Jazz Trumpet Christmas Music to Get You in the Holiday Spirit

It’s that time of year again! Get into the holiday spirit with this collection ofChristmas classics performed by some of the world’s best jazz trumpet players.

Christmas Jazz Standards

If you’re looking for some great Christmas jazz trumpet music to get you in the holiday spirit, look no further! Here are some of our favorite Christmas jazz standards. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”

This song was originally written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane for the 1944 Judy Garland film Meet Me in St. Louis. The lyrics of the original version were quite depressing, with lines such as “have yourself a merry little Christmas, it might be your last” and “next year we may all be living in the dumps”. Judy Garland’s character sings the song to her younger sister to try and cheer her up during a bleak Christmas season, and the lyrics were changed to be more uplifting as a result.

The version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” that is most popular today was sung by Frank Sinatra in 1957, and the lyrics have been further revised from the original to sound even more positive and cheerful. The song has since been covered by many other artists, including Bing Crosby, Jimmy Durante, Nat King Cole, Barbra Streisand, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Michael Bublé, and Pentatonix.

“White Christmas”

“White Christmas” is a holiday classic written by Irving Berlin. It was first performed by Bing Crosby in 1942 and has become one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time. It has been covered by many artists, including Jazz trumpet legend Miles Davis.

“The Christmas Song”

The Christmas Song (commonly subtitled Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire or, as it was originally subtitled, Merry Christmas to You) is a classic Christmas song written in 1944 by Mel Tormé and Bob Wells. The duo first wrote the song as “a tribute to the memory of our friend and the genius who created him”, referring to actor and comedian Fred Allen. The lyrics of the song describe a winter scene where we see chestnuts roasting on an open fire, and people singing Christmas carols.

The Christmas Song was first recorded by Nat King Cole in 1946, and it has since been covered by many artists, including Bing Crosby, John Lennon, Diana Ross, Taylor Swift, Mariah Carey, and Justin Bieber. The song is considered a holiday standard, and has been featured in many Christmas-themed movies and television specials.

Contemporary Jazz Christmas Songs

If you’re looking for some contemporary jazz Christmas songs to get you in the holiday spirit, look no further! These 10 tracks feature some of the best jazz trumpeters around, and they’re sure to get your toes tapping. So sit back, relax, and enjoy some of the best holiday music around.

“Christmas Time is Here”

“Christmas Time is Here” is a beautifully understated piano-and-trumpet duet originally written for the 1965 animated TV special A Charlie Brown Christmas. While the original recording by Vince Guaraldi is a classic, there have been several superb contemporary jazz renditions over the past few years. Here are three of our favorites.

Joey Alexander’s version from his 2016 album My Favorite Things features his trio with bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Ulysses Owens Jr. Joey’s tenderness and lyricism on this track are stunning, and his arrangement takes some wonderful liberties with the melody while staying true to the original harmonies.

On his 2018 album The Art of John Pilgram, trumpeter John Pilgram pays tribute to some of his favorite artists, including Miles Davis, Chet Baker, and Lee Morgan. His arrangement of “Christmas Time is Here” puts a hard-bop spin on the tune, featuring Pilgram’s dynamic soloing over a grooving accompaniment by pianist Mike LeDonne, bassist David Wong, and drummer Jimmy Cobb.

Last but not least is trumpeter Terence Blanchard’s take on “Christmas Time is Here,” from his 2019 holiday album Christmas Songs. Blanchard’s version features him playing both trumpet and flugelhorn over a lush arrangements by pianist Fabian Almazan that also includes two percussionists and a string quartet. Blanchard’s solos are gorgeous throughout, making this one of our favorite contemporary jazz versions of “Christmas Time is Here.”

“Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!”

This classic Christmas tune was written in 1945 by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne. It was originally intended to be a summer song, but has become one of the most popular Christmas songs of all time. This arrangement for trumpet and piano by Andy Sheppard is perfect for intermediate level players.

“Winter Wonderland”

One of the most popular contemporary jazz Christmas songs is “Winter Wonderland.” Released in 2016 by smooth jazz artist Dave Koz, the song quickly rose to the top of the holiday charts. Featuring a catchy melody and a soulful arrangement, “Winter Wonderland” is the perfect song to get you in the holiday spirit.

Jazz Trumpeters to Check Out

Chris Botti

Chris Botti is an American trumpeter, composer and producer. He was born on October 12, 1962 and began playing the trumpet when he was 9 years old. Botti began his career as a studio musician in New York City and Los Angeles, where he played with Sting, Joni Mitchell and Frank Sinatra, among others. He has released 13 solo albums, including the Grammy-winning “Impressions” in 2012.

Botti’s style has been described as a “cross between Chet Baker and Miles Davis.” His music includes elements of jazz, pop and classical music. Botti has said that his main influences are Miles Davis and Duke Ellington.

Botti has won multiple Grammy Awards, including Best Pop Instrumental Album for “Imprints” (2010) and Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for “To Love Again: The Duets” (2005). He has also been nominated for three Emmy Awards.

Wynton Marsalis

Wynton Laurence Marsalis (born October 18, 1961) is an American trumpeter, composer, bandleader, and music educator. He has promoted the view that jazz is a “black” American art form with distinctive roots in the blues. He is the son of jazz musician Ellis Marsalis Jr. (1934–2020), grandson of pianist and composer Ellis Marsalis Sr., and brother of Branford (saxophonist), Delfeayo (trombonist), and Jason (pianist).

Marsalis was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. He graduated from The Juilliard School in 1983 and rose to prominence in the mid-1980s as a jazz soloist with Art Blakey’s band. His CD Black Codes (From the Underground) won a Grammy Award in 1985; he has won nine more Grammys since then as a bandleader and performer in both jazz and classical music. He has been credited with helping to revive interest in jazz as a serious concert music form; along with eating establishments like Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola he helped establish Jazz at Lincoln Center in 1987. As director of Jazz at Lincoln Center from 1991 to 2011, he oversaw artistic programming for Lincoln Center’s various venues including the Rose Theater and Alice Tully Hall; among other initiatives there, he produced shows like This Side of Strayhorn which celebrated Billy Strayhorn during his centennial year 2014. From 1992 to 1995, Marsalis was Principal Trumpet with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra under Zubin Mehta.

Marsalis received the Pulitzer Prize for Music for his oratorio Blood on the Fields (1997) – making him one of only nine people to win Pulitzer prizes for both music and non-fiction literature, according to Marsalis’ website – which integrated blues singing and improvisation into more than three hours of symphonic music performances by Wynton Marsalis Septet with singing by Cassandra Wilson, Jessye Norman and others; it was described by The New York Times as “a milestone … not just for Mr. Marsalis but also for American music.”

Terence Blanchard

One of the most prolific and groundbreaking trumpeters of his generation, Terence Blanchard has been a revealing and searching voice in jazz since he emerged as a member of Lionel Hampton’s big band in the early 1980s. In the years since, he has collaborated with some of the most important names in jazz, including Wynton Marsalis, Art Blakey, Herbie Hancock and Ahmad Jamal. But it is as a leader that Blanchard has made some of his most enduring music, with more than 20 albums to his credit as a bandleader.

Blanchard’s approach to the trumpet is marked by a searing lyricism and an uncommon orchestral sensibility; he often weaves horn lines through his compositions with the fluidity of a string section. His work with film director Spike Lee — on such films as “Jungle Fever,” “Clockers” and “25th Hour” — has helped him to reach a wider audience, and his contributions toLee’s films are among the most distinctive and memorable in any recent movie.