The Best Jazz Holiday Classics

Especially for the quintessential jazz fan, a big part of the holiday cheer is breaking out those Christmas jazz records and belting out those classic tunes we grew up listening to. There's something in these old songs that easily make us reminisce back to some of the most memorable holidays past. For those just starting to build up a collection of holiday jazz classics, here's a short guide to some of the best albums.

Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas

Reissued in 2002, the original recordings for this album were done way back in the 1960's that saw Ella at the peak of her career. What could be better than the great Ella Fitzgerald belting out Christmas songs? She gives such a sincerely fun and whimsical air to Christmas songs that this CD will definitely add such a festive air to your holidays. Her rich, sultry vocals shine in such classics as Have Yourself A Merry Christmas, Sleigh Ride and the timeless What Are You Doing This Christmas Eve?. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is sheer fun, and The Christmas Song is a dose of sweet holiday tidings. Even for the non-Ella fan, this CD is sure to be a sheer joy and an invaluable addition to your Christmas vault.

The Christmas Song

Nat King Cole's most famous Christmas tune is also the title of his holiday album, The Christmas Song. While this album is mostly filled with holiday standards, Nat King Cole's singing adds a whole new dimension of depth and sincerity to each track that putting in this CD will warm you up any day. Of course, the gem in this album is his timeless classic The Christmas Song is sheer joy. O Holy Night is performed beautifully to the sweet and angelic vibe of an orchestra, and a few other songs on this track are sung so serenely that they can't help but bring back the glow of Christmas.

White Christmas

When he came out with his rendition of White Christmas, Bing Crosby was cemented into the hall of crooner greats, and this Christmas carol became a household staple. While Bing Crosby's Christmas releases may seem to be ubiquitous, this album is one of those holiday classics that most of our parents grew up listening to and continued to play until it constituted some of our own warmest childhood memories of Christmas. Most of the tracks on this album are standard Christmas classics, performed with Bing's touch of classic, old-world-elegance vocals. This is definitely a keeper.

A Perry Como Christmas

Perry Como is an old-timer when it comes to Christmas releases, and he seems to have been born a natural in singing holiday music. His Christmas albums are quite ubiquitous and there have been many issues of Como Christmas compilations. Though there are some non-Christmas selections on this album, I find that it's the best compilation among his CDs. This album showcases some of his hit tracks like Christmas Eve, Christmas Dream, I Wish It Could Be Christmas Forever, among others. A special highlight of this CD is Perry's The Story Of Christmas, a narrative-medley of the Christmas story. All in all, this is a wonderful addition to your collection, some of the most timeless tracks from one of the most prodigious and talented crooners of all time.

Classic Jazz: Christmas

This has got to be, hands down, one of the best Christmas jazz compilation CDs ever made. This 2-CD treat was put out by Time Life, and it's got the complete deal---the best and most memorable performances by the biggest names in jazz. With Duke Ellington's classic rendition of Jingle Bells, Ella Fitzgerald's infamous Sleigh Ride, Louis Armstong's Cool Yule and Christmas In New Orleans, Nat King Cole's The Christmas Song, Vince Guaraldi's Christmas Time Is Here, and so many other Christmas classics, you can't go wrong with this collection. Each track in succession will have you yearning for more old-world Christmas charm.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Many of us grew up to the ritual showing of A Charlie Brown Christmas on television, so to no surprise will we find comfort in Vince Guaraldi's soundtrack to the show. Track after track conjures up the warmest memories of our childhood Christmases past, and even to those who didn't grow up watching Snoopy and the gang during Christmas, Guaraldi has some beautiful classics in this CD. Christmas Time Is Here has become a holiday classic, so has Skating and a number of other tracks. The music is so light and soothing, this will surely end up as one of your holiday favorites!