Jazz

Jazz was a form of Earth music of which the Doctor, in at least some of his incarnations, was particularly fond. His seventh self once called Courtney Pine's saxophone playing his "favourite kind of jazz: straight-blowing". Ace was also enamoured of the performer, saying she could sit and listen to him all afternoon. She even sought his autograph. (TV: Silver Nemesis) Later, the seventh Doctor tried to mend fences with Sarah Jane Smith over a jazz session at the Royal Albert Hall, following his abandonment of her after the incident with Eldrad. In the end, they didn't make the concert because of an attack by the insectoid Kalik species. (COMIC: Train-Flight)

Once, the sixth Doctor, Peri and Frobisher found themselves on the planet Zazz, whose inhabitants had based their society on 20th century America, and were thus captivated by jazz. While there, they went to the Kotn Club, and sampled the local nightlife. Frobisher revealed himself to be adept at playing jazz piano. Peri was invited to sing, and became an instant sensation. She claimed to have "sung through Porgy and Bess so many times [she] sound[ed] like Paul Robeson." Indeed, Peri had sung "Summertime", a song particularly associated with Robeson. For his part, the Doctor organised a jazz marching band to play a tune that would lead the scavengers away from the main city, much like the legendary Pied Piper. The Doctor said of his tune, "It's not Count Basie, but I think it'll entertain the scavengers." (COMIC: The Gift)

Though original to Earth, one did not have to be human to appreciate it. The Sittuun who went by the human name, Charlie, had an abiding love of jazz, particularly that performed by Ella Fitzgerald. Charlie appeared not to be a unique case in his species. Some smaller Sittuun space craft were named after 20th century jazz musicians, like Fitzgerald and Charlie Parker. Reminded of Fitzgerald by the Sittuun, the Eleventh Doctor once claimed to have played the recorder while jamming with Fitzgerald. (PROSE: Night of the Humans)