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

When You Wish Upon a StarKeith Jarrett

Keith Jarrett Trio – When You Wish Upon a Star

Although this song was created as the theme for Disney’s 1940 film Pinocchio and isn’t a Christmas song per se, its charming melody and star-related theme make it a popular choice for performances during the holiday season.

In Sweden and Norway, it has actually become a Christmas song, said to be about the Star of Bethlehem.

While it’s originally a ballad, versions played in triple meter—à la Keith Jarrett—also give it a lovely, Christmas-like feel.

Left AloneMal Waldron

Left Alone

The masterpiece created by Mal Waldron is known as an homage to Billie Holiday.

Though Waldron made his mark as a jazz pianist, this work presents a melancholic jazz ballad suffused with sorrow and solitude.

With its restrained emotional expression and striking improvisational flair, the performance will resonate deeply with listeners.

Recorded in New York on February 24, 1959, this piece has remained one of Waldron’s signature works, beloved by many jazz fans.

It’s a track recommended for those who wish to spend a long winter night in quiet contemplation.

It will appeal not only to those seeking a classic of jazz, but also to anyone who wants to savor a peaceful, reflective moment.

BeatriceSam Rivers

Beatrice

If you’re looking to spend a cold winter listening to relaxing slow jazz, I recommend the piece “Beatrice.” This song was composed by the great jazz musician Sam Rivers.

He is known for playing a wide range of instruments—piano, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, flute, harmonica—and has created many masterpieces.

As a leading figure of 1960s free jazz, his unconventional musicality is sure to bring vibrant emotion to an otherwise monotonous winter.

Blue MoonBillie Holiday

Blue Moon

Alongside Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday is known as one of the great female jazz vocalists.

Having grown up in a harrowing home environment as a child, she struggled with various emotional anxieties; yet that very hardship gave her singing remarkable depth.

You can savor the richness and wistfulness in her voice on this rendition of “Blue Moon.” With its gently comforting melody, it’s a perfect number for a cold winter’s day.

My Funny ValentineMiles Davis

Miles Davis – My Funny Valentine

When winter comes, this is the jazz standard you can’t help but want to listen to.

It’s a song about a beloved sweetheart—Mr.

Valentine—and it’s especially often performed in the lead-up to Valentine’s Day.

While it’s frequently sung by vocalists, Miles Davis’s richly expressive trumpet tone also suits the piece perfectly, doesn’t it? With lyrics that say “stay just the way you are,” it feels like a song that would make a lovely gift to a cherished partner during the Christmas season.

CandyLee Morgan

Candy / Lee Morgan

Speaking of Christmas, there are plenty of chances to enjoy sweet treats, aren’t there? This jazz standard is the perfect fit for such moments.

It’s a song about a lover named “Candy,” describing a very sweet relationship, with lyrics that read like a blissful boast.

If we could spend Christmas in a happy situation like the one in the song, even the cold winter would warm us from the bottom of our hearts.

In Lee Morgan’s version, the drummer’s solo between sections is especially stylish.

Stella By StarlightMiles Davis

Miles Davis – Stella by Starlight (Audio) (Official Audio)

Here is a piece composed by Victor Young for the 1944 horror film The Uninvited.

It was originally an instrumental, but lyrics were added in 1946.

Despite its origins in a horror film, this song features a beautiful melody and continues to be performed worldwide as a jazz standard by many artists.

Songs with “stars” in the title are especially appealing to listen to during winter or the Christmas season, when the stars shine so beautifully.