Jazz songs make a great addition for any Halloween party playlist; the soothing beat and rhythm send a shiver down the spine, while the lyrics are a creative way to put your guests in the mood. If you’re looking for some spooky-sounding jazz songs for a fun Halloween party, I’ve got you covered.

Ghosts of Yesterday by Billie Holiday

This tune is a great one for Halloween evening because of all its swoops and swells. Get ready to swoon listening to the voice of Billie Holiday. As she makes her way through the song, listeners soon realize she's singing about love lost and forever longing. "Ghost of yesterday/Every night you're here/Whispering away/Might have been, might have been, oh, my dear..." it's a serenade that's sure to cast a spell on you and your guests.

I Put a Spell on You by Nina Simone

Originally performed by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, who also composed and wrote the song, "I Put a Spell on You" is one of the top picks for music at a Halloween party. Nina Simone added a haunting touch to the song with her captivating voice. As one of Nina Simone’s most popular songs, it has a scary rhythm that’s bound to make your evening even more memorable.

Skeletons in the Closet by Louis Armstrong

Looking for a cheerful tune to dance away the night? Louis Armstrong’s song, Skeletons in the Closet has a fantastic jazz beat and trumpet solo.  The song starts out as the beginning of a scary story but moves on to catch an upbeat rhythm. It moves faster as he sings the chorus, at which point everyone will want to start dancing.

In the latter part of the song, he starts a whimsical trumpet song with an energetic vibe that can replace Monster Mash any day. It also mentions plenty of scary creatures without making it seem like an odd affair. This is definitely on my list.

Night Creature by Duke Ellington

A step back from the outright spooky tunes I lined up for you, this is a suite of different instrumental compositions.  The second movement is adequately described as when you’d meet a monster but then discover that it likes to dance just as much as you do. The long symphony is great if you want to warm up your guests to the haunted vibe before moving onto the catchy tunes you have lined up.

Old Man Mose Is Dead by Louis Armstrong

Yes, another Louis Armstrong song! Co-written by Zilner Randolph, ‘Old Man Mose is Dead’ is an upbeat swing song but keeps the theme with grim lyrics. There are a bunch of different recordings of this song, including one by Ella Fitzgerald, but personally, the version by Louis Armstrong is my favorite because of how his gravelly voice suits the Halloween theme.  

These are some of my favorite jazz songs for a Halloween party – share them with your friends for an evening of spooky fun and swing music!

Want to hear my own album? I sing yesterday's favorite classic tunes on "Yesterday Once More." Check it out here!

With Love,

Maggy