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: Not Just Christmas Songs—Great Tunes and Performances [2025] (51–60)
GreensleevesJohn Coltrane
This piece is a jazz standard arrangement of the English folk song Greensleeves.
Although the lyrics themselves don’t include the word “winter,” the theme revolves around a cold, winter-like heartbreak.
While the overall mood feels chilly, the tempo is relatively quick, making it an approachable listen even for those new to jazz.
Soul LamentKenny Burrell
For the monotonous mood of winter, I want to pair it with some smoky jazz.
If you’re the kind of person who enjoys hardboiled novels, don’t you have that same longing? For you, I recommend “Soul Lament.” This piece by the great jazz guitarist Kenny Burrell features a dark, cool, and distinctly masculine allure, with a melody that leaves a vivid impression.
The overall atmosphere is superb, and one of its charms is Kenny’s refined guitar playing—simple yet deeply flavorful.
Waiting on an AngelLisa Wahlandt, Sven Faller
A jazz number by a talented German duo.
The hopeful theme of waiting for an angel is beautifully expressed through Lisa Wahlandt’s delicate vocals and Sven Faller’s rich bass lines.
Featured on the album “Home for Christmas,” released in November 2014, this piece possesses a quiet beauty that evokes the warmth of the holiday season.
It’s the perfect track to enjoy at a relaxed pace on long winter nights.
Recommended not only for jazz fans but also for anyone seeking soothing music.
RamonaMasabumi Kikuchi
This is a track from Hanamichi, the posthumous album by Masabumi Kikuchi—one of the leading figures of the Japanese jazz scene—released in April 2021.
The piano’s unhurried tempo evokes a quiet winter night.
Kikuchi’s delicate touch, the lingering resonance, and his masterful use of the pedal stand out, drawing listeners into a meditative world.
The introduction, which leaves a seven-second silence before the melody begins, brims with tension and anticipation.
With its unique interpretation that brings out new allure, this work is recommended not only for jazz fans but also for anyone seeking a peaceful moment.
Why not savor it slowly on a long winter’s night?
Jazz to listen to in winter: Not just Christmas songs—masterpieces and great performances [2025] (61–70)
From WithinMichel Camilo
Michel Camilo is a jazz pianist from the Dominican Republic whose exceptional performance technique has earned worldwide acclaim.
The piece being introduced here, From Within, is an over-eight-minute track that originally closed out his 1993 leader album Rendezvous.
It’s one of Michel’s original compositions, and its passionately Latin-infused rhythms and melodies might be surprisingly fitting to listen to in winter rather than summer.
Incidentally, this tune appears in the 2004 Latin jazz documentary film Calle 54, featuring a scene of Camilo and his band performing it live.
Savor this legendary performance and let it warm your winter moments.
Twisted TrackNucleus
This is a track from Elastic Rock, the debut album released in 1970 by the British jazz fusion band Nucleus.
Showcasing a pioneering blend of jazz and rock, the album was highly acclaimed at the time, even taking first place at the Montreux Jazz Festival.
The diverse performances by Ian Carr and others are also intriguing in that they were inspired by Miles Davis’s pre-electric works.
It’s a great listen to enjoy quietly at home on a cold winter’s day.
Highly recommended for those who want to experience a free musical spirit unconstrained by the bounds of jazz or rock.
If I Were a BellRoberta Donnay
This song, which sings about a woman who’s high on love, is also famous for Miles Davis’s brilliant performance on trumpet.
It was written for the musical Guys and Dolls, but it has long been cherished as a jazz standard.
Christmas is a time when excitement often runs high, and bell sounds are frequently used as background music.
So while this song isn’t limited to Christmas, it’s certainly one that fits the season perfectly.