TRANSCRIPT:
Hi, I’m Mark Rapp, and this is Rapp on Jazz.
Jazz standards are being written today. Jazz musicians continue to expand the canon with modern tunes that have become new standards.
Think of Herbie Hancock’s “Maiden Voyage,” Wayne Shorter’s “Footprints,” or Chick Corea’s “Spain.” These songs are now as essential to a jazz setlist as "Autumn Leaves" or "Blue Monk."
But the idea of a standard has also evolved — reworking songs by Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell, Radiohead, and even Kendrick Lamar into jazz contexts. These modern tunes reflect today’s harmonies, rhythms, and cultural moments, while still leaving space for improvisation.
What makes a tune a standard? It’s the ability to inspire creativity, to invite conversation between musicians, and to stand the test of time.
This has been Rapp on Jazz, a co-production of ColaJazz and South Carolina Public Radio, made possible by the ETV Endowment of South Carolina.