What are some good instrumental jazz songs?

''Mr. Magic'' by Grover Washington. ''Summer Madness'' by Kool & The Gang. ''Westchester Lady'' by Bob James.

a veritably kaleidoscopic tour of the genre in the form of just one tune? try the title track to Charles Mingus's "Cumbia and Jazz Fusion."

depends what kind you like, personally I wouuld say... Take Five and Blue Bossa are pretty sweet. If you want more contemporary, funk jazz, check out Medeski, Martin and Wood - it's a band, jus keys, bass, drums. They recently started playing a guitarist - John Scofield. So the newest CD is Medeski, Scofield, Martin and Wood.

"Warm Canto." The album is _The Quest_, which sometimes get reissued under Eric Dolphy and other times under Mal Waldron. It's been known to make people who think they hate jazz fall down and change their minds. Also, try Coltrane's _My Favourite Things_, and most of the tunes on Mingus's _Oh Yeah!_ (esp. "Eat That Chicken").

Many consider Miles Davis' 1959 album Kind of Blue the greatest jazz album ever made (many also consider Davis the most important jazz artist, after Louis Armstrong, of the 20th century). Start with this album of haunting modal jazz. You will be rewarded.