Table of Contents:
What is a Jazz Standard?
A jazz standard is a musical theme that has acquired a certain notoriety in the jazz genre, which is known by many musicians and which has been the subject of numerous versions, interpretations and improvisations, and which is frequently used in jam sessions and performances.
There are standards from all eras of jazz, such as ‘When the Saints Go Marching In’, ‘I Got Rhythm’ or ‘How High the Moon’, ‘Take the ‘A’ Train’ to cite examples of the hot, swing and bop.
Many of the best-known standards were composed for films, or come from the so-called Great American Songbook, and have been incorporated into the genre, such as, for example, ‘Summertime’, by George Gershwin, while, for example, ”Round Midnight’, by Thelonious Monk, has been covered by, among others, Cootie Williams, Dizzy Gillespie, Art Pepper, and Miles Davis.
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The most recorded standard composed by a jazz musician, and one of the most covered songs of all time, is Duke Ellington’s and Juan Tizol’s “Caravan” with over 500 uses.
Originally, the most recorded jazz standard was W. C. Handy’s “St. Louis Blues” for over 20 years from the 1930s onward, after which Hoagy Carmichael’s “Stardust” replaced it. Following this, the place was held by “Body and Soul” by Johnny Green.
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Before 1920
At the beginning of the 20th century, jazz was still considered dance music. The first Dixieland groups remained influenced by this image: King Oliver and his Creole Jazz Band, the New Orleans Rhythm Kings and many other groups included Tin Pan Alley in their repertoires, and record companies sometimes dictated the list of titles that must be recorded by their artists.
Certain imposed songs have thus become standards, such as Darktown Strutters’ Ball or (Back Home Again in) Indiana, recorded by the Original Dixieland Jass Band at Columbia Records in 1917.
Also, among the standards of this era are the songs After You’ve Gone (Turner Layton and Henry Creamer, 1918) and Some of These Days (Sophie Tucker, 1910).
The 1920s
The Jazz Age began in the United States in the 1920s. Jazz became popular there, even though the older generation considered this music immoral and endangering their cultural values.
The first artist who allowed himself to freely choose his titles was Louis Armstrong, who popularized many standards during the years 1920 to 19301. The popular tunes of the 1920s were songs like Sweet Georgia Brown, Dinah or Bye Bye Blackbird.
Some compositions from this era written by jazz musicians have become standards such as Honeysuckle Rose (1928) and Ain’t Misbehavin’ (1929) by Fats Waller. The song Stardust by Hoagy Carmichael and Mitchell Parish is the most recorded jazz standard of the 1920s. Others are written by Broadway composers such as The Man I Love by George and Ira Gershwin (1924), Blue Skies by Irving Berlin (1927), or What Is This Thing Called Love? by Cole Porter (1927).
However, it was not until the 1930s that jazz musicians became comfortable with the complex melodies and sophisticated harmonic grids of Broadway tunes, and used them regularly in their repertoires.
The 1930s
Broadway contributed some of the most popular standards of the 1930s, including the famous Summertime from the comedy Porgy and Bess by George and Ira Gershwin (1935), My Funny Valentine by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart (1937), All the Things You Are by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II (1939), and Body and Soul by Johnny Green (1930). These standards are among the most recorded.
The 1930s saw swing establish itself in American music. Duke Ellington and his musicians composed many themes which would become jazz standards: It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) (1932), Sophisticated Lady (1933), Caravan (1936) among the most famous.
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The swing era (1935–1946) is that of the greatest big bands, such as those of Benny Goodman and Count Basie, who also participated in the repertoire of jazz standards.
The 1940s
New themes became popular, such as Cotton Tail by Duke Ellington (1940) or Take the ‘A’ Train by Billy Strayhorn (1941). The Second World War was a difficult time for big bands, and small groups developed.
The arrival of bebop brought out a new audience sensitive to sophisticated harmonies, fast tempos, and the virtuosity of the musicians. Their repertoires largely use the standards of the 1930s, but their compositions will also enter the list of standards: Salt Peanuts (1941) and A Night in Tunisia (1942) by Dizzy Gillespie, Anthropology (1946), Yardbird Suite (en) ( 1946), Scrapple from the Apple (1947) by Charlie Parker, or ‘Round Midnight (1944) by Thelonious Monk.
The 1950s and beyond
Some modal jazz recordings became popular in the late 1950s, such as the albums Kind of Blue by Miles Davis in 1959 with the compositions All Blues and So What, Impressions (en) by John Coltrane in 1963, or Maiden Voyage by Herbie Hancock in 1965.
