveArt Sherrod Jr4A124
Let's Fall In LoveDiana Krall4A125
The Way You Look TonightKaren Souza4A125
Coastin' [Feat. Lalah Hathaway]Boney James, Lalah Hathaway7A125
LovefoolScott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox, Haley Reinhart9A125
I Like The Way You MoveBill McGee5A126
It Had To Be YouJac Ross4A128
Someone Like YouVan Morrison, Joss Stone9B129
So Emotional (feat. Lalah Hathaway)Miles Davis, Lalah Hathaway8B130
You Stepped out of a Dream - 2007 RemasterSarah Vaughan3B131
The Girl From Ipanema - Single VersionStan Getz, João Gilberto, Astrud Gilberto, Antônio Carlos Jobim4A131
The Way You Look TonightFrank Sinatra4A132
Hold OnMichael Bublé7B132
Come Fly With MeFrank Sinatra1B134
Your Love Is KingSade11B135
That's Enough (from "Lady and the Tramp")Janelle Monáe9B137
Recipe For LoveHarry Connick, Jr.5A141
Better Than I Imagined (Feat. H.E.R. & Meshell Ndegeocello)Robert Glasper, H.E.R., Meshell Ndegeocello3A144
Never Quit Loving YouJill Barber12B145
Something's Got A Hold On MeEtta James3B151
A Song for You (feat. Christina Aguilera)Herbie Hancock, Christina Aguilera9A159
Who Loves You? (with Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra) - Take 1Billie Holiday, Teddy Wilson8A165
When I Fall In LoveNat King Cole3B166
There Is No Greater LoveChet Baker8A173
Take FiveDave Brubeck3A174
Soulful StrutGrover Washington, Jr.8B186

*BPM and key pulled from SongData.io

Spotify Jazz Playlist

Do you have a favorite jazz song(s) to play during a wedding? Please share the music in the comments section below.

Fun Facts

Jazz music was influenced by West African folk music. Although it is thought that Jazz started in New Orleans in the early 20th century, it’s simply not the birthplace. Though it is part of the route up the Mississippi River where jazz is most famous — St. Louis, Chicago, and Kansas City.

Jazz music is an American creation. In many ways, it’s the only truly American music. Jazz music is more than just enjoyed by other musicians. It is considered a heartfelt expression of the soul.

“Jazz” isn’t just one style of music either. Jazz spans many different styles of music such as Swing, Big Band, Dixieland, Scat, and much more. Early Jazz musicians were Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, and Jelly Roll Morton. In the 1930s Jazz Swing was most popular with artists like Count Basie, the Dorsey Brothers, and Artie Shaw.

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