The smooth jazz playlist you didn’t know you needed for long study sessions

With the first two weeks of the spring semester coming to a close, long-term projects are being assigned and papers are in their infancy. Here is a smooth jazz playlist for those first long days in the library, logging more hours than you’d really like in the stacks.

“Bueno Funk” by Peter White

Peter White’s “Bueno Funk” is jazz fusion at its finest. Taking on a kind of flamenco-esque guitar style at moments and supported by the standard jazz horn, “Bueno Funk” has a cohesive and lilting sound that can be that background music while you scan through a dense reading.

“Promenade” by Peter White

If you are a guitar aficionado, White’s acoustic guitar work intermingling with a funky and jazzy accompaniment will definitely be for you. “Promenade” has both the danceability and relaxed quality that any good smooth jazz song should have. If you need a song to pick up your spirits while slogging through an assignment, White’s “Promenade” is for you.

“Human Nature” by Miles Davis

Yes, Miles Davis made a foray into smooth jazz and all the jazz purists had to get over themselves. Davis’ rendition of the King of Pop’s “Human Nature” has a special magnetism. Davis’ trumpet sits on the track, never overshadowing the other musicians. The free-form improvisation he is known for is explored, but minimally. This song is good for those moments when you just need to sit back from a paper and feel the music.

“Dreamin’” by George Benson and Earl Klugh

“Dreamin’” is a two-for-one jazz guitarist experience. George Benson and Earl Klugh as a guitar duo play magically over a quintessentially smooth jazz backing track with its synths and steady beat. Playing with a level of finesse and flourish that can only come from seasoned guitarists like Benson and Klugh, they create a chill atmosphere for those assignments.

“Malibu Wave” by Kilauea

Without a saxophonist, Kilauea’s sound  in “Malibu Wave” is more on the easy listening side of smooth jazz. The piano and guitar work have an almost call and response relationship, playing off one another. It’s just a fun, jazzy, almost tropical sound with the drum break for those times when you just need something in the background while you really focus in on an assignment.

“Personal Touch” by Boney James

Boney James’ “Personal Touch” is a smooth jazz song through and through. James’ saxophone flows over the song. Even in moments of flourish, James’ saxophone never compromises its purely smooth nature. “Personal Touch” is a great song for when you are in the stretch and need that final push to get assignments done.

“Boulder Coaster” by Blue Chip

This song is an upbeat smooth jazz experience. Where most smooth jazz will lull you into a quiet mood, “Boaster Coaster” is a pick-me-up with a Spanish guitar flare. “Boulder Coaster” is for that revelatory, unabashedly happy moment when the work is done, you’re packing up and making your way out of the stacks after a long night of studying.

Follow this link to listen to the playlist on Spotify.