In the mid-1960s, Miles Davis’ second major quintet with Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock recorded a series of albums which contained standards such as Footprints (Wayne Shorter, 1966) and Freedom Jazz Dance (Eddie Harris, 1966).
At the end of the 1950s, bossa nova appeared in Brazil, a mixture of samba and jazz, made popular by João Gilberto, Antônio Carlos Jobim and Luiz Bonfá. Gilberto and Stan Getz launched this trend in the United States in 1964 with the famous Getz/Gilberto album. Among the standards of the genre are compositions by Bonfá (Manhã de Carnaval, 1959), Marcos Valle (Summer Samba, 1966), and numerous songs by Jobim such as Desafinado (1959), The Girl from Ipanema (1962), Corcovado (1962).
In the mid-1970s, jazz fusion appeared, which was a mixture of jazz, funk and rock. Joe Zawinul with Weather Report, Chick Corea with Return to Forever, Herbie Hancock with The Headhunters, or John McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu Orchestra considerably broaden the jazz audience, and some of their successes have become standards: Spain (en) by Chick Corea (1971), Chameleon by Hancock (1973), and Birdland by Joe Zawinul (1977).
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Jazz standards
Musical compositions that have become jazz standards.
Irving Berlin – Alexander’s Ragtime Band [1911]
“Alexander’s Ragtime Band” is a Tin Pan Alley song by American composer Irving Berlin released in 1911 and is often inaccurately cited as his first global hit. Although not a traditional ragtime song, Berlin’s jaunty melody nonetheless “sold a million copies of sheet music in 1911, then another million in 1912, and continued to sell for years afterward.
It was the number one song from October 1911 through January 1912.” The song might be regarded as a narrative sequel to “Alexander and His Clarinet”, which Berlin wrote with Ted Snyder in 1910. The earlier song is mostly concerned with a reconciliation between an African-American musician named Alexander Adams and his flame Eliza Johnson, but also highlights Alexander’s innovative musical style.
Berlin’s “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” was introduced to the American public by vaudeville comedienne Emma Carus, “one of the great stars of the period.” A popular singer in the 1907 Ziegfeld Follies and Broadway features, Carus was a famous contralto of the vaudeville era, renowned for her “low bass notes and high lung power.”
Carus’ brassy performance of the song at the American Music Hall in Chicago on April 18, 1911, proved to be well-received, and she toured other metropolises such as Detroit and New York City with acclaimed performances that featured the catchy song. The song as comically recorded by American singing duo Arthur Collins and Byron G. Harlan became the number one hit of 1911.
Nearly two decades later, jazz singer Bessie Smith recorded a 1927 cover, which became one of the hit songs of that year. The song’s popularity re-surged in the 1930s with the release of a 1934 close harmony cover by the Boswell Sisters, and a 1938 musical film of the same name starring Tyrone Power and Alice Faye. The song was covered by a variety of artists such as Al Jolson, Billy Murray, Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby, and others. Within fifty years of its release, the song had at least a dozen hit covers.
Etta James – Stormy Weather
From the album is At Last.
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Artist or Composer / Score name | Cover | List of Contents |
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George Gershwin – Rialto Ripples |
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George Gershwin – Summertime | ||
George Gershwin – Summertime (Piano, Vocal, Guitar chords) |
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George Gershwin – Summertime Arr. For Guitar solo |
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George Gershwin – The Life And Music Of (book by David Ewen) 1956 |
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George Gershwin – The Memory Of All That The Life of George Gershwin (book by Joan Peyser) |
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George Gershwin – Will Donaldson – Rialto Ripples (Ragtime – Rag) | George Gershwin – Will Donaldson – Rialto Ripples (Ragtime – Rag) | |
George Gershwin -The Gershwin Style (New Looks at the Music of George Gershwin) Book by Wayne Schneider |
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George Gershwin An Intimate Portrait by Walter Rimler (Book) |
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George Gershwin and Oscar Peterson Recueil Jazz Compositions Collection |
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George Gershwin and Oscar Peterson Recueil Jazz Compositions Collection |
George Gershwin His Life And Work by Howard Pollack (Book) |
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George Gershwin Jazz Piano Solos Series Volume 26 (George Gershwin) |
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George Gershwin Jazz Piano Solos Series Volume 26 (George Gershwin) |
George Gershwin Jazz Songs Sheet Music | George Gershwin Jazz Songs Sheet Music | |
George Gershwin That Certain Feeling |
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George Gershwin The Complete Gershwin Preludes Book |
