St. James Infirmary is a bluesy jazz standard rooted in 18th-century English folk ballads. It gained prominence in 1920s New Orleans jazz scenes, famously recorded by Louis Armstrong. The lyrics depict a mourner's vivid funeral wishes beside his lover's corpse at the St. James Infirmary morgue.
A seminal blues-jazz standard rooted in English and Appalachian folk traditions, popularized in 1920s New Orleans. Combines mournful lyrics with improvisational instrumentation.
A seminal jazz-blues standard with roots in 18th-century English folk ballads, popularized in New Orleans jazz culture. The song's melancholic progression became a vehicle for improvisation.
A seminal blues ballad with roots in 18th-century English folk songs, popularized in 1920s New Orleans jazz scene.
Characteristic minor-key progression and themes of mortality influenced early jazz development.
A haunting jazz-blues ballad rooted in English and Appalachian folk traditions, popularized in the 1920s-30s with themes of mortality and loss.
