Jazz to Enjoy in Winter: Not Just Christmas Songs—Timeless Classics and Performances [2025]
When it comes to jazz that suits the winter season, many people think of the various beloved classics that are cherished as Christmas songs.
And because the nights are long, it’s a season that pairs well with introspective tracks you’ll want to listen to closely.
In addition to standard numbers, jazz-style arrangements of famous Christmas songs are also popular.
In this article, we’ll cover those staple Christmas tunes while also picking out jazz numbers recommended for winter.
From pieces that explicitly take winter as their theme, to numbers perfect for solitary reflection, and even cheerful tracks that make you forget the cold, we’ll include original songs by rising young artists who have been attracting attention in recent years!
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Jazz to enjoy in winter: masterful songs and performances beyond just Christmas tunes [2025] (41–50)
For All We KnowKeith Jarrett & Charlie Haden
A perfect piece for this winter.
The gently resonant piano tones in the quiet and the soft, flowing bass wrap your heart in warmth.
Featured on the 2010 album “Jasmine,” this work is a gem of a duo performance by two masters of the jazz world.
While it conveys a sense of parting and uncertainty about the future, it carries a message to cherish the present moment.
It’s a recommended track for long winter nights—whether you want to be alone with your thoughts or spend quiet time with someone special.
A masterful performance that will resonate not only with jazz fans but with anyone who appreciates tranquil music.
Born to Be BlueChet Baker
This song, which also became the title of a film about jazz trumpeter Chet Baker, is about someone born under an unlucky star, unable to shake their misfortune.
Around Christmas and the end of the year, some people may feel their happiness or unhappiness more starkly than during other seasons, and end up feeling miserable.
At times like that, it might be a refined pleasure to lean into rock-bottom feelings while listening to this track.
Despite its sadness, it’s a stylish song with a variety of colors sprinkled throughout the lyrics.
Winter MoonArt Pepper
The sound of the alto saxophone is crystal clear like a winter blue sky, yet it carries a faintly melancholic air.
I’d like to introduce the title track from Winter Moon, an album released in 1981—the year before the death of Art Pepper, a genius saxophonist whose career was repeatedly interrupted by various troubles.
Enhanced by solemn strings, the piece forms a calm and refined ensemble, yet its languid melody evokes a profound sadness that inevitably brings to mind the darker chapters of Pepper’s life.
It’s a perfect listen alone under the cold winter sky, lost in thought.
Winter Moon 1980Art Pepper
On a winter night, the wistful tone of Art Pepper’s alto saxophone resonates as if seeping into the heart.
The title track of his 1981 album “Winter Moon” is particularly striking for the warm atmosphere created by its exquisite harmony with strings.
It’s a piece that makes you want to step away from the daytime bustle, gaze up at the quiet winter night sky, and listen at ease.
Pepper’s delicate performance feels as though it’s gently accompanying the listener’s heart.
It’s the perfect song for spending a long winter night alone, or for sharing a calm, intimate moment with someone special.
PensativaBenny Green
A beautiful ballad has been included on a classic jazz album.
In this work, performed on piano by Benny Green, Claire Fischer’s masterpiece is revived with a fresh interpretation.
Featured on the January 1994 release The Place to Be, it stands out for its introspective atmosphere and quiet beauty.
The elegant melody, played by a piano trio, is perfect for long winter nights.
It seamlessly blends technically brilliant playing—reflecting the influence of Oscar Peterson—with a modern sensibility.
It’s a track to listen to when you want to calm your mind, ideal for quiet winter evenings.
Highly recommended not only for jazz fans but also for anyone seeking a soothing experience.
I’ll Close My EyesBlue Mitchel
Among jazz standards, this is one of the tunes most frequently played at jam sessions.
Of the many recordings, perhaps the most famous rendition is Blue Mitchell’s version.
The lyrics are about closing your eyes and thinking only of you, even when we can’t meet.
It’s a song I hope people will listen to when circumstances keep them from seeing a lover, a friend, or family.
Connecting hearts really is so important, isn’t it?
Time After TimeChet Baker
A beautiful ballad with a tinge of melancholy that truly touches the heart.
Singing of love that transcends the passage of time, this song evokes deep emotion through Chet Baker’s delicate vocals and trumpet.
Released in 1955, it was featured in the films American Gigolo and Hannah and Her Sisters, capturing the hearts of many.
Baker’s performance remains a jazz classic that has not faded with time, elegantly weaving a tale of love and loss.
It’s a perfect piece to listen to on a quiet winter night while thinking of someone dear.