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George Gershwin The Complete Gershwin Preludes Book |
George Harrison – Anthology (Guitar tabs) 24 greatest hits |
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George Harrison – Anthology (Guitar tabs) 24 greatest hits |
George Harrison (The Beatles) – While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Guitar Solo) (Musescore File).mscz | ||
George Harrison Songbook The dark horse years 1976-1992 (Piano,Guitar,Vocal) |
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George Harrison Songbook The dark horse years 1976-1992 (Piano,Guitar,Vocal) |
George Lynch – Signature Licks [Guitar Tabs] |
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George Lynch – Signature Licks [Guitar Lessons Tabs] |
George Michael – A Different Corner | ||
George Michael – Careless Whisper | ||
George Michael – Faith | ||
George Michael – I Cant Make You Love Me | ||
George Michael Ladies & Gentlemen, The best of |
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George Michael Ladies & Gentlemen, The best of |
George Shearing – It Never Entered My Mind |
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George Shearing – Lullaby Of Birdland |
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George Shearing – Lullaby Of Birdland (Guitar arr. with TABs) |
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George Shearing – Lullaby Of Birdland (sheet music transcription) | George Shearing – Lullaby Of Birdland (sheet music transcription) | |
George Shearing – The Artistry of |
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George Shearing – The Artistry of |
George Shearing – To Bill Evans | George Shearing – To Bill Evans | |
George Shearing Interpretations For Piano |
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George Shearing Interpretations For Piano |
George Shearing Mack the knife | Mack the knife georges Shearing | |
George Winston – Canon In D | ||
George Winston – December – Piano Solos |
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George Winston – December – Piano Solos |
George Winston – Joy | ||
George Winston – Moon | ||
George Winston – Piano Solos |
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Autumn/Winter into Spring/December/Summer/Ballads and Blues 1972/Forest |
George Winston – Thanksgiving | ||
George Winston – The Holly And The Ivy | ||
George Winston Joy (Sheet Music) | George Winston – Joy | |
George Winston Piano Solos Book |
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Georges Brassens Premières Chansons (1942-1949) Prologue de Gabriel Garcia Marquez |
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Georges Brassens – Guitare 1 (40 Partitions Musicales) | George Brassens | |
Georges Brassens – il n’y a pas d’Amour Heureux piano arr. |
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Georges Brassens Jai Rendez-Vous Avec Vous Français French (Intégrale Des Chansons, Paroles Et Musiques) Book |
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Georges Brassens Top Volume 1 (Piano-guitar-vocal) |
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Georges Brassens Top Volume 1 (Piano-guitar-vocal) |
Georges Gershwin I Got Rhythm Jazz Standard arr. Carsten Gerlitz |
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Georges Gershwin The Gershwin Collection For Solo Guitar By Howard Morgen With Tablature |
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Georges Gershwin The Gershwin Collection For Solo Guitar By Howard Morgen With Tablature |
Georges Moustaki – Ma Liberté (Easy Piano Solo Arr.) |
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Georges Moutsaki – Ma Liberté (Easy Piano Solo arr.) (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Georgia on my mind (Lead sheet) | ||
Georgia on My Mind (Sheet Music) – Ray Charles |
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Geri Halliwell – Its Raining Men | ||
German Folk Songs |
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German Overtures, Collection – For Piano Four Hands Vol. 1 And 2 (1909) | German Overtures, Collection – For Piano Four Hands Vol. 1 And 2 (1909) | |
Gerry Mulligan Favorites |
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Gerry Mulligan Favorites |
Gershwin Impromptu In Two Keys |
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Gershwin – 3 Preludes piano solo | Gershwin – 3 Preludes piano | |
Gershwin – An American In Paris (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Gershwin – I Got Plenty O’ Nuttin’ Porgy and Bess | George Gershwin – I Got Plenty O Nuttin | |
Gershwin – I Loves You Porgy | George Gershwin – I Loves You Porgy | |
Gershwin – It’s Easy To Play George Gershwin |
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George Gershwin – It’s Easy To Play George Gershwin |
Gershwin – Limehouse Nights |
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Gershwin – Medley From The George White Scandals Of 1921 (with lyrics) |
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Gershwin – Meet Gershwin At The Piano (Book) |
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Gershwin – Meet Gershwin At The Piano |
Gershwin – Own Transcriptions for the piano |
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Gershwin – Own Transcriptions |
Gershwin – Rhapsody In Blue ( 2 Pianos ) | Gershwin Rhapsody in blue 2 pianos | |
