Top 20 Party Songs: Jazz

 11. "Gospel Groove" - Shuggie Otis
What you get from Shuggie — who turned down an opportunity to be a part of the Rolling Stones — is funky, bluesy guitar, from the album Here Comes Shuggie Otis.

 12. "She Loves You" - Chet Atkins
There's always room to think outside the box a little and incorporate musicians from other genres. This cut is from the album Chet Atkins Picks on the Beatles.

 13. "A Day in the Life" - Grant Green 
A little more Beatles can't be bad. This comes from the album Green Is Beautiful.

 14. "All My Loving" - Count Basie
This jazz legend, who performed for almost 50 years, gives a swinging rendition of Basie's Beatle Bag.

 15. "Tiger Rag" - Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Feel like dancing? Here's a tribute to some down-home Dixieland music, from the album New Orleans, Vol. 1.

 16. "Royal Garden Blues" - Charlie Christian
Christian is an early, influential jazz guitarist from the swing era who was prominent in the Benny Goodman Orchestra. He picks, along with several other big band instruments in this song, taken from The Genius of the Electric Guitar.

 17. "Isn't She Lovely" - Jimmy Ponder
From the album Alone, Ponder pays tribute to Stevie Wonder with a mellow and bluesy rendition.

 18. "Someday My Prince Will Come" - Miles Davis
For those not familiar with Miles Davis, this song is a good place to start. It's a classic jazz standard from a classic jazz album, sharing the same name with the song.

19. "Theme for Ernie" - Donald Brown
A jazz legend in his own right, this pianist once toured with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and taught at prestigious Berklee College of Music. He continues to perform all over the world and now teaches aspiring musicians at the University of Tennessee.

20. "Cantaloupe Island" - Herbie Hancock
This familiar song wraps up the playlist, which was later made more popular by the London jazz-rap group Us3, from the album The Definitive Herbie Hancock.

Have fun playing the role of DJ and incorporating some of yourself into your next party's playlist. Sample songs and artists online, and create a sound that is just right for you and your guests.

Justin Judson is a freelance writer and photographer who cherishes his vinyl.