Cool jazz is a jazz style that emerged in the late 1940s in New York City. During 1945, after the Second World War, there was an influx of Californian (predominantly white) jazz musicians to New York. Once there, these musicians mixed with the mostly black bebop musicians, but were also strongly influenced by the "smooth" sound of saxophonist Lester Young.

Who are the best-known cool jazz artists?

By Last.fm listening: Chet Baker, The Dave Brubeck Quartet, Paul Desmond, Modern Jazz Quartet, Lee Konitz and Gil Evans.

What genres are similar to cool jazz?

On Risocast it sits with blues, bossa nova, acid jazz, blues rock, bebop and avant-garde jazz.

Cool Jazz · Genres

What is cool jazz?

Cool jazz is a jazz style that emerged in the late 1940s in New York City. During 1945, after the Second World War, there was an influx of Californian (predominantly white) jazz musicians to New York.

About cool jazz

Once there, these musicians mixed with the mostly black bebop musicians, but were also strongly influenced by the "smooth" sound of saxophonist Lester Young. The style that emerged became known as "cool jazz", which avoided the aggressive tempos and harmonic abstraction of bebop.

From Last.fm, where 5,782 listeners have tagged music as cool jazz.

Artists to start with

Albums to hear first

Cool Jazz songs

Take Five by The Dave Brubeck Quartet
My Funny Valentine by Chet Baker
Goodbye Pork Pie Hat by Charles Mingus
Blue Rondo à la turk by The Dave Brubeck Quartet
Strange Meadow Lark by The Dave Brubeck Quartet
That Old Feeling by Chet Baker
Let's Get Lost by Chet Baker
I Fall in Love Too Easily by Chet Baker
Three to Get Ready by The Dave Brubeck Quartet
Stal by C418

Cool Jazz on Risocast

Neighbouring genres

In the jazz & blues family. All genres

blues bossa nova acid jazz blues rock bebop avant-garde jazz delta blues chicago blues dark jazz country blues desert blues jazz punk

Questions

What is cool jazz?: Cool jazz is a jazz style that emerged in the late 1940s in New York City. During 1945, after the Second World War, there was an influx of Californian (predominantly white) jazz musicians to New York. Once there, these musicians mixed with the mostly black bebop musicians, but were also strongly influenced by the "smooth" sound of saxophonist Lester Young.
Who are the best-known cool jazz artists?: By Last.fm listening: Chet Baker, The Dave Brubeck Quartet, Paul Desmond, Modern Jazz Quartet, Lee Konitz and Gil Evans.
What genres are similar to cool jazz?: On Risocast it sits with blues, bossa nova, acid jazz, blues rock, bebop and avant-garde jazz.

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Updated 6 October 2026

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