My life is filled with conflicting music tastes from the seasons to the time of the day. In the gym, it’s hard rap, in the morning it’s lofi, in the evening it’s indie, but always when I’m winding down or doing assignments, I put on jazz music.
I truly fell in love with jazz this past summer. I had bought a secondhand record player on a whim because I’d been reading more about how we are losing physical media, as everything has converged onto our phones. I had to look up my nearest record store, a small place on an unsuspecting corner, one I’ve definitely seen but never paid attention to.Â
When I stepped inside, I could tell the store had been there for a while, filled with cassettes, old DVDs and vinyl covers soft with age. As I browsed, the man at the counter showed me a box of old records that were on sale. I picked up Frank Sinatra’s “It Might as Well Be Swing.”
As I set up my record player, I realized jazz music reminds me of “When Harry Met Sally,” and instantly transports me home, like old New York City. Frank Sinatra is now one of my favorites, especially his song, “Autumn in New York.” Another album that brings me that sense of nostalgia is the Snoopy soundtrack; it brings me back to watching “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” in school.Â
Jazz music is the winding path filled with the Central Park oaks, their leaves breaking down into brown crisps. It’s the first cold wind blistering on my cheeks after a long day of classes. It’s me putting on my glasses, taking off my huge puffer coat and scarf, and slumping down on the table to study. The music matches the season so effortlessly, as if fall were created to be scored by jazz.
‘Its a dark, yellow cafe. It’s the 5-hour bus ride home to see your family after the fall semester of college. A cup of peppermint tea fogging up your vision and you lean in to take a sip. Every moment feels softer with jazz humming in the background.’Its a dark, yellow cafe. Its the 5-hour bus ride home to see your family after the fall semester of college. A cup of peppermint tea fogging up your vision, and you lean in to take a sip. Every moment feels softer with jazz humming in the background.
Jazz music without lyrics is perfect for de-stressing after a long day. I listen to it while tidying up my dorm room, folding clothes to the saxophone and calm beats. The rhythm turns the most mundane tasks into something intentional, even peaceful.
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The saxophone has a melancholy feel, and the piano adds the perfect background. It doesn’t feel this way in any other season. The sharpness of the staccato and piano riffs only seems relevant in this time of year. There’s something about fall that makes every note feel like it lands deeper.
Another huge jazz artist is Miles Davis; he has reshaped jazz again and again with his albums. My favorite is “Kind of Blue.” Miles Davis plays the trumpet in fragile and bold ways, and his sound is instantly recognizable.
Jazz, as a genre, is very flexible, shaping itself to whatever you’re feeling; its mood is reflective. At home, I turn on my record player and lie on the carpet while calming down. Now, when I feel overwhelmed, I slip on my oversized Sony headphones and just listen.Â
Autumn Jazz Playlist: