Jazz to Enjoy in Winter: Not Just Christmas Songs—Timeless Classics and Performances [2025]

When There Is No SunSun Ra

When There Is No Sun

Sun Ra is an artist who had a major influence on contemporary jazz.

Known for compositions featuring piano and synthesizers, he gained popularity for his distinctive musical style that evolved free jazz into a more avant-garde atmosphere.

“When There Is No Sun” is one of his signature works; its cool, avant-garde sound is compelling and holds its own even when compared to contemporary jazz.

Skating in Central ParkBill Evans

Skating In Central Park

A beautiful instrumental piece that resonates pleasantly on long winter nights.

The delicate soundscape woven by Bill Evans’s piano and Jim Hall’s guitar conjures images of people enjoying skating in Central Park.

Featured on the 1962 album Undercurrent, this work is perfect not only for jazz fans but also for anyone seeking a peaceful moment.

It’s especially lovely on a snowy night, listening in a warm room while gazing out the window.

The musical dialogue between Evans and Hall beautifully captures the stillness and beauty of winter.

Smoke Gets In Your EyesClifford Brown

Clifford Brown – Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

Here’s a jazz standard that Jerome Kern wrote for a musical in 1933.

Many of you might be more familiar with the version that The Platters turned into a revival hit in 1958.

It’s a stylish song that expresses the tears of heartbreak as “it’s just the smoke getting in my eyes.” If you’ve had a sad or difficult year, perhaps saying it’s just the smoke in your eyes as you tear up will help you feel a little better.

Frosty The SnowmanElla Fitzgerald

Ella Fitzgerald – Frosty The Snowman (Official Video)

Ella Fitzgerald, America’s premier female jazz singer, brings “Frosty the Snowman” to life with her captivating, resonant voice in a performance brimming with swing and drive.

Recorded by many musicians over the years, the song has become a Christmas-season staple.

Ella Fitzgerald released her version in 1960.

Her rendition of “Frosty the Snowman” will continue to be listened to and celebrated as an eternal Christmas standard.

A Foggy DayFrank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra – A Foggy Day (In London Town)

When we think of winter, we picture gray skies, deep fog, and a chill in the air.

This is the perfect song to listen to at such times.

Written by the Gershwin brothers in 1937 for a musical, it tells the story of how meeting you made a dim, gloomy city seem to shine.

In fact, when this song was created in London, the frequent fog wasn’t just weather—it was smog caused by pollution.

As Christmas approaches, if you’ve found a wonderful partner, be sure to listen to this song together.

Little AbiMasabumi Kikuchi

Little Abi

This ballad, often considered one of Masabumi Kikuchi’s signature works, is a moving piece in which his love for his daughter is expressed musically.

Its quiet, lyrical mood is illuminated by his distinctive improvisation.

The performance blends emotional intensity with serenity to exquisite effect, fusing jazz’s free improvisational spirit with classical lyricism into a superb work.

The version recorded in 1972 with Elvin Jones and Gene Perla at Rudy Van Gelder’s studio in New Jersey is especially well-known.

It’s a recommended listen not only for jazz fans but also for anyone who wants to savor a quiet winter night.

Feeling GoodNina Simone

Nina Simone – Feeling Good (Official Video)

The Queen of Blues, Nina Simone.

While rooted in the blues, she also sang jazz extensively, and her talent was so extraordinary that Louis Armstrong—affectionately known as Satchmo—strongly encouraged her to switch to being a jazz vocalist.

One of her signature songs is Feeling Good.

It’s a jazz piece infused with blues essence, featuring a melody that evokes a wintry, whistling wind and philosophically tinged lyrics that make it a captivating number.