Christmas Jazz Albums to Get You Warm and Fuzzy This Holiday Season

Christmas jazz is a unique genre that combines the traditional melodies of holiday songs with the improvisational sounds of jazz. Featuring smooth, soulful tunes as well as funky beats, Christmas jazz is a great way to get into the spirit of the season.

The history of Christmas jazz is a long and rich one, with many artists contributing to the genre over the years. Today, Christmas jazz is a popular genre in its own right, with numerous albums released each year. This music can range from classic holiday carols to modern, funk-inspired songs, and it’s a great way to celebrate the season with friends and family.

In the 1920s, jazz musicians began incorporating holiday songs into their repertoire. Since then, this genre has evolved to include funk, jazz-fusion, and even hip-hop. With so many different types of Christmas jazz available, it can be hard to know where to start.

Luckily, we’ve rounded up a list of some of the best Christmas jazz albums you can listen to this holiday season. Whether you’re looking for a classic Christmas song or an upbeat jazz instrumental, these albums will have you feeling all warm and fuzzy in no time.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

The Vince Guaraldi Trio’s 1965 album “A Charlie Brown Christmas” is one of the most influential jazz albums of all time. It’s been remastered and re-released several times over the years, and it remains an iconic piece of Christmas music.

A Charlie Brown Christmas is a classic example of how music can be used as a leitmotif, and it has helped shape the way we think about Christmas for generations to come. The album features the iconic Peanuts characters in a jazz-infused setting that’s both timeless and innovative.

Another jazz classic, “Jingle Bells,” is a holiday staple that’s been covered by a wide variety of artists. This version, performed by Kurt Elling, is an upbeat delight that will surely put a smile on your face.

If you’re looking for an easy-listening album to help you relax this holiday season, look no further than this one by saxophonist Dave Koz. The album is a mix of both original compositions and covers of Christmas tunes, and it’s a must-have for anyone who enjoys jazz.

Let It Snow

This song, originally written in 1934, is a classic Christmas favourite and has been recorded by an incredible array of artists. It was also one of the first Christmas songs to be re-recorded in jazz form, with Stan Getz and Chet Baker’s 1953 version being a classic of West Coast Cool jazz.

You might be surprised to hear that the song has a 32-bar AABA form, and that it modulates quite significantly from the home key of E flat major to G flat major at the bridge. The melody, which starts with a low D, quickly moves up a major third to G flat major, then back down again to D at the end of the A section.