Ten Instrumental Jazz Christmas Album Recommendations
I was recently looking to put some Christmas jazz on while I was trying to get some work done. I got irritated really quickly with streaming services that kept giving me either the very same tracks or music that really isn’t jazz. For some reason the streaming services and playlists I tried can go from a beautiful arrangement of a holiday carol, to some sappy thing with synthesized strings, or cheesy Latin Jazz Carol of the Bells within minutes.
So I thought I’d put on an album that I could just trust would be great in the background. Then I realized another problem. There is just too much! And although I really appreciate that jazz is a massive genre with all kinds of us styles and periods, much of what shows up as a jazz album is, to put it kindly, not what I was looking for. No disrespect to Kenny G or Jim Brickman or all those that love them, but if I was looking for that kind of music I’d look under adult contemporary, not jazz.
I also had the realization that a lot of people who don’t listen to jazz regularly, are game to put on holiday jazz this time of year. My theory about this is that the familiar tunes offer people a way in that they can understand. You can hum the melody in your head and that makes it more accessible for many people. Just a theory.
So I made my own list. Selfishly, putting it here helps me remember the albums I love, while also sharing those thoughts with others. I am gonna stay in my lane though, these albums all forefront instrumental musicians - even those that have some singers. Also, this is a jazz list for those of us who are more casual, general listeners. These are easy to find, mainstream artists and albums. I enjoy playing these at parties, as background for work, or with a scotch by myself and my Christmas tree at night. It’s not meant for true jazz connoisseurs.
Here we go:
A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack (1964).
Let’s get this one out of the way. Seems most people consider this THE classic Christmas jazz album. It is pretty fantastic, and powerfully nostalgic for many of us. I’ve put it first because it’s expected. No need to say much more about it!
An Oscar Peterson Christmas (1995).
Really a great album. Peterson is considered one of the great jazz pianists of all time for a reason. And his playing here is effortless, giving sparkle to the familiar tunes. Guitarist Lorne Lofsky is also terrific and his solos stand up next to Pererson’s. Another highlight for me are the contributions of vibraphonist Dave Samuels who I’ve been a fan of for decades. For me, there are some unnecessary string orchestrations, but I get it, that’s part of Christmas.
A Dave Brubeck Christmas (1995).
I’ll stick with another pianist - and an album made in the same year. This is a true solo album and Brubeck kills it. He uses the whole piano and shows ofF different jazz piano styles. I particularly enjoy his stride piano playing on arrangements like “Winter Wonderland.” The album has a lot of ballads especially in the second half, so more of a contemplative album for home and not for the office party. But because it’s solo piano - and Brubeck - for me at least it hits the right balance of holiday sentimental without veering to sappy (helped by the fact that there are no background strings).
A Merry Christmas! Stan Kenton (1961)
For something completely different, check out the classic Christmas album of Stan Kenton’s. This is hard hitting big band jazz from the mid-century. Piercing trumpets, lush trombones, traditional elements that pull the heart strings, experimental tonalities elsewhere, musicianship at the highest level throughout. The famous track is the down tempo arrangement of “O Come All Ye Faithful” which has warm, subtly dissonant, chordal harmonies, but I recommend one of the more fast tempo rollicking arrangements such as “Good King Wenceslaus” to get in the spirit.
Crescent City Christmas Card Wynton Marsalis (1989)
Switching gears again, check out this album from Wynton Marsalis and his septet. It’s full of variety (Opera singer Kathleen Battle appears to sing Silent Night), but rooted in the sounds of Marsalis’s home town of New Orleans. It’s modern AND retro, but most importantly fun.
The Nutcracker Suite Duke Ellington (1960)
You will not find a recommendation for the Nutcracker Suite from me on my Classical Christmas list (coming soon), but if those Tchaikovsky tunes are irresistible to you this time of year, I highly recommend the Duke Ellington rearrangement of the Suite from his 1960 album. Technically it’s not a holiday album, as in addition to the Nutcracker there are a number of non-Christmas tracks, but I’ll overlook that. I think others find this a bit on the cheesy, gimmicky side - it doesn’t get a lot of mentions in other lists - but I enjoy it and I bet you will too.
Have Yourself a Soulful Little Christmas Kenny Burrell (1966)
Switching it up again, my favorite jazz guitar holiday album is this one by the extraordinary Kenny Burrell. It’s the kind of meditative jazz guitar music that can make for a romantic evening any day of the year, wrapped up in a Christmas bow. It does fall on the more sentimental side and includes string orchestrations on a number of tracks, but I love Burrell’s fat tone and thoughtful solos. For me the best of the album is captured in the first two tracks. The perfect opener with a stirring rendition of “Little Drummer Boy,” followed by a nostalgia-soaked “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” that somehow avoids becoming too sappy. Those two alone are worth a listen.
Six-String Santa Joe Pass (1992)
Another great guitar focused album is this one from Joe Pass in 1992. Thirty years later than the Burrell album, it’s more modern with stripped down arrangements and a cleaner sound. Pass has a brighter, more focused tone than Burrell, and he is a real master guitarist. I think the best tracks are those that Pass plays himself, including a tender rendition of “White Christmas.”
Christmas Cookin’ Jimmy Smith (1964)
If you enjoy (or are willing to try) jazz organ, there is no one better than Jimmy Smith and his Hammond B3. This album is just great fun - I recommend skipping the overly wrought classically orchestrated opening number “God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman” which starts with an extended timpani solo - and getting to the best of traditional jazz organ on the second track “Jingle Bells.” For my taste the whole album has a bit too much of the orchestral touch, but that was common for the time. It is well worth a listen though for Smith’s truly amazing playing.
Big Band Christmas Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (2015)
For something more modern, I highly recommend this album put out by Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra. While it centers the big band with some hot contemporary arrangements, it also features some singers including the divine Cecile McLorin Salvant. It’s a compilation album taken from live concerts over a number of years. It’s the best of everything, Amazing soloists, traditional arrangements, awesome musicians.
All these albums are now a permanent part of my holiday rotation. Hope some of them will find their way into yours as well. Happy Listening.