Gershwin – Rhapsody In Blue (Solo Piano) | Gershwin Rhapsody in blue | |
Gershwin – Rialto Ripples (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Gershwin – S Wonderful S Marvelous S Gershwin (Piano and vocal) |
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Gershwin – S Wonderful S Marvelous S Gershwin |
Gershwin – Summertime (some diff. versions) | Gershwin – Summertime | |
Gershwin – Summertime Piano Solo |
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Gershwin – Summertime (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Gershwin – Summertime (original) | Gershwin – Summertime (original) | |
Gershwin – Summertime (Solo by Miles Davis) | George Gershwin – Summertime (Solo – Miles Davis) | |
Gershwin – That certain Feeling (sheet music) |
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Gershwin – The glory of Gershwin [piano vocal chords] |
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Gershwin – The glory of Gershwin |
Gershwin – The Greatest Songs Of George Gershwin |
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George Gershwin – The Greatest Songs Of George Gershwin |
Gershwin – The Man I Love (Piano) (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Gershwin 12 Arrangements For Classic Guitar By John W Duarte |
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Gershwin 12 Arrangements For Classic Guitar |
Gershwin 3 Preludes for 2 pianos (four hands ) | Gershwin – Stone – 3 Preludes for 2 pianos four hands | |
Gershwin A Foggy Day | ||
Gershwin A Foggy Day – Jazz Masters Play Gershwin(Guitar with Tablature) |
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Gershwin An American in Paris (transcription for piano solo) | Gershwin An american in Paris | |
Gershwin Cole Porter Do_It_Again.mscz | ||
Gershwin Do Do Do (Piano Solo) |
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Gershwin Experiment David Cope – Prelude | Gershwin Experiment David Cope Prelude | |
Gershwin Guitar Songbook taught by Fred Sokolow with Tablature |
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Gershwin Guitar Songbook taught by Fred Sokolow |
Gershwin It ain’t necessarily so | ||
Gershwin Jazz Interpretations |
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Gershwin Jazz |
Gershwin Jeff Manookian Concert Paraphrase on I love you Porgy | Gerswhin_Jeff Manookian Concert Paraphrase on I love you Porgy | |
Gershwin Porgy And Bess Selection (Voice & Piano) |
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Gershwin Porgy And Bess Selection (Voice & Piano) |
Gershwin Rhapsody In Blue (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Gershwin Rhapsody In Blue (Piano Solo Arr.) |
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Gershwin Songbook (Piano Solo) |
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Gershwin–Songbook–Sheet music |
Gershwin The Man I Love (piano solo) | ||
Gershwin, George The Man I Love (Piano Solo Arr. By Percy Grainger) Sheet Music |
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Gershwin, George – Impromptu in Two Keys | Gershwin – Impromptu in two keys | |
Gershwin, George I Got Rhythm Variations for piano and orchestra (Piano Score) |
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Gershwin, George works can be found in Jazz/Standards section and also in Musicals | ||
Gershwin’s Melodies By Yuri Markin For 4 Hands Piano | Gershwin’s Melodies By Yuri Markin For 4 Hands Piano | |
Get Back – John Lennon And McCartney Guitar Play Along | Get Back – Lennon And Mccartney Guitar Play Along Volume 25 with embedded audio MP3 | |
Get Over It – Dream Of Me | ||
Gettysburg – Dawn – Randy Edelman | ||
Getz Gilberto – Corcovado quiet nights | Corcovado | |
GFTPM (Guitar Tab Songbook) Acoustic Classics (Tabs with Audio Mp3 Tracks Play Along)) | GFTPM – acoustic classics | |
Ghibli Medley – Studio Ghibli film music arr. piano |
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GHOST Alex North Unchained Melody |
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Ghost The Musical |
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Ghost The Musical |
Giacomo Puccini – O Mio Babbino Caro (Guitar arr. sheet music with TABs) | Giacomo Puccini – O Mio Babbino Caro (Guitar arr. sheet music with TABs) | |
Giant Steps (Musescore File).mscz | ||
Giants of Jazz Piano, The |
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Giants of Jazz Piano The |
Giazotto Albinoni Adagio (In G Minor) For Solo Piano |
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Gieseking, Walter & Karl Leimer – Piano Technique |
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Gilbert Sullivan – It’s Easy To Play Gilbert Sullivan |
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Gilbert & Sullivan – It’s Easy To Play Gilbert & Sullivan |
Gilbert O’Sullivan – Greatest Hits (Songbook) |
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Gilbert O’Sullivan – Greatest Hits (Songbook) |
Gilberto Gil – Guitar Songbook vol 2 |
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Gilberto Gil – Guitar Songbook vol 2 |
Gilberto Gil vol 1 Guitar songbook |
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Gilberto Gil – Guitar Songbook vol 2 |
Giles Vigneault – Un Dimanche à Kyoto (Paroles et Musique) |
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Gillock , William – Autumn Sketch Piano Solo |
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