Must-Play Jazz Songs for Dancers in 2025

Whether you're a swing dancer, lindy hopper, or just love moving to live jazz, these tracks are guaranteed to ignite the floor. From timeless classics to fresh reinterpretations, here’s the ultimate playlist for jazz dancers next year.

High-Energy Swing Classics

• "Shiny Stockings" – Count Basie (The quintessential big band groove)
• "Jumpin’ at the Woodside" – Ella Fitzgerald & Count Basie (A tempo that demands fast feet)
• "Flying Home" – Lionel Hampton (A saxophone-driven rocket)

Modern Jazz for Contemporary Moves

• "Vibes" – Cécile McLorin Salvant (Sultry, syncopated, and full of surprises)
• "Soul Swing" – Theon Cross (Tuba meets hip-swaying rhythm)
• "Jazz Cats" – Butcher Brown (Fusion that bridges jazz and funk)

Bluesy Slow Dances

• "In a Sentimental Mood" – Duke Ellington & John Coltrane (A dreamy, intimate masterpiece)
• "Blue Monk" – Thelonious Monk (Playful, moody, and perfect for blues dancing)
• "Since I Fell for You" – Nina Simone (Raw emotion in every note)

Global Jazz Fusion

• "Afro Blue" – Mongo Santamaría (A Latin-jazz standard with irresistible rhythm)
• "Balkan Hot Step" – Shantel (Electro-swing meets Eastern European flair)
• "Mama Wata" – Camilla George (Afrobeat-infused modern jazz)